Constitutional US Law

Tag: Federal Courts

  • Theory of Plenary Congressional Control

    The Theory of Plenary Congressional ControlUnlike its original jurisdiction, the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is subject to "exceptions and regulations" prescribed by Congress, and the jurisdiction of the inferior federal courts is subject to congressional prescription. Addi…

  • Appellate Jurisdiction

    Appellate JurisdictionIn Wiscart v. D'Auchy,1 the issue was whether the statutory authorization for the Supreme Court to review on writ of error circuit court decisions in "civil actions" gave it power to review admiralty cases.1171 A m…

  • Jurisdiction of the Inferior Federal Courts

    Jurisdiction of the Inferior Federal CourtsThe Framers, as we have seen,1 divided with regard to the necessity of courts inferior to the Supreme Court, simply authorized Congress to create such courts, in which, then, judicial power "shall be ve…

  • Congressional Control over Writs and Processes

    Congressional Control Over Writs and ProcessesThe Judiciary Act of 1789 contained numerous provisions relating to the times and places for holding court, even of the Supreme Court, to times of adjournment, appointment of officers, issuance of writs, citations for contempt, and many other matters whi…

  • Theory of Plenary Congressional Control Reconsidered

    The Theory of Plenary Congressional Control ReconsideredDespite the breadth of the language of many of the previously cited cases, the actual holdings constitute something less than an affirmance of plenary congressional power to do anything it desires by manipulation of jurisdiction, and, indeed, t…

  • Express Constitutional Restrictions on Congress

    Express Constitutional Restrictions on CongressCongress.-"[T]he Constitution is filled with provisions that grant Congress or the States specific power to legislate in certain areas; these granted powers are always subject to the limitations that they may not be exercised in a way that …

  • Theory of Plenary Congressional Control Conclusion

    Conclusion of the Theory of Plenary Congressional ControThere thus remains a measure of doubt that Congress's power over the federal courts is as plenary as some of the Court's language suggests it is. Congress has a vast amount of discretion in conferring and withdrawing and structuring the…

  • Act of 1789

    The Act of 1789The summary power of the courts of the United States to punish contempts of their authority had its origin in the law and practice of England where disobedience of court orders was regarded as contempt of the King himself and attachment was a prerogative process derived from presumed …

  • Power to Admit Attorneys

    Power to Admit and Disbar AttorneysSubject to general statutory qualifications for attorneys, the power of the federal courts to admit and disbar attorneys rests on the common law from which it was originally derived. According to Chief Justice Taney, it was well settled by the common law that &quot…

  • Inherent Power

    An Inherent PowerThe nature of the contempt power was described Justice Field, writing for the Court in Ex parte Robinson, 1 sustaining the act of 1831: "The power to punish for contempts is inherent in all courts; its existence is essential to …

  • First Amendment Limitations

    First Amendment Limitations on the Contempt PowerThe phrase, "in the presence of the Court or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice," was interpreted so broadly in Toledo Newspaper Co. v. United States 1 as to uphold …

  • Summary Punishment

    Due Process Limitations on Contempt Power: Right to Notice and to a Hearing Versus Summary PunishmentMisbehavior in the course of a trial may be punished summarily by the trial judge. In Ex parte Terry,1 the Court denied habeas corpus relief to a lit…

  • Right to Jury Trial

    Due Process Limitations on Contempt Power: Right to Jury TrialOriginally, the right to a jury trial was not available in criminal contempt cases.1 But the Court held in Cheff v. Schnackenberg,2 that a…

  • Impartial Tribunal

    Due Process Limitations on Contempt Powers: Impartial TribunalIn Cooke v. United States,1 Chief Justice Taft uttered some cautionary words to guide trial judges in the use of their contempt powers. "The power of contempt which a judge must have …

  • Disobedience of Orders

    Contempt by Disobedience of OrdersDisobedience of injunctive orders, particularly in labor disputes, has been a fruitful source of cases dealing with contempt of court. In United States v.United Mine Workers,1 the Court held, first, that disobedience…