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Simple English definitions for legal terms
admiralty court
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A quick definition of admiralty court:
An admiralty court, also known as a maritime court, is a special court that deals with cases related to maritime or admiralty law. These cases can include things like accidents or crimes that happen on the high seas, as well as contracts and transactions related to shipping. Admiralty courts are authorized by the U.S. Constitution and are different from regular civil courts in that they do not have juries. Instead, a judge hears and decides the case.
A more thorough explanation:
An admiralty court, also known as a maritime court, is a type of court that has jurisdiction over civil cases related to admiralty or maritime law. This type of court is authorized by the U.S. Constitution and is responsible for hearing cases related to maritime law.
The admiralty jurisdiction is authorized by the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article III, Section 2, Clause 1. Federal district courts have original subject matter jurisdiction over any civil case of admiralty or maritime jurisdiction. When exercising admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, federal courts are called admiralty courts.
The admiralty court has jurisdiction over all admiralty and maritime actions, including:
- Acts committed on the high seas or other navigable waters
- Contracts and transactions connected with shipping employed on the seas or navigable waters
Examples of cases that may be heard in an admiralty court include:
- A case involving a ship that collided with another ship on the high seas
- A case involving a contract for the transportation of goods by sea
Admiralty courts operate under unique maritime law rules and have differences in procedure from civil courts. One significant difference is that admiralty courts do not impanel juries. Instead, cases are heard by a judge.