Federal courts of general jurisdiction (US District Courts, etc.) handle both civil and criminal cases.
Both the US Supreme Court and the US District Courts share original jurisdiction over cases involving foreign diplomats; however, Congress has decided to allow the US District Courts to exercise original jurisdiction in this area. The Supreme Court may choose to hear these cases, but does not.
The authority of a court to rule on certain cases is known as the jurisdiction of the court. State courts have jurisdiction over matters within that state, and different levels of courts have jurisdiction over lawsuits involving different amounts of money. Federal courts have jurisdiction over lawsuits between citizens of different states, or cases based on federal statutes.
Concurrent jurisdiction
The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over cases involving questions of federal or constitutional law or US treaties.They don't have jurisdiction over matters involving state or municipal laws or state constitutions, unless the case involves a conflict between two states, or a law or ordinance repugnant to the US Constitution.They don't have jurisdiction over cases from state courts if the federal question (constitutional issue or matter of federal law) was not raised at trial and preserved through the appellate process.They don't have jurisdiction cases involving political questions, such as appeals of impeachment.They don't have jurisdiction over cases prohibited by the Constitution or by constitutional Amendment, such as conflicts between the citizens of one state and the government of another (per the 11th Amendment), unless the state(s) waive their 11th Amendment protection or a state official is sued by name.They don't have jurisdiction over cases on matters from which Congress has stripped their appellate jurisdiction, assigning it to another court.
Federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction over all matters involving federal law.
Cases involving federal law.
Federal courts cannot hear cases concerning divorce. Marriage is a contract between the state and a married couple and it can only be decided in state court.
US District Courts have original jurisdiction in most cases of general jurisdiction; however the US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in a limited class of cases, such as those involving disputes between the states.
No.No. Only cases involving federal laws and federal jurisdiction.
Federal courts of general jurisdiction (US District Courts, etc.) handle both civil and criminal cases.
When state and federal courts both have authority to hear the same case, they have concurrent jurisdiction.Each system has both courts of original jurisdiction (trial courts) and courts of appellate jurisdiction. State courts typically hear matters involving state questions; federal courts hear matters involving federal questions. There are some exceptions, however, when a case may be heard in either state or federal court.For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Federal courts have legal authority over cases involving federal laws and the interpretation of the United States Constitution. They also have jurisdiction over cases involving disputes between different states or between the United States and a foreign country.
Federal courts hear cases with federal jurisdiction. Such jurisdiction comes if the case hears a question of federal law or if the case has diversity jurisdiction (parties are citizens of different states and minimum dollar amount is in dispute.)
Concurrent jurisdiction allows both state and federal courts to hear cases involving federal laws, diversity of citizenship cases, and cases involving concurrent jurisdiction statutes. It means either court can hear the case.
Cases (1) that involve a question of federal law and (2) cases in which the plaintiff and defendant are in different states and there is more than $75,000 at stake.
Federal district courts have jurisdiction over trials. Federal appeals courts have jurisdiction over appeals from the federal district courts.