| name | jurisdictional-statement |
| title | Jurisdictional Statement |
| description | Drafts jurisdictional statements for U.S. appellate courts establishing authority to hear an appeal, procedural compliance, and timeliness. Covers 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291/1292, FRAP Rule 4, state appellate rules, finality analysis, interlocutory exceptions, tolling, and cross-appeals. Use when preparing appellate filings, jurisdictional briefs, or responding to jurisdictional challenges. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/jurisdictional-statement |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | litigation |
| language | en |
Jurisdictional Statement
Drafts a jurisdictional statement establishing appellate authority and procedural compliance to prevent dismissal for want of jurisdiction.
Prerequisites
Gather before drafting:
- Final judgment or appealable order with docket entry number
- Filed notice of appeal with date stamp
- Full docket sheet (trial and appellate courts)
- Post-trial motions (if any) — FRCP 50/52/59 or state equivalents, with filing and disposition dates
- Applicable court rules — FRAP, local circuit rules, or state appellate rules
- All parties with appellate designations
Quick Start
- Identify the jurisdictional basis (§ 1291 final decision, § 1292 interlocutory, collateral order, etc.)
- Build a timeliness timeline from judgment entry through notice of appeal
- Verify deadline arithmetic: entry date + period = due date; filing date ≤ due date
- Check for special issues (cross-appeals, multiple parties, standing)
- Format caption and citations per the specific court's rules
Drafting Workflow
1. Caption
Format per the appellate court's local rules. Include: full court name, all parties with appellate designations, both trial and appellate case numbers, and document title per court rules.
2. Basis for Jurisdiction
Identify the applicable grant of appellate jurisdiction:
| Basis | Authority | Scope |
|---|
| Final decision | 28 U.S.C. § 1291 | All claims, all parties disposed |
| Interlocutory — injunctions | 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1) | Granting/refusing/modifying injunctions |
| Interlocutory — certified | 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) | Controlling question of law, certified by district court |
| Collateral order | Cohen v. Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp., 337 U.S. 541 (1949) | Conclusive, important question, effectively unreviewable |
| Partial final judgment | FRCP 54(b) | Express determination of no just reason for delay |
| Mandamus | 28 U.S.C. § 1651 | All Writs Act, extraordinary circumstances |
For state appeals, cite the specific state statute, constitutional provision, or court rule.
Then explain why the order falls within the cited grant. For final judgments, address finality. For interlocutory appeals, demonstrate the applicable exception with authority.
