Cases and materials on federal courts

The distinctive feature of this Federal Courts casebook, and the main difference between it and other Federal Courts books, is its systematic focus on remedial issues, especially the problems that arise when a litigant tries to enforce federal constitutional rights against state or federal governments and officers in the federal courts. Departing from the traditional approach of Federal Courts books, we begin with a chapter on section 1983 litigation. The book stresses economy of means, clarity of presentation, and attention to the real-world Federal Courts issues that students need to understand and anticipate. This edition covers the major cases decided by the Supreme Court over the past four years, either as principal cases or in the notes. The new Supreme Court decisions include Connick v. Thompson and Lane v. Franks (chapter 1), Minneci v. Pollard (chapter 2), Gunn v. Minton and Mims v. Arrow Financial Services (chapter 3), Already LLC v. Nike, Inc., Camreta v. Greene, Chafin v. Chafin, Hollingsworth v. Perry, United States v. Windsor, and Zivotofsky v. Clinton (chapter 4), Sossamon v. Texas and VOPA v. Stewart (chapter 5), Smith v. Bayer, Sprint Communications v. Jacobs, and Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus (chapter 6), White v. Woodall and McQuiggin v. Perkins (chapter 9), and Stern v. Marshall (chapter 10). We have extensively revised chapter 4 (standing and justiciability) and chapter 9 (habeas corpus).

Constitutional remedies : section 1983 and related doctrines -- Federal common law -- The jurisdiction of the federal district courts -- Standing and justiciability -- The Eleventh Amendment and state immunity from suit -- The relationship between the federal courts and the state courts -- Federal law in the state courts -- Supreme Court review of state judgments -- Habeas corpus -- Congress's authority over federal jurisdiction.