Original Jurisdiction

Definition

The authority of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear certain cases directly, without them first being tried in a lower court. The Constitution grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction over disputes between states, which is relevant when determining whether a state entity is really the state itself.

Examples

• •NJ Transit argued that disputes with it are really disputes with New Jersey, which is why cases like New York v. New Jersey were properly brought under the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction.

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