Definition
The principle allowing federal courts to decline jurisdiction when state courts can better resolve the issues, essentially judges saying 'not my circus, not my monkeys.' Judicial passing the buck with constitutional justification.
Example Usage
The federal court invoked the abstention doctrine, deferring to the ongoing state proceedings on property rights.
Origin
Developed through various U.S. Supreme Court cases in the 20th century, particularly Pullman abstention (1941)
Fun Fact
There are at least five different types of abstention, because lawyers can't have just one way to avoid deciding something.
Source: Federal jurisdiction and constitutional law terminology
Related Terms
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