Federal Court Jurisdiction Flashcards
When may the Supreme Court grant certiorari for the highest court in a state?
The Supreme Court may grant certiorari to review a case from the highest court in a state that can render an opinion on the matter if a state statute’s validity is called into question under the federal Constitution. The Court may decide the federal issues, but cannot rule on the state law issues.
Abstention-whether a federal court must abstain from hearing a case in light of the pendency of a state court case
Unless an abstention doctrine applies, nothing prohibits a federal court from hearing a case that is pending in state court. The primary reason a federal court will abstain from hearing a case is when the constitutionality of a state statute is at issue. The court will retain jurisdiction over the case but defer ruling on the state constitutional issue until the state court rules on the case.
Where can plaintiffs bringing actions in lower state courts appeal to?
A plaintiff bringing an action in a state trial court is required to exhaust its state appellate remedies before seeking review in federal courts, even where federal issues are involved.
Standing in federal courts
Federal courts will not consider a constitutional challenge to government action unless the person challenging the action has standing to raise the constitutional issue. Under the Supreme Court test, the person must have an injury in fact- both a particularized and concrete injury that will be remedied by a decision in his or her favor. A person must also show causation and redressability.
Third-party standing
A plaintiff may assert third-party rights if she has suffered injury and that injury adversely affects her relationship with third parties, resulting in an indirect violation of their rights. A seller of goods may have third party standing to challenge a law that adversely affects the rights of her customers.
When may the Supreme Court review a state court decision?
There must be a final judgment from the highest state court, there must have been a substantial federal question being raised, and the decision by the state court must not have rested on adequate and independent state grounds. The Court will refuse jurisdiction if it finds adequate and independent nonfederal grounds to support the state decision, because a different interpretation of the federal statutes would have no effect on the judgment rendered by the state court, so that the Supreme Court, in effect, would be rendering an advisory opinion.
Advisory opinions
Article III of the United States Constitution establishes the basis for the judicial power of federal courts. It provides that the judicial power extends to cases and controversies. Although Congress has power to delineate the jurisdictional limits of Article III courts, it is bound by the standards of judicial power set forth in Article III as to subject matter, parties, and the requirement of case or controversy. Thus, Congress cannot require these courts to render advisory opinions or perform administrative or nonjudicial functions.
Mootness doctrine
A federal court will not hear a case unless there is a real, live controversy at all stages of the proceeding, not merely when the case is filed.
