Post Judgment Interest
Rates
Interest is allowed on most judgments entered in the federal courts from the date
of judgment until paid. The types of judgments generally fall under one of three
statutes: 28 U.S.C. 1961,
which governs civil and bankruptcy adversary judgment interest;
18 U.S.C. 3612 (f)(2), which governs criminal judgments or sentences; and
40 U.S.C. 3116, which
governs deficiency judgments in condemnation proceedings. These statutory references
should be checked with reliable statutory data bases such as Westlaw. Lexis, or
other appropriately maintained sources of the U.S. Code for the latest changes.
Under each of the above statutes the rate of interest used in calculating the amount
of post judgment interest is the weekly average 1-year constant maturity (nominal)
Treasury yield, as published by the Federal Reserve System. Prior to December 21,
2000 the rate of interest allowed under the statutes cited above was based on the
coupon issue yield equivalent (as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury) of
the average accepted auction price for the last auction of 52 week t- bills settled
immediately preceding entry of the judgment.
The way the rate is used differs under each of the cited statutes, so those sections
should be reviewed to determine how to apply it to any particular judgment.
Current Applicable Rates
The current rate applicable
under these sections is provided by the Federal Reserve and published each Monday
for the preceding week (unless that day is a holiday in which case the rate is published
on the next business day).
The specific rate referred to in the statutes is found in the table under the two
columns headed WEEK ENDING. The two dates under those columns refer to the Friday
averages of the last two weeks. Under those columns you need to go down to the row
which states U.S. government securities - Treasury constant maturities nominal10
- 1-year. Where the row and columns meet - that is the rate you use.
Prior current rates also
are available by selecting the week preceding the date of judgment (or the date
interest would otherwise apply under the above) and selecting the release date preceding
the date of judgment. NOTE: if your judgment date is the same as the release date,
you should select the prior week’s release. REASON: the releases are considered
to be issued at the close of business on the date of release.
Rates Prior to December 21, 2000
Rates under the prior language
were based on the average accepted auction price for the latest auction of 52 week
t-bills.
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