What is supplemental jurisdiction?

Supplemental jurisdiction refers to a federal court's authority to hear additional claims that are related to a case already within its original jurisdiction. This concept allows federal courts to efficiently manage cases by addressing all claims that arise from the same set of facts or circumstances, thereby avoiding multiple lawsuits in different courts and promoting judicial economy.

When a federal court has original jurisdiction over a particular claim—either because it involves a federal question or meets diversity jurisdiction requirements—it can also hear additional claims that do not independently satisfy the jurisdictional requirements if those claims are based on the same nucleus of operative fact as the original claim. This legal principle is primarily governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

Supplemental jurisdiction supports the objective of resolving all related disputes in one forum, thus contributing to consistent legal outcomes and reducing the overall burden on the court system.