General Course Descriptions for Terms: federal jurisdiction


824 - Federal Jurisdiction

This course will examine the structure and authority of the federal courts and the relationship between those courts and other governmental institutions. We will study the Constitution's "case or controversy" requirement and the related doctrines of standing, ripeness, and mootness. We will address the scope of the federal judiciary's jurisdiction, Congress's power to regulate that jurisdiction, and the interplay among the state and federal judicial systems. We will also cover such topics as sovereign and official immunity and habeas corpus. Throughout the course, we will consider the ways in which judicial structures and jurisdictional doctrines affect substantive rights. The doctrinal rules that govern federal court litigation are sometimes highly technical and frequently unsettled. My goal is not only to introduce you to the foundational black-letter law, but also to help you develop an understanding of the theoretical principles and practical considerations that underlie the doctrine. That deeper knowledge is vital to preparing you for a legal career in which you will regularly encounter questions with no definitive black-letter answer.