8/6/21 Flashcards
What are the primary sources of a federal district court’s jurisdiction?
- 28 USC 1331 (federal question),
- 28 USC 1332 (diversity),
- 28 USC 1367 (supplemental), and
- 28 USC 1441 (removal).
Ex Parte Young, 209 US 123 (1908)
Holds that sovereign immunity does not extend to suits for prospective injunctive relief against state officers in their official capacities
Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000) (Stevens)
Held that the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, incorporated against the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibited judges from enhancing criminal sentences beyond statutory maximum based on facts other than those decided by the jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
When does a court have personal jurisdiction over a defendant?
- When the defendant consents or is tagged (Pennoyer v. Neff) or
- if the coercive exercise of jurisdiction complies with the Due Process Clause.
- General jurisdiction–jurisdiction over a case unconnected to the defendant’s case-specific actions in the state–is generally reserved to residents of a State, but also extends to instances where a defendant’s contacts with the state are “so continuous and systematic as to render it essentially at home in the forum state.”
- Specific jurisdiction may be exercised when the defendant has “minimum contacts” with the forum state such that the exercise of jurisdiction does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.
What is the political question doctrine?
First recognized by Baker v. Carr (1962) (Brennan), the doctrine holds that a federal court should not decide the issue when:
- there is a “textually demonstrable constitutional commitment of the issue to a coordinate political department; or
- a lack of judicially discoverable and manageable standards for resolving it,” Zivitofsky v. Clinton (2012)(Kennedy).
What are the four abstention doctrines?
Please Call Your Boyfriend
Pullman, Colorado River, Younger, Burford
What is Pullman abstention?
Pullman=POSTURE
Abstention is appropriate where a case “presenting a federal constitutional issue” “might be mooted or presented in a different posture by a state court determination of pertinent state law.”
What is Burford abstention?
Burford allows a federal court to dismiss a case only if:
- The case presents “difficult questions of state law bearing on policy problems of substantial public import whose importance transcends the result in the case then at bar,” or
- The adjudication of the case in a federal forum “would be disruptive of state efforts to establish a coherent policy with respect to a matter of substantial public concern.”
What is Younger abstention?
Younger CRIMINAL
Abstention is appropriate where, “absent bad faith, harrassment, or a patently invalid state statute, federal jurisdiction has been invoked for the purpose of restraining state criminal proceedings.”
What is Colorado River abstention?
Colorado River= Exceptional CONCURRENT
Abstention is appropriate in “exceptional circumstances” due to the presence of a concurrent state proceeding for reasons of wise judicial administration.
What is the Rule 12(b)(6) standard?
Pursuant to Ashcroft v. Iqbal (2009) (Kennedy), a complaint must be dismissed unless the non-conclusory facts it alleged, if taken as true, present a prima facie claim for relief. The complaint must contain sufficient nonconclusory factual allegations to support a reasonable inference that the conduct occurred.
What are the two primary mechanisms by which an individual can seek relief against government actors for violations of their constitutional rights?
- 42 USC 1983 allows claims against state officers
- Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents (1971)(Brennen) allows a private right of action against a federal officer who violates the claimant’s Fourth Amendment rights
Which case held that the line item veto is unconstitutional?
Clinton v. New York (1998) (Stevens) held that the line item veto violated the Presentment Clause of the United States Constitution because it impermissibly gave the President of the United States the power to unilaterally amend or repeal parts of statutes that had been duly passed by the United States Congress.
What is a legislative veto? And is it constitutional?
A legislative veto occurs when a legislative chamber purports to invalidate executive action with a resolution. In INS v. Chadha (1983)(CJ Burger), SCOTUS held that Congress may not promulgate a statute granting to itself a legislative veto over actions of the executive branch (agencies) because such a veto is inconsistent with the bicameralism principle and Presentment Clause of the United States Constitution.
Can Congress limit the President’s ability to remove inferior officers who determine policy and enforce laws?
No. In Free Enterprise Fund v. Pub. Co. Accounting Oversight Bd. (2010)(Roberts), SCOTUS held that such congressional limitations intrude upon the President’s obligation to “take Care that the Laws be Faithfully executed.”
First Amendment?
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of peaceable assembly
- Freedom to petition the government
- Freedom of press
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Second Amendment?
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Third Amendment?
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Fourth Amendment?
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Fifth Amendment?
No self-incrimination or double jeopardy; no deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; no taking of private property for public use without just compensation.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Sixth Amendment?
Speedy trial by jury; notice of crime of which charged; right to confront witnesses; right to counsel
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Seventh Amendment?
In suits over $20 there is a right to a jury trial and facts found by the jury can’t be reexamined except as allowed by common law.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Eighth Amendment?
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Ninth Amendment?
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.