# Justice Manual § 4-6.200: Affirmative Litigation

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.200

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 4-6.200
- **Heading:** Affirmative Litigation
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 4: Civil / 4-6.000 - Federal Programs / Justice Manual § 4-6.200

## Text

Two basic differences between affirmative and defensive suits require particular attention. First, with the exception of the Direct Referral Cases discussed in
JM 4-1.310
et seq
., all affirmative cases must be authorized by the Civil Division. Second, several categories of affirmative cases are routinely handled by client agencies, pursuant to Memoranda of Understanding with the Justice Department.

To receive authorization for commencement of an affirmative suit, the client agency should prepare a written referral to the Civil Division.
See
JM 4-1.450
for discussion of contents of referrals. If a referral is made directly to a USAO and the case is not within the category of Direct Referral cases, the USAO should request that the agency formally refer the matter to the Civil Division for suit authorization. Upon receipt of a referral, the Branch will assign the referral to a Branch attorney for preparation of a suit authorization recommendation.

Once suit authorization is received, the Federal Programs Branch will determine whether the suit will be handled by the Branch, by a USAO, or by the client agency. The most common categories of affirmative suits in the Branch, and the procedures for suit authorization and case handling, are discussed below.

[updated April 2018]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 4-6.010 Federal Programs Branch—Subject Matter Areas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.100 Defensive Litigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.200 Affirmative Litigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.210 Delegated Affirmative Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.220 Monitored Affirmative Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.220.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.230 Personally Handled and Jointly Handled Affirmative Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.230.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.240 Affirmative Cases—Suits Against State Governments, Agencies or Entities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.240.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.250 Affirmative Cases—Counterclaims, Amicus Participation and Motions to Intervene](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.250.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.300 Area 1—Affirmative Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.320 Area 2—Federal Employment (Nondiscrimination)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.320.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.332 Area 3—Government Information—General Information for Particular Case Types (Including Jurisdiction and Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.332.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.340 Area 4—Health, Human Services & Education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.340.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.350 Area 5—Housing & Community Development](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.350.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-6.360 Area 6—National Security, National Defense, & Foreign Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.360.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-6.200. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.