Legal Definitions - Article III Court

An Article III Court is a type of federal court in the United States whose existence and powers are directly established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. These courts are often referred to as "constitutional courts" because their authority, or jurisdiction, to hear legal cases comes directly from this foundational document. Their primary role is to interpret and apply the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties. They handle a specific range of cases, including those involving the federal government, disputes between states, or significant legal disagreements between citizens of different states.

Here are some examples illustrating the function of an Article III Court:

• Example 1: Challenging a Federal Law
  Imagine a group of environmental activists believes a new federal regulation permitting certain industrial emissions violates their constitutional right to a clean environment. They file a lawsuit to challenge the regulation's legality. This case would be heard in an Article III Court, such as a U.S. District Court. The court's authority stems from Article III, which grants jurisdiction over cases "arising under the Constitution and the laws... of the United States." The federal court would determine if the regulation is consistent with the Constitution or federal statutes.

• Example 2: Interstate Water Dispute
  Consider a scenario where the state of Nevada sues the state of California, alleging that California is diverting an excessive amount of water from a shared river, thereby harming Nevada's agricultural sector and water supply. This significant dispute between two U.S. states would fall under the original jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the highest Article III Court. Article III explicitly grants federal courts, and specifically the Supreme Court in certain instances, the power to hear "cases... between the states," ensuring a neutral federal forum for such critical interstate conflicts.

• Example 3: Lawsuit Between Citizens of Different States
  Suppose a business owner from Texas enters into a contract with a supplier based in Florida. When the supplier fails to deliver the goods as agreed, causing substantial financial loss to the Texas business owner (exceeding $75,000), the Texas owner decides to sue the Florida supplier for breach of contract. This civil lawsuit, even though it involves private parties and state contract law, can be heard in an Article III Court (a U.S. District Court) because it involves "citizens of different states" and meets the financial threshold for federal "diversity jurisdiction." Article III provides federal courts with the authority to hear such cases, preventing potential bias that might occur if the case were heard in a state court where one party is a local resident.