What types of cases does the US Supreme Court have original jurisdiction over?

Answer 1

Simplified List

1. cases arising under the US Constitution
2. cases arising under Federal Laws and treaties made by the United States
3. cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers and consuls
4. cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction
5. cases where the United States is a party
6. cases between a state and citizens of another state
7. cases between citizens of different states (federal "diversity jurisdiction" for amounts in excess of $75,000 only; otherwise state court of the person filing the case)
8. cases between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants made by different states
9. cases between a state, or citizens thereof and foreign states citizens and subjects

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 2

The US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts hear appeals of cases tried in the US District Courts under their jurisdiction. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit hears appeals of cases tried in certain US Special Courts, such as the US Court of Federal Claims.

Answer 3

US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts hear appeals of civil or criminal cases tried in the US District Courts. They do not retry cases or make decisions about the defendant's guilt, but review the written records from the trial court to determine if the question raised on appeal (the reason for the appeal) is valid and, if so, how the problem should be addressed.

There are thirteen Circuit Courts: twelve have territorial jurisdiction over cases heard in District Courts within their Circuit (region); the thirteenth, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has nationwide jurisdiction over patent cases and appeals from the US Court of International Trade, the US Court of Federal Claims and certain other US Special Courts with limited jurisdiction.

Answer 4

According to Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, the US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases:

1. affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls
2. disputes between the states (original and exclusivejurisdiction, see 28 U.S.C. § 1251)

Currently, the US Supreme Court only exercisesoriginal jurisdiction in disputes between the states; per 28 USC § 1251, the Court has concurrent original jurisdiction with the US District Courts over cases involving ambassadors. These cases are typically heard in US District Court, although the Supreme Court still has the right to try them under original jurisdiction.

In all other cases the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction.

must be heard there first. (GradPoint)

Answer 5

The US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts are the intermediate appellate courts of the federal Judicial Branch. They only have appellate jurisdiction, and do not hear any cases under original (trial) jurisdiction.

Answer 6

US Courts of Appeals are formally known as the US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts.

US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts hear appeals of civil or criminal cases tried in the US District Courts. They do not retry cases or make decisions about the defendant's guilt, but review the written records from the trial court to determine if the question raised on appeal (the reason for the appeal) is valid and, if so, how the problem should be addressed.

There are thirteen Circuit Courts: twelve have territorial jurisdiction over cases heard in District Courts within their Circuit (region); the thirteenth, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has nationwide jurisdiction over patent cases and appeals from the US Court of Federal Claims and certain other courts of limited jurisdiction.

Answer 7

They don't. Appeals courts ONLY hear cases appealed to them from lower/inferior courts.