2 U.S.C. § 1408 — Civil action

(a) Jurisdiction. United States district courts have jurisdiction over a civil action brought by a covered employee^* under section 1401 or this section.

(b) Parties. The defendant is the employing office^* alleged to have committed the violation or where the violation allegedly occurred.

(c) Jury trial. Any party may demand a jury when a jury would be available in an action against a private defendant under the relevant law applied by this chapter. If the case alleges a violation of section 1311, the court may not tell the jury the maximum compensatory damages available under section 1311(b)(1) or (b)(3).

(d) Appearances by House Employment Counsel.

(1) In general. The House Employment Counsel and any other counsel in the Office^* of House Employment Counsel of the House of Representatives, including specially retained counsel, may enter an appearance in any proceeding before a United States or State court, or a court of a political subdivision, to provide legal assistance and representation to House employing offices under this chapter without meeting that court’s admission-to-practice requirements. This authority does not allow admission to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

(2) House Employment Counsel defined. In this subsection, “Office of House Employment Counsel of the House of Representatives” means: (A) the office established and operating under the Clerk of the House’s authority as of November 12, 2001; (B) any successor office established after that date; and (C) any other person authorized and directed under House Rules to provide legal assistance and representation to House employing offices in actions under this subchapter.