Can a federal district court review a final judgment of a state court?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from Turner v. City of Banning, 980 F.2d 738 (9th Cir. 1992):

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291. We review de novo the district court's decision that it lacked jurisdiction. Allah v. Superior Court, 871 F.2d 887, 890 (9th Cir.1989). We affirm.

Appellants' attempt to have a federal district court review final state court judgments must fail. "[L]ower federal courts possess no power whatever to sit in direct review of state court decisions." Atlantic Coast Line R.R. v. Brotherhood of Locomotive Eng'rs, 398 U.S. 281, 296 (1970); accord Allah v. Superior Court, 871 F.2d at 890-91. This is true "even though the direct challenge is anchored to alleged deprivations of federally protected due process and equal protection rights." Allah, 871 F.2d at 891 (citation omitted).

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