Con Law Flashcards
Justiciability
For a case to be heard in federal court, it must be justiciable, meaning a case or controversy must exist
• To determine whether a case or controversy exists, the case must satisfy requirements for:
1) Standing
2) Ripeness
3) Mootness
4) Political question doctrine
Standing
A party must have a concrete interest in the outcome of a claim to have it heard in federal court:
Individual
Third-party
Organizational
Individual Standing Requirements
Injury
Causation
Redressability
Standing Injury
P must have suffered some injury or show a likelihood of imminent injury
» Note — look for Ps who have personally suffered injury or economic loss
» Ps seeking an injunction or declaratory relief must show a likelihood of future harm
Standing Causation and Redressability
P must allege that D caused the injury and that the court can grant a proper remedy
Taxpayer Standing
P cannot sue solely as a U.S. citizen or taxpayer to compel the govt. to act in a particular way
• Exception — taxpayers have standing to challenge specific
govt. expenditures pursuant to the Establishment Clause
Third Party Standing
A party generally lacks standing to assert the claims of another,
unless one of the below exceptions applies. Requires:
Special relationship between P and the injured third party
Injured party is unlikely or unable to assert his own rights
TP Standing Special Relationship
P may assert the rights of a third party whose injury adversely affects P or his relationship with P
• E.g., doctor could assert patients’ rights in challenging abortion restrictions; bar owner could assert underage males’ rights in attacking state ban on beer sales to underage males only
TP Standing Unlikely to assert
» E.g., association could attack law requiring disclosure of member identities because members could not attack law directly without revealing their identities
Organizational Standing
» Organizations always have standing if injury is to organization itself
» Organizations may also sue on behalf of members if:
a) Members would have standing to sue individually;
b) Injury is related to the organization’s purpose; and
c) Neither claim nor relief requires participation of individual members
Ripeness
Cases must be sufficiently developed
• Arises with pre-enforcement review of statutes or regulations
• Courts may grant pre-enforcement review if P will suffer
harm or an immediate threat of harm
Mootness
A live controversy must exist at all stages of review
• If circumstances causing P’s asserted harm cease to exist
after P files suit, the case must be dismissed as moot
Exceptions to Mootness
Wrongs capable of repetition but evading review - injury ceases before litigation can ever happen (i.e. abortion)
Voluntary cessation by D - but can resume
Class action lawsuits - only one member must have ongoing injury
Political Question
Federal courts will not adjudicate certain constitutional issues
that constitute political questions.
Common Political Q’s
1) Actions under the “republican form of government” clause
in the Constitution
2) Challenges to the conduct of foreign policy
3) Challenges to impeachment and removal proceedings
4) Challenges to partisan gerrymandering
Common Non-Political Q’s
- Legislative apportionment
* Production of presidential papers/communications
Methods of Supreme Court review
Discretionary Review
Mandatory Review
Original JDX
USC Discretionary Review
Most cases get to the U.S. Supreme Court by writ of certiorari; the Court then decides whether to grant review
USC Mandatory Review
The Court must take appeals from three-judge district court panels regarding injunctive relief
» This bypasses the courts of appeal
USC OG JDX
Suits between states
» Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over suits between states (i.e., these suits must be filed in the Supreme Court)
USC Final Judgment Requirement
Supreme Court only hears cases on review if there has been a final judgment of a lower federal court or a state’s highest court
USC State Court Decisions
Supreme Court cannot review a state court decision that rested on an independent, adequate state law ground
• I.e., if the state decision is based on federal and state law, the Supreme Court will not grant review unless the decision cannot stand on the state grounds alone
11th Amendment Immunity
The 11th Amend. bars suits against state govts. in federal court
• Federal courts cannot hear claims from a private party or foreign govt. against a state govt.
Exceptions to 11th Amendment
Suits against state govts. are allowed if:
1) The state waives sovereign immunity or consents
2) The suit involves the enforcement of laws under §5 of the 14th Amend. and Congress has removed immunity
3) The federal govt. brings the suit
4) Bankruptcy proceedings