Gavin Howe
The U.S. federal court system and state court systems are entirely separate entities, with different judges presiding over different issues. The jurisdiction of a case determines whether it will be heard in federal or state court, and this can depend on the nature of the case, the amount of money involved, and the residency of the defendants. In some cases, a defendant can petition to move a case from state to federal court or vice versa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State and federal court systems | Separate, with different judges |
| Crossover between court systems | Defendant petitions to move the case, or the case is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court |
| U.S. Supreme Court | Makes final decisions on cases it hears, which apply nationwide |
| Jurisdiction | Dictates when civil claims are resolved in federal vs. state court |
| State court | Can hear cases arising from state laws, including contract and tort laws |
| Federal court | Can preside over cases with diversity jurisdiction, i.e., defendants from different states or places |
| Federal court | Can hear cases arising from federal laws and regulations, such as employment law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act |
| State court enforcement of federal law | Related to, but distinct from, the anti-commandeering doctrine |
| Federal court interference with state courts | Limited to specific types of state proceedings, as per Sprint Communications, Inc. v. Jacobs |
| Civil rights removal law | Authorizes removal of any action, civil or criminal, from state court if a person is denied equal rights under state law |
| State court and federal law claims | State courts generally must hear federal law claims unless state law bars them through a neutral rule of judicial administration. |
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What You'll Learn
When can a state court refuse to hear a federal claim?
The California State Court System and the U.S. federal court system are entirely separate court systems with different judges who preside over different issues. The only time there is a crossover is when a defendant petitions to move the case from state to federal court or vice versa and there are grounds for doing so. In addition, a case from California state court can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. To bring an action in a federal court, the plaintiff must find a constitutional or congressional basis of subject-matter jurisdiction for the federal court to hear the claim. Generally, federal courts possess exclusive jurisdiction over certain subject matter of national significance, notably issues like patent and admiralty law.
State courts are presumed to have the power to hear virtually any claim arising under federal or state law, except those falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. However, for pragmatic reasons, some states may deny subject-matter jurisdiction to specific claims, such as those arising in other states.
In deciding multiple cases on this issue, the Supreme Court has ruled that state courts generally must hear federal law claims unless state law bars a state court from hearing a federal claim through a neutral rule of judicial administration that does not improperly burden claims arising under federal law. For instance, in Douglas v. New York, N.H. & H.R. Co., the Court upheld a state law that allowed state courts to decline jurisdiction over both state and federal law claims when neither party was a resident of the state.
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When can a federal court refuse to hear a case?
The U.S. federal court system and the California State Court System are entirely separate, with different judges presiding over different issues. Cases can move from one system to another when a defendant petitions for a transfer and there are grounds for doing so, or when a case is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and it is not required to hear every appeal. It has discretionary power and only agrees to hear a small number of cases. When the Supreme Court refuses to hear a case, it does not provide an explanation. The specific case in question is over, and the previous ruling from a lower court will stand.
The Supreme Court will hear cases to resolve a Conflict of Law, which occurs when several federal or state courts reach different conclusions on an issue. The Supreme Court may also hear cases that are highly unusual, or that present an important social issue, such as abortion or the death penalty.
State courts generally must hear federal law claims unless state law bars a state court from doing so through a neutral rule of judicial administration that does not improperly burden claims arising under federal law. For example, in Douglas v. New York, the Supreme Court upheld a state law that allowed state courts to decline jurisdiction over both state and federal law claims when neither party was a resident of the state.
In summary, a federal court may refuse to hear a case if it does not involve a conflict of law, an important social issue, or a highly unusual circumstance. The Supreme Court has discretionary power and is not required to provide an explanation for refusing to hear a case.
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When does a case move from a state court to a federal court?
The California State Court System and the U.S. federal court system are entirely separate, with different judges presiding over different issues. Cases are moved from a state court to a federal court when a defendant petitions to move the case from state to federal court and there are grounds for doing so. This includes instances where a case falls under federal question jurisdiction, which means the case arises under the US Constitution or a federal statute. In such cases, defendants can remove the case to federal court by filing a notice of removal in federal court and notifying the state court and other parties.
Another basis for moving a case from a state court to a federal court is diversity jurisdiction, which occurs when the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) are from different states, and the amount in controversy is at least $75,000. Federal courts can also exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state-law claims that are closely related to other claims in the lawsuit. For example, if a plaintiff who is a citizen of California files a lawsuit in a California state court against a defendant from Minnesota, they could file in federal court if the amount of their claims is $75,000 or more.
It is important to note that defendants often seek to move their cases to federal court after being sued in state court for reasons such as procedural consistency, efficient docket management, and reduced liability. This practice is known as "snap removal", where defendants remove a case to federal court before any in-state defendant is formally served, allowing them to assert federal question or diversity jurisdiction.
While the choice of forum typically lies with the plaintiff, defendants can petition to move a case from state court to federal court if they meet the requirements for removal. However, it is worth mentioning that federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, unlike state courts, which have general jurisdiction over cases arising out of state laws, including contract laws and tort laws. Therefore, most civil cases are typically heard in state court.
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When do state and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction?
The California State Court System and the U.S. federal court system are two distinct court systems with different judges overseeing different issues. Cases can move from one system to another when a defendant petitions for a transfer and there are grounds for doing so, or when a case from a California state court is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
State courts are courts of general jurisdiction and can preside over cases arising from state laws, including contract and tort laws. This means that disputes relating to real estate, breaches of contract, shareholder issues, or personal injury claims will likely be heard in state court.
Federal courts can preside over cases where there is diversity jurisdiction, which occurs when defendants are from different states or different places (for example, one defendant is from outside the country). For diversity jurisdiction to exist, there must be at least $75,000 at stake.
State and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction when the interests of the state and federal governments are not in conflict, and the statute giving rise to the claim or its legislative history does not suggest exclusive federal jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has ruled that state courts must generally hear federal law claims unless state law bars a state court from hearing a federal claim through a neutral rule of judicial administration that does not improperly burden claims arising under federal law.
In the case of Tafflin v. Levitt (1990), the Supreme Court held that state courts have concurrent jurisdiction over civil RICO claims. The Court found that there was nothing in RICO's explicit language to suggest that Congress intended to divest state courts of civil RICO jurisdiction.
In summary, state and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction in most cases unless exclusive federal jurisdiction is specified or implied.
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What are the types of cases heard in state court?
State courts are courts of general jurisdiction, and most civil cases are heard in state court. These include cases arising out of state laws, such as contract laws and tort laws. For example, real estate disputes, breach of contract disputes, shareholder disputes, or personal injury claims are all heard in state court.
State courts can also hear cases arising under federal law unless federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over a matter. For instance, in the 1876 case of Claflin v. Houseman, the Supreme Court held that state courts could hear cases arising under federal bankruptcy law. However, federal law now grants exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases to federal courts.
State courts may also hear cases involving "diversity of citizenship," which are disputes between two parties from different states or countries, as long as the claim meets a set dollar threshold for damages. In such cases, the defendant can seek to "remove" the case from state court.
California, for instance, has two types of state courts: trial courts (also called "superior courts") and appellate courts, which include the Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. The California Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and can review cases decided by the Courts of Appeal. Certain cases, such as disciplinary cases involving judges, go directly to the California Supreme Court.
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Frequently asked questions
The California State Court System and the U.S. federal court system are entirely separate court systems with different judges who preside over different issues. However, there are certain circumstances under which a case can move from state to federal court or vice versa. For example, if a defendant petitions to move the case from state to federal court and there are grounds for doing so, or if a case from a California state court is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
One example is if a defendant petitions to move the case from state to federal court and there are grounds for doing so.
If a case from a California state court is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it can be moved from federal court to state court.
One example is an employment law case where you sue under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The Supreme Court has ruled that state courts generally must hear federal law claims unless state law bars a state court from hearing a federal claim through a neutral rule of judicial administration that does not improperly burden claims arising under federal law.
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