Federal Courts deservedly has the reputation of being an exceptionally difficult course, and this book is designed to make it accessible to students by providing the context of cases and doctrines, as well as explaining their relevance to the issues being litigated in the 21st century. Federal Courts in Context supports what pedagogic research calls “deep learning.” It does so by framing federal jurisdiction and structural constitutional law using clear, concise explanations of the social and historical context of canonical cases to reveal the concrete stakes of traditional debates about federal judicial power. The result is an engaging, accessible, and richly textured account of the subject supporting not only more sophisticated doctrinal and jurisprudential analysis, but also the necessary foundation for inclusive pedagogy in the training of diverse 21st century lawyers. The focus is on canonical cases and their context rather than notoriously dense treatise-like material common to other books in the field. The book is also organized to dovetail with Erwin Chemerinsky’s Federal Jurisdiction to maximize the accessibility of the casebook content and learning outcomes. Benefits for instructors and students: Structured to pair with the most commonly used secondary reference in the field, Erwin Chemerinsky’s Federal Jurisdiction Focuses on canonical cases and excerpts rather than long, dense notes and treatise-like material Directly addresses the structural constitutional significance of the Civil War, Reconstruction Amendments, and the retreat from Reconstruction for federalism, the modern Court’s federalism revival, and separation of powers Makes explicit the influences of Indian Removal, allotment, and the late nineteenth century extension of American empire on doctrines of sovereignty, jurisdiction, plenary power, and non-Article III courts Provides interdisciplinary contextualization of the labor movement, the New Deal, and the reproductive rights movement to enrich analysis of reverse-Erie cases, the rise of the administrative state, agency adjudication, and standing Marries doctrinal and theoretical precision about the course’s core concepts (federalism, separation of powers, the Supremacy Clause, and jurisdiction) with legal realist sensibilities and attention to how ordinary people are affected by structural constitutional law, rather than abstractions, Socratic questions without answers, or other pedagogic techniques divorced from the research on deep learning

Drawing on economic and political theory, legal analysis, and his own extensive judicial experience, Posner sketches the history of the federal courts, describes the contemporary institution, appraises concerns that have been expressed with their performance, and presents a variety of proposals for both short-term and fundamental reform.

Designed for students in advanced courses and newly revised, this book explains the leading principles of federal jurisdiction. It includes such landmarks as Marbury v. Madison and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents and the rules that govern original and appellate jurisdiction, justiciability and abstention, federal habeas corpus, and sovereign immunity. It discusses the enemy combatant cases, culminating in Boumediene, and recent Supreme Court decisions on such diverse issues as the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, federal ingredient jurisdiction, complete preemption removal, and supplemental jurisdiction. Perhaps most important, the book provides students with a sense of the argumentative possibilities available to lawyers and jurists working within the federal courts' tradition.

In Federal Jurisdiction, Seventh Edition, luminary author Erwin Chemerinsky unpacks the black letter law and underlying policy issues of his subject with the clarity and penetrating insight for which he is renowned. An accessible and thorough exposition of the laws, issues, and policies that determine the jurisdiction of federal courts— students know they can rely on Federal Jurisdiction to inform and enrich their understanding of the cases and materials covered in this course. FEDERAL JURISDICTION, SEVENTH EDITION features: Comprehensive coverage that includes historical background, contemporary themes, and a lucid three-part organization of topics Illuminating descriptions and analyses of doctrine and policy Readable prose that explains current law, identifies unresolved issues, and examines competing policy considerations An even-handed treatment that considers multiple perspectives Updated throughout, the SEVENTH EDITION includes: Recent developments in standing, nonArticle III courts, sovereign immunity, Section 1983, Bevins liability, and habeas corpus New cases Clapper v. Amnesty International Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus Zivotofsky v. Clinton Wellness International Network Ltd. v. Sharif Lane v. Franks Minneci v. Pollard Sprint Communications, Inc. v. Jacobs

This pioneering text presents, in one single volume, the history of the federal courts since their establishment in 1789 and the changes that have occurred in the 200 years since. The author examines the historical context from which the federal court system grew and explores the expansion of the court system in response to procedural, conceptual, and historical influences. The evolution of the different types of federal courts through time is of particular focus, along with the growth of the jurisdiction of the federal courts and the changes to the procedure before the Supreme Court over time. To understand judicial history, it is important to appreciate the nuances of procedure and legal terminology at a particular time. For this reason, the author adheres to the use of the terms of law and procedure understood during the period under discussion. For example, a term such as 'circuit court' is used in its context as a trial court prior to 1911 and again in the context of today's "Circuit Court of Appeals." Specific chapters include: - The Prelude to the Establishment - Federal Courts Under the Articles of Confederation - The Establishment of the Federal Courts - The Organization of the Circuits - Judicial Legislation - Growth of Federal Jurisdiction - Growth of Federal Criminal Jurisdiction - Civil Procedure in the Federal Courts - Bankruptcy in American Law - Criminal Procedure in the Federal Courts - Development of the Appellate Review - Procedure Before the United States Supreme Court - Federal Judges - Courts in the District of Columbia