# Justice Manual § 8-2.120: Institution of Civil Proceedings—Authorization

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.120

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 8-2.120
- **Heading:** Institution of Civil Proceedings—Authorization
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 8: Civil Rights / 8-2.000 - Enforcement Of Civil Rights Civil Statutes / Justice Manual § 8-2.120

## Text

In most instances, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division shall authorize the filing of a complaint in civil rights cases, and in most cases the complaint must be signed by the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. Some civil rights statutes also require the complaint to be signed by the Attorney General.

[updated March 2018]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 8-2.010 General Procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.100 Civil Rights Matters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.110 Pre-Investigation Review and Investigations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.110.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.120 Institution of Civil Proceedings—Authorization](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.120.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.130 Litigation and Trial](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.130.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.140 Intervention](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.140.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.150 Appeals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.150.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.160 Cooperation with Private Litigants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.160.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.170 Standards for Amicus Participation and Statements of Interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.170.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.210 Employment Litigation Section](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.211 Employment Litigation Section—Affirmative Suits Under Title VII](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.211.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.212 Employment Litigation Section—Affirmative Suits Under Executive Orders 11246, as Amended](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.212.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.213 Employment Litigation Section—Affirmative Suits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.213.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-2.214 Employment Litigation Section—Defensive Suits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.214.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-2.120. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.