MrThickRopes
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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
anomalous-jurisdiction rule
Read a random definition: Godbote
A quick definition of anomalous-jurisdiction rule:
Anomalous-Jurisdiction Rule: This is a rule that says if someone wants to join a court case but the judge says no, they can ask a higher court to review that decision. But if the higher court agrees with the judge, then they can't do anything else and the case goes on without them. Some people don't like this rule because it can be confusing.
A more thorough explanation:
The anomalous-jurisdiction rule is a principle that states that a court of appeals has temporary jurisdiction to review the denial of a motion to intervene in a case. If the court of appeals finds that the denial was correct, then its jurisdiction disappears, and it must dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction because an order denying a motion to intervene is not a final, appealable order.
For example, if a person wants to join a lawsuit as a party but the trial court denies their motion to intervene, they can appeal that decision to the court of appeals. However, if the court of appeals agrees with the trial court's decision, then the court of appeals must dismiss the appeal because it no longer has jurisdiction over the case.
Many appellate courts have criticized this rule because it can lead to confusion and delays in the legal process. Some courts will instead affirm the denial of the motion to intervene instead of dismissing the appeal for want of jurisdiction.