Question

What types of cases do the state courts have authority to hear? What about federal courts? Practically speaking, why would our country have this multi-tiered court system?

Answer 1

State courts have generally unlimited subject-matter jurisdiction: they can hear pretty much any type of case that is not explicitly forbidden to them by Federal or State law. States can hear cases under their own law, the law of another state, the law of another nation and even Federal law (except in some few cases where Federal law explicitly vests exclusive jurisdiction in the Federal Judiciary).

Federal Courts, on the other hand, are courts of limited jurisdiction: a federal court has authority to hear cases only on subject matters explicitly allowed by Federal law. Examples of classes of cases: cases brought under Federal law (called “federal question” jurisdiction), cases brought under state law where no plaintiff is a citizen of the same state or nation as any defendant and vice versa (called “diversity” jurisdiction). Also, if you bring a case involving “Federal Question” jurisdiction and have a factually-related state law claim, then the federal court can hear the state law case (called, pendent, ancillary or supplemental jurisdiction).

As to criminal matters, generally only the Court of the sovereign offended can hear the case. If you break Maryland criminal law — you are tried in a Maryland Court for the crime; if you break federal law, you have to be tried in a federal court. Now, the same conduct might be a crime under the law of multiple sovereigns— imagine you stand in Maryland and shoot someone in Pennsylvania: I wouldn’t be surprised if such an act violated Maryland, Pennsylvania and Federal law. All three sovereigns could try, convict and punish you in this case (this is the “separate sovereign” exception to the double jeopardy rule).