State Courts Prove Competent in Resolving Federal Law Disputes, Challenging Assumptions.
Federal question jurisdiction serves to ensure judges are experienced in federal law, protect litigants from state court bias, and maintain uniformity in federal law. A study of state court opinions on federal issues challenges the belief that state courts are less experienced or more hostile towards federal claims. Federal courts do have more expertise in federal law, but not in all areas. The idea that state courts are hostile towards federal claims is questioned. Additionally, federal question jurisdiction allows the federal government to control federal law content, which would be limited without it.