A case is Justiciable, and can be heard by a Federal Court when . . .
StandingRipenessLive controversy (not moot)Not a political question
When does ? have Standing?
Injury: Personal non-ideological harmCausation and Redressability: court can remedy harm caused by ?No TP standing: All ?s before court have personally suffered injuriesNo generalized grievances: Suit not solely as "citizen" or "taxpayer
When may a ? bring suit on behalf of a TP?
Close relationship: Key is whether ? can adequately represent interest of injured partyInjury party unlike to assert rights: unless ? does so on injured party's behalfOrganizational standing: (i) members would have standing, (ii) interests germane to org's purpose, (iii) neither the claim nor relief requires participation of individual members
Ripeness: Can court grant pre-enforcement review? Must show . . .
Hardship w/o pre-enforcement reviewFitness of issues for judicial review Adequate record
When is a case not moot (i.e., "live")?
1) Live controversy ( ? still injured after filing lawsuit)2) Non-frivolous money damages3) Injury is repetitive and evades judicial review4) ? voluntarily ceases (possible to resume harm in future)5) Class action suits
Non-justiciable political question?
Guarantee of republican form of governmentChallenge to President's foreign policyChallenge to impeachment and removalChallenge to partisan gerrymandering
When can the Supreme Court hear a case?
1) Case is justiciable2) Writ of cert from state court, US Courts of Appeals, 3-Judge Panel of Federal District Court, and suits between states 3) Final judgment from appropriate court 3) If coming from state court, no independent & adequate state law ground for decision (Example, in a state court decision resting on two grounds, one on state law the other on federal law, if the SC's reversal of the federal law ground would not change the result in the case, the Court cannot hear it)
Generally, can a lower federal court hear a suit against a state government?
NO. Generally, a lower federal court can't hear a suit against a state government. |Note: State governments include state-level agencies, but do not include local governments (e.g., cities towns) or individual officials (even at the state-level)
When can a state be sued in a lower federal court?
State expressly consents to suit in lower federal courtUnder section 5 of the Fourteenth AmendmentWhen the Federal Government is the plaintiff suing the stateBankruptcy proceedings
Are suits against state-level officials allowed?
Yes, provided that any monetary judgement to be paid is paid out of the individual official's own pocket (can't pay out of state's treasury)
Can a federal court enjoin a pending state court proceeding?
No. A federal court cannot enjoin a pending state court proceeding.