Jurisdictional Limits of the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine

This Supreme Court decision details the legal standards of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, which prevents federal district courts from acting as appellate bodies for state-court decisions. The case involves T.M., a petitioner who sought to void a state-sanctioned medical consent order in federal court while her state appeal was still pending. In a majority opinion authored by Justice Sotomayor, the Court held that the doctrine applies even if the state litigation has not reached a final judgment from the state’s highest court. The ruling clarifies that federal district courts lack jurisdiction over cases where "state-court losers" invite federal judges to review and reject state-level mandates. Justice Thomas concurred to defend the historical necessity of the doctrine, while Justice Barrett dissented, arguing that the majority improperly expanded a narrow rule that should only apply once state proceedings have concluded. Together, these sources outline a significant jurisdictional boundary designed to maintain comity and federalism between the two court systems.