Threshold Doctrines

“The most important thing we do is not doing.”

Justice Brandeis

Jurisdiction

Definition: the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law

Constitution defines courts’ jurisdiction as “all cases, in law or equity” and “controversies between two or more states”

Standing

The ability of a party to demonstrate to the court sufficient connection to and harm from the law or action challenged to support that party's participation

Justiciability

That which is capable of being determined by a court of law.

The case must present a legal question, rather than a question of politics, or a question in which there is no clear legal standard.

Jurisdiction

Doctrines–Advisory Opinions–Ripeness–Mootness

Advisory Opinions

No non-adversarial proceedingsUsed to gain judicial “blessing” in

some state proceedingsUsed in many European legal

systems

Ripeness

Issue has not matured. There are still alternative forms of resolution, no harm has occurred or imminent

Poe v. Ullman (1962). CT had not prosecuted anyone for using contraception in years.

MootnessA dispute in which the alleged potential

harm is no longer presentDeFunis v. Odegaard (1974). After DeFunis

alleged reverse discrimination, District Court ordered him admitted to law school. Was in final semester when heard in Sup Ct, which found case moot as DeFunish would graduate irregardless of whether he won or not

StandingInjury: Must have suffered or

imminently will suffer injury Causation: Defendant is

responsible for injuryRedressability: Must be asking for

relief that a court is capable of providing.

Standing

Problem in constitutional law:Injury must be particularized to

individuals.Keeps courts out of public policyPreserves legislative supremacy

Frothingham v. Mellon (1924)Frothingham sues to stop federal spending

under Maternity Act of 1921Claims that welfare is state, not federal,

function (companion case: MA v. Mellon)Court denies standing as no particularized

injuryNo single taxpayer is sufficiently harmed, as

all our dollars are just drops in a bucket

Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation

FFRF challenged the use of discretionary executive branch funding to support the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Sup Ct found that lack of congressional action meant that FFRF lacked standing under the 2 part test

Berg v. Obama (3rd Circuit, 2009)Berg, a “birther,” challenged Obama’s status

as a “natural born” citizen and thus his qualifications to serve as President

Court denied Berg standing, noting that he shared any possible injury w/ >300 million others, and noting multiple political remedies (electoral college, Congress) and other litigants (states, other candidates, political parties, members of Congress, etc)

Arizonans for Official English v. AZ (1997)

Arizonans passed initiative requiring all official state acts to be carried out in English

District Court struck down part of initiative as overbroad. AZ chose not to appeal, AOE files to appeal District Court ruling

Sup Ct denies for other reasons, but also notes that AOE was not “authorized by state law to represent the State's interests” and denies standing

Environmental Standing

Legal Personality: A person or organization that can legally enter into a contract, and may therefore be sued for failure to comply with the terms of the contract.

Also includes: Corporations, Ships

Sierra Club v. Morton (1972)Sierra Club challenges Forest Service

permit for ski resort in valley then near (now in) Sequoia Nat’l Park

Question was: Should Sierra Club have standing to sue?

Majority found no injury to SC members, rather than generalized harm

Sierra Club v. Morton (1972)“The river as plaintiff speaks for the

ecological unit of life that is part of it. Those people who have a meaningful relation to that body of water - whether it be a fisherman, a canoeist, a zoologist, or a logger - must be able to speak for the values which the river represents and which are threatened with destruction....”

William O. Douglas (dissenting)

U. S. v. Students Challenging Regulatory Agency Procedures (S.C.R.A.P.) (1973)

SCRAP challenges railroad rate setting that made shipping recyclables more expensive

Claims standing because each member’s outdoor experience “was disturbed by the adverse environmental impact caused by the nonuse of recyclable goods brought about by a rate increase on those commodities.”

Massachusetts v. EPA (2007)Majority grant MA standing to challenge EPA

inaction on greenhouse gases as“the State has an interest independent of

and behind the titles of its citizens, in all the earth and air within its domain. It has the last word as to whether its mountains shall be stripped of their forests and its inhabitants shall breathe pure air."

Enforcement Provisions – Private Attorney Generals

Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows any individual to sue a public accommodation on account of discrimination in service.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991. Provides disabled individual right to sue a public accommodation on account of discrimination because of lack of access.

Luther v. Borden (1849)During Dorr’s Rebellion, citizens attempted

to overthrow the charter government of Rhode Island in order to expand the franchise to non-propertied white males.

Dorr’s supporters adopted a “People's Constitution” while state's General Assembly drafted the “Freemen's Constitution.” Each side held elections and “took office.”

Luther v. Borden (1849)Martin Luther, a Dorr supporter, was

arrested by Luther M. Borden, a state official, and sued Borden for illegal search and seizure and damage to his property.

Key Question: Was Borden acting with proper state authority? Question required Court to decide which was proper government.

Political Questions

• Republican Form of Government• Mode of amending Constitution • Partisan Gerrymandering• Termination of Treaties• Recognition of Indian Tribes• Form of Senate Impeachment Trials