[Title 32 CFR B]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter A - AID OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS]
[Part 516 - LITIGATION]
[Subpart B - Service of Process]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01falseService of ProcessBSubpart BNATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYAID OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONSLITIGATION
Subpart B--Service of Process
Sec. 516.8 General.
(a) Defined. Process is a legal document that compels a defendant in
an action to appear in court or to comply with the court's demands, for
example, in a civil case a summons or subpoena, or in a criminal case, a
warrant for arrest, indictment, contempt order, subpoena, or summons.
Service of process is the delivery of the document to a defendant to
notify him of a claim or charge against him.
(b) Policy. DA personnel will follow the guidance of this chapter
when civil officials attempt to serve civil or criminal process on
individuals on Federal property.
(c) Procedures. Provost marshals shall ensure that installation law
enforcement personnel are adequately trained to respond to situations
which arise with regard to service of civil and criminal process. SJAs
or legal advisers shall provide guidance to law enforcement personnel in
these matters.
Sec. 516.9 Service of criminal process within the United States.
(a) Surrender of personnel. Guidance for surrender of military
personnel to civilian law enforcement officials is in Chapter 7 of AR
630-10 and AR l90-9. Army officials will cooperate with civilian law
enforcement authorities who seek the surrender of a soldier in
connection with criminal charges. Special rules apply when a bail
bondsman or other surety seeks custody of a soldier.
(b) Requests for witnesses or evidence in criminal proceedings. See
subpart G to this part.
[59 FR 38236, July 27, 1994; 59 FR 45975, Sept. 6, 1994]
Sec. 516.10 Service of civil process within the United States.
(a) Policy. DA officials will not prevent or evade the service or
process in legal actions brought against the United States or against
themselves in their official capacities. If acceptance of service of
process would interfere with the performance of military duties, Army
officials may designate a representative to accept service. DA personnel
sued in their individual capacity should seek legal counsel concerning
voluntary acceptance of process.
(b) Request for witnesses or evidence in civil proceedings. See
subpart G to this part.
(c) Process of Federal courts. Subject to reasonable restrictions
imposed by the commander, civil officials will be permitted to serve
Federal process. (See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4, 45).
(d) Process of state courts.
(1) In areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction that are not subject
to the right to serve state process, the commander or supervisor will
determine whether the individual to be served wishes to accept service
voluntarily. A JA or other DA attorney will inform the individual of the
legal effect of voluntary acceptance. If the individual does not desire
to accept service, the party requesting service will be notified that
the nature of the exclusive Federal jurisdiction precludes service by
state authorities on the military installation.
(2) On Federal property where the right to serve process is reserved
by or granted to the state, in areas of concurrent jurisdiction, or
where the United States has only a proprietary interest, Army officials
asked to facilitate service of process will initially proceed as
provided in the preceding subparagraph. If the individual declines to
accept service, the requesting party will be allowed to serve the
process in accordance with applicable state law, subject to reasonable
restrictions imposed by the commander.
(e) Process of foreign courts. A U.S. District Court may order
service upon a person who resides in the judicial district of any
document issued in connection with a proceeding in a foreign or
international tribunal. (28 U.S.C. 1696). In addition, the U.S. State
Department has the power to receive a letter rogatory issued by a
foreign or international tribunal, to transmit it to a tribunal, officer
or agency in the United States, and to return it after execution. (28
U.S.C. 1781). Absent a
[[Page 89]]
treaty or agreement to the contrary, these provisions will govern.
(f) Seizure of personal property. State and Federal courts issue
orders (for example, writ of attachment) authorizing a levy (seizure) of
property to secure satisfaction of a judgment. DA personnel will comply
with valid state or Federal court orders commanding or authorizing the
seizure of private property to the same extent that state or Federal
process is served.
[59 FR 38236, July 27, 1994; 59 FR 45975, Sept. 6, 1994]
Sec. 516.11 Service of criminal process outside the United States.
Army Regulation 630-10 and international treaties, such as status of
forces agreements, govern the service of criminal process of foreign
courts and the surrender of soldiers to foreign civilian law enforcement
officials.
Sec. 516.12 Service of civil process outside the United States.
(a) Process of foreign courts. In foreign countries service of
process issued by foreign courts will be made under the law of the place
of service, as modified by status of forces agreements, treaties or
other agreements. In foreign areas under exclusive U.S. jurisdiction,
service of process issued by foreign courts will be made under the law
specified by appropriate U.S. authority.
(b) Process of Federal courts. Service of process on U.S. citizens
or residents may be accomplished under the following provisions: The
Hague Convention, reprinted in 28 USCA Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
following Rule 4; Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i); 28 USC 1781 and 1783; and, the
rules of the Federal court concerned. If a DA official receives a
request to serve Federal process on a person overseas, he will determine
if the individual wishes to accept service voluntarily. Individuals will
be permitted to seek counsel. If the person will not accept service
voluntarily, the party requesting service will be notified and advised
to follow procedures prescribed by the law of the foreign country
concerned.
(c) Process of state courts. If a DA official receives a request to
serve state court process on a person overseas, he will determine if the
individual wishes to accept service voluntarily. Individuals will be
permitted to seek counsel. If the person will not accept service
voluntarily, the party requesting service will be notified and advised
to follow procedures prescribed by the law of the foreign country
concerned. (See, for example, The Hague Convention, reprinted in 28 USCA
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, following Rule 4).
(d) Suits against the United States. DA personnel served with
foreign civil process will notify the appropriate SJA or legal adviser,
who will return the document to the issuing authority explaining the
lack of authority to accept service for the United States. Service on
the United States must be made upon DOJ through established diplomatic
channels.
Sec. 516.13 Assistance in serving process overseas.
(a) Europe. For information and assistance concerning service of
process of persons assigned to or accompanying U.S. Forces in Europe,
contact the Foreign Law Branch, International Law Division, Office of
The Judge Advocate, Headquarters U.S. Army, Europe, and Seventh Army,
Unit 29351, (Heidelberg, Germany) APO AE 09014.
(b) Korea. For information and assistance concerning service of
process of persons assigned to or accompanying U.S. Forces in Korea,
contact Staff Judge Advocate, US Forces Korea (Seoul, Republic of
Korea), APO AP 96205.
(c) Panama, Central and South America. For information and
assistance concerning service of process of persons assigned to or
accompanying forces in the U.S. Army Southern Command, contact Staff
Judge Advocate, HQ, US Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama, APO AA 34004-
5000.
Sec. 516.14 Service of process on DA or Secretary of Army.
The Chief, Litigation Division, shall accept service of process for
Department of the Army or for the Secretary of the Army in his official
capacity.
[[Page 90]]