Tag: Federal Courts
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 …
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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…
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Process of the Writ
Habeas Corpus: The Process of the WritA petition for a writ of habeas corpus is filed by or on behalf of a person in "custody," a concept which has been expanded so much that it is no longer restricted to actual physical detention in jail or prison.<a name=t1 href=#f1 target="_self&qu…
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Injunctive Power
Congressional Limitation of the Injunctive PowerAlthough some judicial dicta 1 support the idea of an inherent power of the federal courts sitting in equity to issue injunctions independently of statutory limitations, neither the course taken by Cong…
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Emergency Price Control Act of 1942
Injunctions Under the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942Lockerty v. Phillips 1 justifies the same conclusion. Here the validity of the special appeals procedure of the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942 was sustained. This act provided for a specia…
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Powers Over Process
The Rule-Making Power and Powers Over ProcessAmong the incidental powers of courts is that of making all necessary rules governing their process and practice and for the orderly conduct of their business.322 However, this power too is derived from the statutes and cannot go beyond them. The landmark…
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Rule Making Power
Limitations to The Rule Making PowerThe principal function of court rules is that of regulating the practice of courts as regards forms, the operation and effect of process, and the mode and time of proceedings. However, rules are sometimes employed to state in convenient form principles of substant…
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Appointment of Referees
Appointment of Referees, Masters, and Special AidsThe administration of insolvent enterprises, investigations into the reasonableness of public utility rates, and the performance of other judicial functions often require the special services of masters in chancery, referees, auditors, and other spec…
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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 …
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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 "…