Appellate Jurisdiction Explained.

[ihopehefails]

to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls

In this section it states that the supreme court has jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

In the next section it is stating a special case that says that the supreme court shall have original jurisdiction when the dispute is between a state and ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls. In all other cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls then the supreme court shall have appellate jurisdiction between the lower federal courts and itself.

In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction

The cases that are being referred to are these cases in this section.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

There is no real political point I am trying to make but just pointing out where the supreme court has original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction and that is the supreme court has appellate jurisdiction in all cases (that it can preside over) except when the dispute is between a state and ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls.

It was done to prevent foreign dignitaries from being insulted by dealing with a lower court than the highest court in the land.

 

[ihopehefails]

Also, can some really bright English teacher tell me what this means ;-- and why it is in there. It could help explain more about what the original meaning had.

 

[lawbuff]

The Framers intended the SC to have only Original Jurisdiction in some areas, as it is the final arbiter. In my state, Ohio, our SC only has original jurisdiction in certain matters also, such as Quo Warranto, etc.

Constitution Online

The US court system under Article 3 also has a provision for inferior courts, mostly Federal trial courts, District courts, and then US Court's of Appeals, as the SC is not a trial court. One time in thier existence, they did though, hold a criminal trial, but they are a review court.