Curated OER
Claim Your Jurisdiction Game
Students participate in a game in which they have to decide whether it is state or federal jurisdiction.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Joseph Story: Commentaries on the Constitution
This page is a series of writings by Joseph Story on the jurisdiction, both original and appellate, assigned to the Supreme Court by the Founding Fathers. Published in 1833.
Other
Zorza Associates: The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
This lengthy article in the Fordham Urban Law Journal gives a history of Uniform Child Custody legislation and shows how the most recent, the Enforcement Act, affects women and children.
PBS
Pbs: How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens (Lesson Plan)
Objectives for this lesson include describing the structure and function of the Supreme Court, looking at important decisions, and discussing recent rulings and issues.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Jurisdiction Explained
Site provides an overview of jurisdiction with links to recent case law and constitutional references.
Other
Center for Democracy and Technology
A public interest organization working for public policies that advance civil liberties and democratic values in information technologies. Contains links to information on free speech, data privacy, wiretapping, and cryptography.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Courts: Our Rule of Law
This unit provides a comprehensive look into the value of the U.S. court system as a means to maintain the safety of American citizens. Offers video, readings, web resources, and activities.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
This site describes the jurisdiction of the Federal Court system. The site breaks the court's jurisdiction into three main areas of institutional conflict: Federal Restraint of State Courts by Injunctions, Habeas Corpus: Scope of the...
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Original Jurisdiction What Does It Mean?
This brief article explains the concept of original jurisdiction, especially in terms of the U.S. Supreme Court. There are links in the article to actual cases.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Law School: Child Custody: An Overview
This site from the Cornell University School of Law provides a brief overview of child custody with links to federal and state legislation on the topic.
US Senate
U.s. Senate: Committee on Rules and Administration
This website is dedicated to the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The purpose of this committee is to oversee the legislative body and make sure they are operating fairly. Don't miss out on this comprehensive site.
Cato Institute
Buying Justice: Plaintiffs' Lawyers Reap Huge Dividends
This writer discusses the buying of justices' impartiality by trial lawyers and calls for tort reform.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Fourteenth Amendment
Presents the Fourteenth Amendment - Rights Guaranteed Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process and Equal Protection. Includes a lengthy list of annotations to the Amendment.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Thirteenth Amendment
Presents the Thirteenth Amendment - Slavery and Involuntary Servitude, which abolished slavery and forced servitude in the United States. Includes four annotations to the Amendment.
Lectric Law Library
'Lectric Law Library: Legal Definition of Original Jurisdiction
The 'Lectric Law Library's official definition of original jurisdiction. Brief but significant.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article Iii: Annotations
This resource discusses both the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the appellate jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. There are hypertext links to related materials.