What are the 9 types of cases the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over?
Asked by: Ashleigh Hamill | Last update: February 8, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (31 votes)
The U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction over nine categories of cases defined in Article III of the Constitution, covering federal law, treaties, ambassadors, maritime issues, disputes involving the U.S. government, conflicts between states, diversity of citizenship cases (citizens of different states), disputes between a state and citizens of another state, and certain international disputes, with the Court acting as the trial court (original jurisdiction) in some, like those involving states or ambassadors, and a court of appeals (appellate jurisdiction) in most others.
What are the 9 types of cases the Supreme Court and federal courts have jurisdiction over?
Article III provides that the judicial power "shall extend" to nine types of "cases" and "controversies": all cases in law and equity arising under the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States; all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; all cases of admiralty and maritime ...
What cases does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over?
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in proceedings for extraordinary relief in the nature of mandamus, certiorari, and prohibition. The court also has original jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 10).
What does the Supreme Court have 9 of?
The Judicial Branch of our government consists of U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and currently has 9 judges. Justices are chosen by the President and are confirmed by the Senate, Like each and every federal judge.
What are the 7 types of cases the Supreme Court hears?
List nine types of cases the Supreme and Federal Courts have jurisdiction over:
- the Constitution.
- federal laws.
- treaties.
- laws governing ships.
- ambassadors/public ministers.
- the United States government.
- two or more state governments.
- citizens of different states.
Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19
What types of Supreme Court cases are there?
Supreme Court Cases By Topic
- Abortion & Reproductive Rights.
- Antitrust.
- Climate Change & Environment.
- Copyrights.
- Criminal Trials & Prosecutions.
- Death Penalty & Criminal Sentencing.
- Due Process.
- Equal Protection.
What are the 8 types of cases heard in federal courts?
The U.S. Courts website lists the types of matters that federal courts hear as cases involving:
- the constitutionality of a law;
- laws and treaties of the United States;
- ambassadors and public ministers;
- disputes between two or more states;
- admiralty law;
- bankruptcy; and,
- habeas corpus issues.
What are the 9 current Supreme Court justices?
The nine current U.S. Supreme Court Justices include Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, with no vacancies currently on the bench.
Who increased the Supreme Court to 9?
The new Democratic-Republican majority under President Jefferson quickly restored the sixth seat and expanded the Court to seven seats in 1807 when Congress created a seventh circuit court. Congress expanded the Court from seven to nine members under Andrew Jackson in 1837.
Are there any cases where the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction?
Article III, Section 2, Clause 2: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction.
What cases go through the Supreme Court?
Trial Division
cases of treason, murder, attempted murder and other major criminal matters. civil cases unlimited in the amount of money that may be claimed. civil cases involving complex legal issues.
What are the different types of jurisdiction?
Subject-matter jurisdiction
- General Jurisdiction, which means that a court has the ability to hear and decide a wide range of cases. ...
- Limited Jurisdiction, which means that a court has restrictions on the cases it can decide. ...
- Exclusive Jurisdiction, which means that only a particular court can decide a case.
What are the types of supreme Court jurisdictions?
The Court's Jurisdiction
Some examples include cases to which the United States is a party, cases involving Treaties, and cases involving ships on the high seas and navigable waterways (admiralty cases).
What cases do the federal courts have jurisdiction over?
More specifically, federal courts hear civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases.
What type of cases are mostly handled by the supreme Court?
Supreme courts typically function primarily as appellate courts, hearing appeals from decisions of lower trial courts, or from intermediate-level appellate courts. A supreme court can also, in certain circumstances, act as a court of original jurisdiction.
Why does the Supreme Court have 9?
How did the U.S. decide that nine was the magic number of justices to sit on its most-powerful judicial bench? Basically, the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to determine how many justices sit on SCOTUS. This number has ranged between 5 and 10, but since 1869 the number has been set at 9.
What is the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
In addition, Article 32 of the Constitution gives an extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. It is empowered to issue directions, orders or writs, including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari to enforce them.
Who is the 51st Chief Justice?
Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Justice Sanjiv Khanna is the 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 18th January, 2019 and presently, he is the Patron-in-Chief, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Chairperson, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal (NJA).
Which court has 9 justices?
Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of the United States. Currently, there are nine Justices on the Court. Before taking office, each Justice must be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Justices hold office during good behavior, typically, for life.
Why didn't Obama get to nominate a Supreme Court judge?
With the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016 in the beginning of a presidential election year, the Republican majority in the Senate made it their stated policy to refuse to consider any nominee to the Supreme Court, arguing that the next president should be the one to appoint Scalia's replacement.
Why did John Jay resign from the Supreme Court?
John Jay resigned from the Supreme Court in 1795 primarily to become the Governor of New York, a position he was elected to while serving abroad on a diplomatic mission to negotiate the controversial Jay Treaty with Great Britain, and because he found the early Supreme Court lacked the prestige and power he desired, compounded by the arduous duty of "riding circuit".
What types of cases does the US Supreme Court generally hear?
Most common—roughly two-thirds of the total—are requests for review of decisions of federal appellate or district courts. The great majority of cases reach the Supreme Court through its granting of petitions for writs of certiorari, from the Latin certiorari volumnus, “we wish to be informed.”
Who is under US jurisdiction?
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
What is the most common type of court case?
Five Most Common Case Types
- 1) Contract Disputes. Contract disputes occur when one or more parties, typically in a business context, are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations for various reasons. ...
- 2) Torts. ...
- 3) Class Action. ...
- 4) Complaints Against The City. ...
- 5) Property Disputes.