Also known as: exclusive original jurisdictions · exclusive jurisdiction · original jurisdiction
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A judicial power that authorizes a designated court to hear and decide designated categories of cases to the exclusion of all other courts and as the first forum to adjudicate them.
Evelyn Ellison, a citizen of State A, and Ezra Eastman, a citizen of State B, each claimed title to the same riverbed under conflicting state grants. They filed suit in State A court. The Supreme Court exercised exclusive original jurisdiction because the controversy was between two states over land grants.
Eastern Electric sued Empire Logistics in federal district court alleging breach of obligations created by a bilateral treaty. The district court exercised original jurisdiction because the claim arose under a treaty of the United States.
Elemental Pharmaceuticals sued Elysium Media in federal court on a diversity claim. Elysium impleaded a nondiverse supplier. The district court lacked supplemental jurisdiction over the plaintiff's direct claim against the supplier because the claim was asserted by a plaintiff against a Rule 14 party in a diversity-only action.
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Edith Eberhardt filed a state-court action against Ewan Eckhart alleging only state-law claims. Ewan removed to federal district court. The district court lacked removal jurisdiction because the well-pleaded complaint rule showed no federal question on the face of the complaint.
Emma Erickson sought a writ of mandamus from the Supreme Court directing a federal officer to deliver a commission. The Supreme Court held it lacked original jurisdiction because the Constitution did not authorize that writ as an exercise of original power.
Erika Echevarria sued state officials in federal court alleging malapportionment violated the Equal Protection Clause. The district court possessed jurisdiction because the claim arose under the Constitution even though the merits ultimately failed.
The Supreme Court possesses exclusive original jurisdiction in cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state is a party.
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No. Jurisdiction is determined solely by the plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint. A federal defense or counterclaim cannot supply the federal question needed for original jurisdiction.
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A district court may decline supplemental jurisdiction when the claim raises a novel or complex issue of state law, when state claims substantially predominate, or when all claims supporting original jurisdiction have been dismissed.
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The defendant must file a notice of removal in the district court embracing the state action within thirty days after service, and all properly joined and served defendants must consent when removal rests on diversity.
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…of the United States has not power to issue a mandamus to a Secretary of State of the United States, it being an exercise of original jurisdiction not warranted by the Constitution. Congress have not power to give original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in other cases than those described in the Constitution. An act of Congress…