The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem. Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution granted original jurisdiction over maritime cases to the US Supreme Court or, by extension, to the federal courts.
The Judiciary Act of 1789, however, inserted the "Saving to Suitors" Clause that permitted concurrent jurisdictionbetween state and federal courts for cases, such as minor personal injury (specified later under the Jones Act, which provided the sole exception allowing a jury trial in maritime cases), cargo damage, or property claims, that could be resolved by common-law, and were not specific to general maritime law. Suits related to non-commercial recreational boats may also be heard in state courts.
Many cases in admiralty are in Rem (against the vessel, large movable property, or real estate), which fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. Examples of this class of suit include:
Cases involving maritime law typically come under the jurisdiction of federal courts in the United States, as maritime law is governed by federal statutes and treaties. Additionally, state courts may have jurisdiction over certain maritime cases if they involve local laws or issues. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce on navigable waters, which further reinforces federal jurisdiction in these matters.
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Federal courts have jurisdiction over four main types of cases: cases involving federal law, cases involving the U.S. Constitution, cases in which the U.S. government is a party, and cases between citizens of different states (diversity jurisdiction) where the amount in controversy exceeds a specified threshold. These cases ensure that federal laws and constitutional rights are upheld uniformly across states. Additionally, federal courts may hear certain specialized cases, such as those involving maritime law or bankruptcy.
Federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction over all matters involving federal law.
Cases involving federal law.
Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws, the Constitution, disputes between states, and cases involving the United States government. State courts have jurisdiction over cases involving state laws, contracts, property disputes, and criminal cases that are not under federal jurisdiction. Federal courts handle cases that involve federal laws and the Constitution, while state courts handle cases that involve state laws and local issues.
US admiralty courts, also known as federal maritime courts, have jurisdiction over cases involving maritime law, including disputes related to ships, seamen, cargo, and marine insurance. These courts are found in key coastal cities such as New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
Both the US Supreme Court and the US District Courts share original jurisdiction over cases involving foreign diplomats; however, Congress has decided to allow the US District Courts to exercise original jurisdiction in this area. The Supreme Court may choose to hear these cases, but does not.
United States District Courts have original jurisdiction over cases involving federal crimes, civil suits under federal law, civil suits between citizens of different states, admiralty and maritime cases, bankruptcy cases, actions of certain federal administrative agencies, and other matters that may be assigned to them by Congress.
The Federal Courts system will only handle specific cases. They handle them if the United States is a party, cases involving violations of federal laws, bankruptcy, copyright issues, patent issues, and maritime law cases.
The key differences between state and federal court systems in the United States are the types of cases they handle, their jurisdiction, and the laws they apply. State courts primarily handle cases involving state laws and issues, while federal courts handle cases involving federal laws and issues. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws, the U.S. Constitution, disputes between states, and cases involving parties from different states. State courts have jurisdiction over cases involving state laws, local ordinances, and disputes between residents of the same state. Additionally, federal courts are established by the U.S. Constitution and have limited jurisdiction, while state courts are established by state constitutions and have broader jurisdiction.
US District Courts have original jurisdiction in most cases of general jurisdiction; however the US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in a limited class of cases, such as those involving disputes between the states.