Civil Procedure Multistate Bar Practice Exam

What does supplemental jurisdiction allow a federal court to do?

1. Hear all claims regardless of jurisdiction

2. Hear a claim that does not satisfy diversity or federal question SMJ

3. Dismiss any claim lacking diversity

4. Override state law in all circumstances

The correct answer is: Hear a claim that does not satisfy diversity or federal question SMJ

Supplemental jurisdiction is a legal principle that allows a federal court to hear additional claims that are related to a claim over which the court has original jurisdiction, even if those additional claims do not independently satisfy the requirements for diversity jurisdiction or federal question jurisdiction. This is particularly important in cases where a plaintiff has a primary claim under federal law and also seeks to include related state law claims. The rationale for supplemental jurisdiction is to promote judicial efficiency and to prevent fragmented litigation. By allowing related claims to be adjudicated together, the court can avoid multiple lawsuits arising from the same set of facts, which ultimately serves the interests of justice and judicial economy. The other options do not accurately describe the role of supplemental jurisdiction. For instance, supplemental jurisdiction does not grant a federal court the authority to hear all claims unconditionally; it is limited to claims that are related to the original claim. Moreover, while a federal court may dismiss claims lacking diversity under certain circumstances, supplemental jurisdiction does not operate as a blanket permission to bypass diversity requirements for unrelated claims. Lastly, supplemental jurisdiction does not provide federal courts the ability to override state law in all cases; it merely allows federal courts to adjudicate certain state law claims when they are related to existing federal claims.