9 U.S.C. § 4
Section 4 · Failure to arbitrate under agreement; petition to United States court having jurisdiction for order to compel arbitration; notice and service thereof; hearing and determination
Amended 2 times on record
The circuits are split over this section — Whether the filing of an interlocutory appeal under Section 16(a) of the Federal Arbitration Act automatically divests the district court of jurisdiction to proceed with the litigation pending resolution of the appeal.; Whether a court of appeals has appellate jurisdiction under FAA § 16(a)(1)(A) or (B) to review an order denying a motion to stay litigation or compel arbitration
Applied in 2,631 court decisions — leading case Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital v. Mercury Construction Corp. (1983)
Most recently applied in Hope Tucker v. Money Group, LLC Y Otros (January 2026)
Applied most in the First Circuit Circuit (106 decisions)
Cases citing this section usually also cite 9 U.S.C. § 2 · 9 U.S.C. § 3 · 4 U.S.C. § 4
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
A party aggrieved by the alleged failure, neglect, or refusal of another to arbitrate under a written agreement for arbitration may petition any United States district court which, save for such agreement, would have jurisdiction under title 28, in a civil action or in admiralty of the subject matter of a suit arising out of the controversy between the parties, for an order directing that such arbitration proceed in the manner provided for in such agreement. Five days’ notice in writing of such application shall be served upon the party in default. Service thereof shall be made in the manner provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court shall hear the parties, and upon being satisfied that the making of the agreement for arbitration or the failure to comply therewith is not in issue, the court shall make an order directing the parties to proceed to arbitration in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The hearing and proceedings, under such agreement, shall be within the district in which the petition for an order directing such arbitration is filed. If the making of the arbitration agreement or the failure, neglect, or refusal to perform the same be in issue, the court shall proceed summarily to the trial thereof. If no jury trial be demanded by the party alleged to be in default, or if the matter in dispute is within admiralty jurisdiction, the court shall hear and determine such issue. Where such an issue is raised, the party alleged to be in default may, except in cases of admiralty, on or before the return day of the notice of application, demand a jury trial of such issue, and upon such demand the court shall make an order referring the issue or issues to a jury in the manner provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or may specially call a jury for that purpose. If the jury find that no agreement in writing for arbitration was made or that there is no default in proceeding thereunder, the proceeding shall be dismissed. If the jury find that an agreement for arbitration was made in writing and that there is a default in proceeding thereunder, the court shall make an order summarily directing the parties to proceed with the arbitration in accordance with the terms thereof.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Derivation
Act Feb. 12, 1925, ch. 213, §4, 43 Stat. 883.
References in Text
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendments
1954—Act Sept. 3, 1954, brought section into conformity with present terms and practice.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Process, see rule 4, Title 28, Appendix, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Service and filing of pleadings and other papers, see rule 5, Title 28, Appendix.
Trials—
Jury trial of right, see rule 38, Title 28, Appendix.
Trial by jury or by the court, see rule 39, Title 28, Appendix.