Jurisdiction Commons^™

From Pinochet To Rumsfeld: Universal Jurisdiction In Europe 1998-2008, Wolfgang Kaleck

Michigan Journal of International Law

This Essay provides a survey of more than fifty universal jurisdiction proceedings in European courts and illustrates that universal jurisdiction is no longer a seldom-used theoretical concept, but a widespread practice. However, it is a practice that faces a number legal and practical obstacles identified here. Similar difficulties are encountered in other mechanisms used to combat impunity, including territorial and personality jurisdiction, state accountability at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), and civil litigation in the United States. The Essay then begins an evaluation of the last ten years of universal …

The Problem Of Jurisdictional Non-Precedent, Stephen I. Vladeck

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Most critiques of the Supreme Court's June 2008 decision in Boumediene v. Bush (including Justice Scalia's dissent in the same) have at their core the argument that Justice Kennedy's majority opinion is inconsistent with prior precedent, specifically the Supreme Court's 1950 decision in Johnson v. Eisentrager. A closer read of Eisentrager, though, reveals a surprisingly unclear opinion by Justice Jackson, that seems to go out of its way to reach various issues on the merits even after suggesting that the federal courts lacked jurisdiction over habeas petitions filed by 22 Germans convicted of war crimes by a U.S. military tribunal …

Supreme Court Preemption Doctrine, Christopher H. Schroeder

Faculty Scholarship

In the United States, law and policy always function within layers of government authority – federal, state, and local. This book primarily examines the choices policy makers, legislatures, or agencies face in allocating and coordinating responsibility among these layers; choices that will always be constrained by any limits placed on them by the U.S. Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court. This chapter explores the doctrine that the Supreme Court has elaborated to address one set of those constraints, namely the doctrine of preemption.

Preemption doctrine rests on Article VI of the Constitution, which provides that the laws and treaties …

Historical Practice And The Contemporary Debate Over Customary International Law, Ernest A. Young

Faculty Scholarship

Response to: Anthony J. Bellia, Jr. & Bradford R. Clark, The Federal Common Law of Nations, 109 Colum. L. Rev. 1 (2009).

A.J. Bellia and Brad Clark have performed a valuable service for other scholars interested in foreign relations law and federal jurisdiction by collecting and illuminating—with their usual care and insight—the historical practice of both English and early American courts with respect to the law of nations. Their recent Article, The Federal Common Law of Nations, demonstrates that, while American courts have not generally treated customary international law (CIL) as supreme federal law, they have applied such law where …

Foreign Officials And Sovereign Immunity In U.S. Courts, Curtis A. Bradley

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Confronting The Past: Democratic Rhetoric Or Socially Necessary?, Rachel Oster

Human Rights & Human Welfare

In the current globalized international system, politics, economics, and societal issues are the concern of not only the state but of the world as a whole. It is increasingly apparent that participation in the global community requires states to implement, at minimum, conventional democracy within which individual rights are recognized and protected. Yet for much of the developing world, democratic regimes are partially contested given that many states were historically controlled by non-democratic, often militant regimes that offered security to citizens during times of economic crises.

No Notice, No Hearing, No Problem? The Constitutionality Of North Carolina's Prejudgment Statute, Jason A. Jennings

Campbell Law Review

Accordingly, this Comment will analyze the constitutionality of North Carolina's prejudgment statutes. Part I will take a brief look at the history of prejudgment statutes and the "power" doctrine articulated by the United States Supreme Court in Pennoyer v. Neff. Part II will discuss the impact of subsequent Supreme Court cases.

Gray Market Trademark Infringement Actions At The U.S. International Trade Commission: The Benefits Of The Forum And Analysis Of Relevant Cases, 8 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 271 (2009), Joseph H. Heckendorn, Lyle B. Vander Schaaf

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Trademark owners continue to enforce their trademarks against imports of gray market goods using Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. In comparison to the federal court alternative, the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) offers a number of distinct advantages. In addition, ITC decisions in In re Certain Agricultural Vehicles and Components Thereof and In re Certain Hydraulic Excavators and Components Thereof have clarified what is required to enforce trademarks at the ITC. Trademark owners should heed the recent ITC decisions in deciding how to curb imports of infringing gray market goods.

Universal Jurisdiction As An International "False Conflict" Of Laws, Anthony J. Colangelo

Michigan Journal of International Law

This Essay proposes a framework for analyzing the concept of universal jurisdiction and evaluating its exercise by States in the international legal system. In brief, the author argues that universal jurisdiction is unique among the bases of prescriptive jurisdiction in international law, and that its unique character gives rise to unique-and underappreciated- limiting principles. The main analytical device the author uses to make this argument is the notion of a "false conflict," which is borrowed from the private law field of conflict of laws, also known outside the United States as private international law. The author does not suggest that …

Beware—Florida's Long Arms Can Reach Through Cyberspace And Grab Unsuspecting Professionals: Personal Jurisdiction In Professional Malpractice Cases, Judy Ann Clausen

UF Law Faculty Publications

Internet advertising leads to client relationships that transcend state and national borders. Modern professionals secure new clients through Internet advertising and communicate with clients remotely through e-mail. Particularly in Florida, a premier retirement destination, many retirees who built careers and nest eggs in other states receive advice from nonresident professionals.

This Article concerns the range of malpractice-related claims that disgruntled clients bring against nonresident professionals, including breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence. Further, the Article contemplates issues surrounding personal jurisdiction in such cases. Often, nonresident professionals find themselves sued in Florida even when they have no office or agent …

Personal Jurisdiction On Internet Activities: Oldfield V. Pueblo De Bahia Lora, S.A.—The Eleventh Circuit Finally Discusses Zippo But Leaves Lower Courts Needing More Guidance, Judy Ann Clausen

UF Law Faculty Publications

More than a decade ago, the most widely embraced test for determining whether a nonresident defendant's Internet presence satisfied the minimum contacts requirement of due process emerged in Zippo Manufacturing Co. v. Zippo Dot Com, Inc. After Zippo, the nation's courts have largely used the Zippo sliding scale to determine whether a nonresident defendant's Internet conduct subjects the defendant to personal jurisdiction in the forum where a plaintiff encounters the Internet activities. Until Oldfield v. Pueblo De Bahia Lora, S.A. in 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit had not directly addressed Internet presence …

On The Evolution Of The Law Of International Sea Piracy: How Property Trumped Human Rights, The Environment And The Sovereign Rights Of States In The Areas Of The Creation And Enforcement Of Jurisdiction, Leticia M. Diaz, Barry Hart Dubner

Barry Law Review

This article examines the statistics concerning piratical incidents occurring in the year 2008 and their impact on the world economy. This article also reviews the total scope of sea piracy worldwide with regard to the number and type of incidents thereof, because Somalia is not the only place in the world where sea piracy occurs. Finally, this article analyzes the history of prescribing and enforcing a jurisdiction regarding the international law of sea piracy.

A Call For The End Of The Doctrine Of Realignment, Jacob S. Sherkow

Articles & Chapters

In Indianapolis v. Chase National Bank, 1941, the Supreme Court established the doctrine of realignment, requiring federal courts to examine the issues in dispute and realign each party as plaintiff or defendant if necessary. Due to the complete diversity requirement, realignment gave the federal courts the ability to both create and destroy diversity jurisdiction. Since 1941, the federal courts have struggled to interpret the central holding in Indianapolis, and have created several competing "tests" for realignment. This confusion has made the doctrine of realignment unworkable. Realignment-along with each of the present tests-encourages jurisdictional abuses by forcing the federal courts to …

Plains Commerce Bank V. Long Family Land And Cattle Company, Inc.: An Introduction With Questions, Frank Pommersheim

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

An Unnecessary Convenience: The Assertion Of The Uniform Code Of Military Justice ("Ucmj") Over Civilians And The Implications Of International Human Rights Law, Dan E. Stigall

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The expansion of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to include jurisdiction over civilians during contingency operations raises significant legal and human rights concerns, particularly regarding due process and equality under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). While the UCMJ aims to maintain military order, its application to civilians may not meet the ICCPR's requirements for necessity and fairness, potentially undermining the U.S.'s international reputation. However, proponents argue that military jurisdiction can sometimes advance human rights and accountability, suggesting a need for balanced solutions.

Double Jeopardy And Multiple Sovereigns: A Jurisdictional Theory, Anthony J. Colangelo

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

This Article offers a coherent way of thinking about double jeopardy rules among sovereigns. Its theory has strong explanatory power for current double jeopardy law and practice in both U.S. federal and international legal systems, recommends adjustments to double jeopardy doctrine in both systems, and sharpens normative assessment of that doctrine.

The Article develops a jurisdictional theory of double jeopardy under which sovereignty signifies independent jurisdiction to make and apply law. Using this theory, the Article recasts the history of the U.S. Supreme Court's dual sovereignty doctrine entirely in terms of jurisdiction, penetrating the opacity of the term sovereign as …

Rebalancing The Scales: Restoring The Availability Of Disparate Impact Causes Of Action In Title Vi Cases, Victor Suthammanont

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

Estate Of Pew V. Cardarelli, Rachel Bell

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

Territory, Territoriality, And The Resolution Of Jurisdictional Conflict, Hannah L. Buxbaum

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Comity And Foreign Parallel Proceedings: A Reply To Black And Swan. Lloyd’S Underwriters V. Cominco Ltd., Austen L. Parrish

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Lloyd's Underwriters v. Cominco Ltd., is a potentially seminal case, currently pending before the Supreme Court of Canada. The case involves the issue of whether Canadian courts should stay litigation in the face of duplicative foreign proceedings. This reply responds to Vaughan Black's and John Swan's comment on the Lloyd's case, which was published in volume 46 of the Canadian Business Law Journal.

The reply argues that although Black and Swan have important insights into judgment enforcement when competing, inconsistent decisions exist, their analysis too readily skips over the first-to-file rule and underestimates the costs of reactive litigation. Canadian courts …

Reforming The Law Of Crossborder Litigation: Judicial Jurisdiction, Janet Walker

All Papers

This consultation paper prepared for the Law Commission of Ontario, in association with a Working Group of private international law specialists, considers the current state of the common law in Ontario and the options for codification.

Multijurisdictional Adr Practice: Lessons For Litigators, Kristen M. Blankley, Emily E. Root, John Minter

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This article attempts to give an overview of the problem facing litigators in their increasingly global practice, as well as the steps that litigators can take to act in compliance with legal and ethical guidelines. Accordingly, this article is divided into two broad areas. First, this article will discuss what activities constitute the practice of law and which jurisdiction's law should govern, focusing on whether ADR practices constitute the practice of law. Second, if the litigator is engaged in the practice of law, this article considers what actions the litigator should take in order to comply with the applicable ethical …

The Jurisdictional Entrapment Defense: An Analytic Framework For Claims Of Manufactured Jurisdiction In Child Exploitation Prosecutions, Leonid Feller

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Alternative Dispute Resolution In Small Consensual Litigation: Too Much Of A Good Thing?, Mark S. Simms

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

The evolution of equity in tort has brought about the use of alternative methods of dispute resolution in reaching settlements in mass tort cases: "Indeed, equity is a progressive force in the law. When formal adjudication cannot provide a plain, adequate, and complete remedy, the system of ADR should be flexible enough to deliver individualized justice." It appears, however, that the use of ADR is not always a prudent exercise of the court's power, nor is it always conducive to individual justice. This Note examines the Gray case, in which the court appointed a special master, thereby assigning one man …

The Federal Courts As A Franchise: Rethinking The Justifications For Federal Question Jurisdiction, Gil Seinfeld

Articles

The components of the Federal Franchise model-procedural homogeneity, cultural conformity, and technical competence-should be familiar. The federal courts' capacity to provide these benefits has not escaped commentators' notice; indeed, there are points of connection between these features of federal court adjudication and the individual fragments of the conventional account.l0 But prior scholarly discussion of these themes has been unsystematic, treating them as (at best) secondary considerations when it comes to the allocation of federal question cases between the state and federal courts. This Article attempts to weave together these previously disconnected strands of thinking about federal court adjudication and to …

Some Observations On The Future Of U.S. Military Commissions, Michael A. Newton

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

The Obama Administration confronts many of the same practical and legal complexities that interagency experts debated in the fall of 2001. Military commissions remain a valid, if unwieldy, tool to be used at the discretion of a Commander-in-Chief. Refinement of the commission procedures has consumed thousands of legal hours within the Department of Defense, as well as a significant share of the Supreme Court docket. In practice, the military commissions have not been the charade of justice created by an overpowerful and unaccountable chief executive that critics predicted. In light of the permissive structure of U.S. statutes and the framework …

Jurisdiction's Noble Lie, Frederic M. Bloom

Publications

This Article makes sense of a lie. It shows how legal jurisdiction depends on a falsehood--and then explains why it would.

To make this novel argument, this Article starts where jurisdiction does. It recounts jurisdiction's foundations--its tests and motives, its histories and rules. It then seeks out jurisdictional reality, critically examining a side of jurisdiction we too often overlook. Legal jurisdiction may portray itself as fixed and unyielding, as natural as the force of gravity, and as stable as the firmest ground. But jurisdiction is in fact something different. It is a malleable legal invention that bears a false rigid …

Abstention Doctrine, Aaron-Andrew P. Bruhl

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Sorting Out Civil Jurisdiction In Indian Country After Plains Commerce Bank: State Courts And The Judicial Sovereignty Of The Navajo Nation, Dale Beck Furnish

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

Aggregation And Choice Of Law, Edward H. Cooper

Articles

This is more a conversational gambit than an article. I address a question at the intersection of procedure and choice of law, speaking as a proceduralist rather than a choice-of-law scholar. The question - which may be two questions - addresses the potential interdependence of procedural aggregation devices and choice of law. One part of the question is whether aggregation can justifiably change the choice of law made for some part of an aggregated proceeding. The other part is whether choice-of-law principles can be adapted to facilitate procedurally desirable aggregation. Answers may be sought either in abstract theory or in …