fair assessment real estate assn mcnary argued october decided december held principle comity bars taxpayers damages actions brought federal courts redress allegedly unconstitutional administration state tax system principle comity bars federal courts granting damages relief cases necessary decide whether tax injunction act standing alone bar actions pp prior enactment tax injunction act prohibits district courts enjoining suspending restraining assessment levy collection state tax plain speedy efficient remedy may state courts decisions cases seeking equitable relief state taxation handed enactment predecessor recognized doctrine equitable restraint remedies law adequate particularly applicable suits challenging constitutionality state tax laws delicate balance federal authority state governments concomitant respect accorded state tax laws federal pp legislative history tax injunction act suggest congress intended deference state tax matters limited actions enumerated act thus principle comity predated act restricted passage pp vitality comity principle demonstrated decision great lakes dredge dock huffman federal courts may render declaratory judgments constitutionality state tax laws although act raised possible bar suit raised case found unnecessary determine whether act construed prohibit declaratory relief decision based instead principles federalism necessity respect state taxing schemes thus demonstrating vitality comity principle also applicability actions seeking remedy injunctive relief pp damages actions less disruptive state tax systems actions enjoin collection taxes recovery damages first require determination unconstitutionality state tax scheme fully intrusive equitable actions barred comity principles moreover intrusiveness actions exacerbated doctrine monroe pape authorizing immediate resort federal without first exhausting state remedies whenever state actions allegedly infringe constitutional rights addition intrusiveness judgment maintenance suit intrude enforcement state scheme pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger white blackmun powell joined brennan filed opinion concurring judgment marshall stevens joined post david newburger argued cause petitioners briefs susan spiegel steve vossmeyer james gamble thomas wehrle argued cause respondents brief respondents mcnary et al andrew minardi john ashcroft michael boicourt filed brief respondents williams et al john enright william costello eugene griffin michael baccash filed brief international association assessing officers amicus curiae justice rehnquist delivered opinion action required reconcile two somewhat intermittent conflicting lines authority whether damages action may brought redress allegedly unconstitutional administration state tax system district eastern district missouri held suits barred tax injunction act principle comity appeals eighth circuit affirmed equally divided sitting en banc granted certiorari resolve conflict among courts appeals affirm setting forth facts think description past times divergent decisions may shed light upon proper disposition case even enactment recognized important sensitive nature state tax systems need restraint deciding cases affect systems justice field wrote shortly enactment upon taxation several chiefly rely obtain means carry respective governments utmost importance modes adopted enforce taxes levied interfered little possible delay proceedings officers upon duty devolved collecting taxes may derange operations government thereby cause serious detriment public dows chicago wall district courts shall enjoin suspend restrain assessment levy collection tax state law plain speedy efficient remedy may courts state hereinafter act contrasted statute line cases holdings respect shortly justice field wrote vital vulnerable nature state tax systems congress enacted familiar language every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress although legislation enacted conditions existed south time cast general language applicable illinois whose names mentioned debates answer state law enforced give relief federal remedy supplementary state remedy latter need first sought refused federal one invoked thus two divergent lines authority respecting access federal courts adjudication constitutionality state laws govern case one hand antecedent basis comity principle matthews rodgers supra boise artesian water boise city supra bars least federal injunctive challenges state tax laws added authority decision great lakes dredge dock huffman supra holding declaratory judgments barred basis comity hand doctrine originating monroe pape supra comity apply involved litigant challenging constitutionality state action may proceed directly federal divergence views mind turn facts case challenge administration state tax laws implicates lines authority hold least actions need decide principle comity controls ii petitioner fair assessment real estate association nonprofit corporation formed taxpayers louis county county promote equitable enforcement property tax laws missouri petitioners david lynn cassilly real property recent improvements county petitioners filed suit alleging respondents county tax assessors supervisors director revenue three members missouri state tax commission deprived equal protection due process law unequal taxation real property complaint focuses two specific practices respondents first petitioners allege county properties new improvements assessed approximately current market value properties without new improvements assessed approximately current market value disparity allegedly results respondents failure reassess old property regular basis last general reassessment occurred second petitioners allege property owners successfully appeal property assessments cassillys specifically targeted reassessment next year petitioners previously sought relief respondents assessments state proceedings petitioner david cassilly others brought action state circuit ordered respondent antonio reassess real property county direct appeal however missouri reversed ground state tax commission circuit supervise reassessment process state ex rel cassilly riney en banc cassillys appealed tax assessed home county board equalization received reduction assessed value home assessed cassillys appealed board equalization appeal pending commencement litigation cassillys brought action federal seeking actual damages amount overassessments punitive damages respondent petitioner fair assessment sought actual damages amount expenses incurred efforts obtain equitable property assessments members actions award damages first require declaration respondents administering state tax violated petitioners constitutional rights iii indicated discussion part comity cases thus far barred federal courts granting injunctive declaratory relief state tax cases decide today principle comity bars federal courts granting damages relief cases decide whether act standing alone require result correctness result case demonstrated examination decisions legislative history act decision great lakes case recent recognition principles federalism prior enactment virtually federal cases challenging state taxation sought equitable relief consequently restraint state tax matters based upon traditional doctrine courts equity stay hand remedies law plain adequate complete see matthews rodgers singer sewing machine benedict boise artesian water boise city even basis equity law cases recognized doctrine equitable restraint notable application boise artesian water supra carried peculiar force matthews supra suits challenging constitutionality state tax laws restraint particularly appropriate delicate balance federal authority state governments concomitant respect accorded state tax laws federal matthews explained reason guiding principle equitable restraint peculiar force cases suit like present one brought enjoin collection state tax courts different though paramount sovereignty scrupulous regard rightful independence state governments times actuate federal courts proper reluctance interfere injunction fiscal operations require relief denied every case asserted federal right may preserved without policy equitable restraint based notions comity completely clear federal courts state tax cases indeed senate report bill become referred existing practice federal courts entertaining suits state officers examination cases era demonstrates however practice resulted repudiation principle comity determinations available state remedies adequately protect federal rights asserted see grosjean american press gully interstate natural gas cert denied see also note federal interference assessment collection state taxes harv rev note tax injunction act suits monetary relief chi rev nn congress response practice federal courts enactment motivated large part comity concerns said act last term statute roots equity practice principles federalism recognition imperative need state administer fiscal operations tully griffin last consideration principal motivating force behind act legislation first foremost vehicle limit drastically federal district jurisdiction interfere important local concern collection taxes cong rec remarks sen bone rosewell lasalle national bank omitted vitality comity principle perhaps best demonstrated decision great lakes dredge dock huffman several louisiana taxpayers brought action federal district seeking declaratory judgment state tax law applied unconstitutional void although raised possible bar suit raised case found unnecessary inquire whether words statute may construed prohibit declaration federal courts concerning invalidity state tax instead opinion considerations led federal courts equity refuse enjoin collection state taxes save exceptional cases require like restraint use declaratory judgment procedure ibid considerations course principles federalism scrupulous regard rightful independence state governments times actuate federal courts proper reluctance interfere injunction fiscal operations require relief denied every case asserted federal right may preserved without interference state internal economy administration inseparable assaults federal courts validity state taxation necessarily attends injunctions interlocutory final restraining collection state taxes considerations moment persuaded federal courts equity deny relief taxpayer quoting matthews rodgers principle comity recognized relied upon several recent cases dealing matters state taxes fullest articulation given familiar language younger harris case held traditional principles equitable restraint bar federal courts enjoining pending state criminal prosecutions except extraordinary circumstances th underlying reason restraining courts equity interfering criminal prosecutions reinforced even vital consideration notion comity proper respect state functions recognition fact entire country made union separate state governments continuance belief national government fare best institutions left free perform separate functions separate ways concept represents system sensitivity legitimate interests state national governments national government anxious though may vindicate protect federal rights federal interests always endeavors ways unduly interfere legitimate activities never forgotten slogan federalism born early struggling days union occupies highly important place nation history future iv arguments primarily addressed applicability act petitioners contend damages actions inherently less disruptive state tax systems injunctions declaratory judgments therefore barred prior decisions petitioners emphasize claim seeks recovery individual state officers state coffers doctrine qualified immunity protect officers actions thus avoid chilling administration missouri tax scheme disagree petitioners recover damages unless district first determines respondents administration county tax system violated petitioners constitutional rights effect district must first enter declaratory judgment like barred great lakes convinced determination fully intrusive equitable actions barred principles comity moreover intrusiveness actions exacerbated nonexhaustion doctrine monroe pape taxpayers petitioners able invoke federal judgments without first permitting state rectify alleged impropriety addition intrusiveness judgment maintenance suit intrude enforcement state scheme district case stated allow suits cause disruption revenue collection systems equal caused anticipatory relief state tax collection officials summoned federal defend assessments claims refunds well prayers punitive damages merely assertion tax collected willfully maliciously discriminatory certain type property allowance claims result source appellate review state property tax classifications supp case therefore controlled principles articulated even enactment followed later decisions matthews great lakes recovery damages civil rights act first requires declaration determination unconstitutionality state tax scheme halt operation damages actions less actions injunction hale state officers federal every time taxpayer alleged requisite elements claim consider interference contrary scrupulous regard rightful independence state governments times actuate federal courts matthews therefore despite ready access federal courts provided monroe progeny hold taxpayers barred principle comity asserting actions validity state tax systems federal courts taxpayers must seek protection federal rights state remedies provided course remedies plain adequate complete may ultimately seek review state decisions see huffman pursue matthews rodgers supra adequacy available missouri remedies issue case district expressly found petitioners means rectify consider unjust situation state processes petitioners contest finding addition missouri expressly held plaintiffs petitioners may assert claim state see stafford muster shapiro columbia union national bank trust accordingly judgment appeals affirmed footnotes compare fulton market storage cullerton cert denied fair assessment real estate mcnary supra ludwin city cambridge bland mchann cert denied held chapman houston welfare rights organization jurisdictional counterpart narrower scope latter doubt claim denial due process equal protection fourteenth amendment petitioners asserted come narrower construction adopted chapman supra unnecessary pursue difference result reach today foreshadowed decision last term rosewell lasalle national bank wherein stated even tax injunction act bar interference state tax administration principles federal equity may nevertheless counsel withholding relief see great lakes dredge dock huffman need decide case whether comity spoken also bar claim requires scrutiny whatever state tax assessment practices facial attack tax laws colorably claimed discriminatory race course yet broadly interpreted civil rights act permit federal damages actions state violations constitutional rights brought prior exhaustion state remedies see monroe pape closest case federal damages action suit refund state taxes allegedly assessed violation fourteenth amendment first national bank board county commissioners consistent deference state tax matters speak today held action barred parties failure exhaust available state remedies although declaratory actions available seldom used see note federal declaratory judgments validity state taxes yale justice brennan cogently explained reasons behind deference state tax administration special reasons justifying policy federal noninterference state tax collection obvious procedures mass assessment collection state taxes administration adjudication taxpayers disputes tax officials generally complex necessarily designed operate according established rules state tax agencies organized discharge responsibilities accordance state procedures federal declaratory relief available test state tax assessments state tax administration might thrown disarray taxpayers might escape ordinary procedural requirements imposed state law pendency federal suit collection revenue challenged law might obstructed consequent damage state budget perhaps shift state risk taxpayer insolvency moreover federal constitutional issues likely turn questions state tax law like issues state regulatory law properly heard state courts perez ledesma concurring part dissenting part federal courts reached conclusion example advertiser wallace supp md concluded lthough perhaps less coercive anticipatory relief less intrusive refund damage award plaintiff seeks especially request punitive damages still designed deter collection taxes assessed defendants evangelical catholic communion thomas supp correctly stated elementary constitutional rights must found abridged order damages recovered civil rights action thus plaintiffs action recover damages without determination taxation newbury property effected violation constitutional rights make determination effect issuing declaratory judgment regarding constitutionality tax levied plaintiffs prohibited issuing declaratory judgment also precluded matter law adjudicating plaintiffs damages claims discern significant difference purposes principles recognized case remedies plain adequate complete phrase used articulating doctrine equitable restraint plain speedy efficient within meaning see tully griffin hillsborough cromwell great lakes dredge dock huffman matthews rodgers phrases refer obvious precept plaintiffs seeking protection federal rights federal courts remitted state remedies federal rights thereby lost numerous federal decisions treated adequacy state remedies body law federal courts look seeking determine occasions comity spoken today justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens justice join concurring judgment agree judgment district dismissing petitioners complaint affirmed arrive conclusion different route agree case jurisdiction federal courts action damages brought pursuant express congressional authority governed applying principle comity grounded solely notion appropriate division responsibility federal state judicial systems subject constitutional constraints exclusively congress responsibility determine jurisdiction federal courts federal courts historically acted within assigned jurisdiction accordance established principles respecting prudent exercise equitable power practice lends credence authority asserts today renounce jurisdiction entire class damages actions brought pursuant petitioners david cassilly lynn cassilly owners real property louis county mo petitioner fair assessment real estate association fair corporation formed real estate taxpayers louis county promote equitable enforcement real property tax laws state missouri respondents public officials responsible execution real property tax laws louis county july petitioners filed action district eastern district missouri pursuant contending respondents willfully intentionally systematically deprived rights due process equal protection fourteenth amendment inequitable property tax assessments petitioners alleged respondents assessed properties recent improvements roughly current true market value older homes average current market value alleged respondents targeted reassessment real property upon successful appeal prosecuted prior year cassillys sought compensatory damages measured difference taxes paid several years prior action amount contended owing assessed average rate sought compensation expenses incurred sporadic attempts remedy alleged unlawful assessment resort state administrative mechanisms substantial punitive damages respondent fair sought money damages amount expenses incurred course efforts obtain equitable enforcement state real property tax law district dismissed complaint holding action barred tax injunction act principles comity supp judgment district affirmed equally divided vote appeals eighth circuit sitting en banc ii opinion sets principle comity strong policies favoring federal forum vindicate deprivations federal rights resolves issue favor comity view conflict conceivably justify unprecedented step renouncing assigned jurisdiction indeed cases relied attempt find historic source sweeping view principle comity reveal limits principle source judicial authority employed several recent opinions opinion today principle comity refers proper respect state functions organs national government particularly federal courts expected demonstrate exercise legitimate powers see younger harris employed principle comity nothing encapsulation policy albeit policy roots constitution federal system government principle comity may source judicial policy emphatically source judicial power renounce jurisdiction application comity principle thus limited relatively narrow class cases federal asked employ historic powers equity called upon decide whether exercise broadest potentially intrusive form judicial authority comity established substantial role informing exercise discretion little room principle comity actions law apart matters administration judicial discretion minimum surely judicial power fashion novel doctrine concerning jurisdiction federal courts found constitution provides judicial power shall vested one inferior courts congress may time time ordain establish art iii relies primarily great lakes dredge dock huffman support sweeping view comity principle great lakes presented question whether tax injunction act construed prohibit declaration federal courts concerning invalidity state tax found need address question holding instead considerations led federal courts equity refuse enjoin collection state taxes save exceptional cases require like restraint use declaratory judgment procedure ibid today reasons petitioners recover damages unless district first determines respondents administration county tax system violated petitioners constitutional rights effect district must first enter declaratory judgment like barred great lakes convinced determination fully intrusive equitable actions barred principles comity ante jurisdiction federal courts cases present one reflects considered congressional judgment acknowledges gave federal cause action prisoners taxpayers anyone else able prove constitutional federal rights denied state ante addition provides persons shall subject like punishment pains penalties taxes licenses exactions every kind emphasis added congress expressly provided jurisdiction claims district courts see zwickler koota congress granted federal courts jurisdiction free repudiate authority ibid england louisiana state board medical examiners england said fundamental objections conclusion litigant properly invoked jurisdiction federal district consider federal constitutional claims compelled without consent fault accept instead state determination claims result war unqualified terms congress pursuant constitutional authorization conferred special categories jurisdiction upon federal courts principle federal properly appealed case law jurisdiction duty take jurisdiction right party plaintiff choose federal choice properly denied willcox consolidated gas omitted iii subject course constitutional constraints jurisdiction lower federal courts subject plenary control congress kline burke construction cary curtis pointed supra case appears fall squarely within jurisdictional grant perhaps well question whether congress anywhere contradicted presumptive grant judicial authority one possible source contradiction suggested begin analysis jurisdictional question tax injunction act title provides district courts shall enjoin suspend restrain assessment levy collection tax state law plain speedy efficient remedy may courts state federal courts history scrupulous exercise equitable powers avoid unnecessary interference administration state taxation dows chicago wall justice field noted upon taxation several chiefly rely obtain means carry respective governments utmost importance modes adopted enforce taxes levied interfered little possible delay proceedings officers upon duty devolved collecting taxes may derange operations government thereby cause serious detriment public although many cases preceding passage tax injunction act affirmed need restraint exercise power equity state tax cases never intimated federal forum inappropriate complaint sought remedy damages case otherwise within federal jurisdiction indeed repeatedly stated contrary see henrietta mills rutherford county chicago osborne example henrietta mills unanimous concluded basis equitable relief relying fact adequate remedy law state also federal petitioner able show violation federal constitution emphasis added indeed damages actions wrongful collection taxes brought taxing authority taxing officials unknown lower federal courts see tyler dane county wd international paper burrill mass matthews rodgers five years prior enactment tax injunction act summarized federal practice whenever question presented uniformly held mere illegality unconstitutionality state municipal tax ground equitable relief courts remedy law plain adequate complete aggrieved party left remedy state courts suit law federal courts essential elements federal jurisdiction present citations omitted emphasis added although matthews rodgers stated broad principle restraint exercise federal equity powers rule soon honored breach observance purporting construe equitable principles state tax cases federal courts become free easy injunctions thus federal remedial practice began contrast sharply limits state remedial authority result federal became preferred forum properly invoke jurisdiction principally large corporations legislative history tax injunction act makes plain congress concern disparity effect local finances introducing bill ultimately became tax injunction act senator bone explained existing practice federal courts entertain suits make possible foreign corporations exercising diversity jurisdiction withhold state governmental subdivisions taxes vast amounts long periods disrupt state county finances thus make possible corporations determine amount taxes pay cong rec njust discrimination citizens state foreign corporations business state cause much controversy controversies arising use injunctive process state tax cases eliminated passage bill emphasis added ask assistance question whether existence adequate remedy law equity state courts action prevent foreign corporation pursuing remedy federal answer sic say might circumstances federal courts jurisdiction actions instance refund action brought state state officers circumstances amount suit state eleventh amendment federal constitution course suits state suits effect suits state maintainable federal courts refund action permitted state legislation rules decision counties county officers money refunded yet reached state exchequer actions maintainable state courts likewise pursued federal courts requisite elements federal jurisdiction existed understood applied prior passage tax injunction act congress enacting tax injunction act principle comity demanded respect state tax administration extended precisely far necessary ensure federal courts become party abuse equity power congress intended federal authority exercised restraint applied administration tax system thus restore parity two judicial systems absolutely support either cases congress action total abdication federal power field thus entirely clear jurisdictional matter federal courts jurisdiction claims seeking monetary relief arising unconstitutional state taxation iv petitioners argue since federal claim brought pursuant necessary exhaust administrative remedies commencing action first national bank greeley board commissioners weld county held litigant complaining alleged overassessment taxes may bring damages action grounded constitution statutes litigant must fully exhaust administrative remedies afforded state weld county plaintiff error brought action federal question jurisdiction recover amount taxes levied years alleged taxes assessed collected contravention due process equal protection clauses fourteenth amendment federal statute setting forth certain limitations state local taxation regard national banks paused addressing plaintiff error substantive claim met threshold consideration case contention plaintiff exhaust remedies administrative boards consequently heard judicial tribunal assert invalidity tax although elaborate underpinnings holding seems clear grounded considerations sound judicial administration parity state federal judicial systems historically guided federal equity courts later embodied tax injunction act principles weld county govern treatment actions law involving state tax matters petitioners seek avoid reach weld county arguing case controlled general rule stated mcneese board education cases brought pursuant resort state administrative remedies precondition federal suit factual matter course difficult distinguish weld county raised factual allegations closely parallel complaint issue importantly repeatedly reaffirmed exhaustion administrative remedies precondition suit brought civil rights acts see ellis dyson steffel thompson carter stanton wilwording swenson per curiam king smith damico california per curiam conclusion rests firmly understanding intention congress enacting congress provided particular class cases federal courts refrain hearing suits brought administrative remedies exhausted see supp iv doubt federal courts bound limitation cf preiser rodriguez view always displacement remedies justified clear statement congressional intent least presence persuasive considerations policy brennan dissenting surely somewhat lesser showing required concerned displacement remedy deferral federal consideration pending exhaustion state administrative process obligation require exhaustion administrative remedies may fairly understood congressional action accord congressional policy bar federal courts alert policies plainly sufficient evidence congressional policy noted enacting tax injunction act congress sought assure federal courts remain open suits monetary relief state tax cases requisite elements federal jurisdiction existed requirement exhaustion state administrative remedies certainly mandatory precondition suit sense jurisdictional prerequisite nevertheless need reach conclusion congress intended enactment tax injunction act freeze jurisdictional practice federal courts order recognize requirement entirely consonant principal purposes act provide assurance federal courts exercise least restraint dealing questions state tax administration courts state levied tax administrative remedies precondition suit monetary relief state absent substantial consideration compelling contrary result particular case remedies deemed precondition suit federal well petitioners sought damages arising alleged unconstitutional assessments four tax years failed pursue manner administrative remedies provided state appealed assessment louis county board equalization gained substantial relief although claim relief granted board equalization failed bring assessment constitutional standards failed appeal board ruling year state tax commission appeal assessment pending state tax commission time brought action petitioners failed exhaust administrative remedies tax year seek damages complaint properly dismissed extent today judgment affirms dismissal concur focused claims cassillys individual petitioners dismissing fair complaint obviously position individual plaintiffs petitioners challenge determination rather concede case turns solely claims individuals reply brief petitioners brief petitioners recognize nature principle course detract fact manifestations clearly seen cases acts congress long younger harris indeed historic treatment state tax litigation cases congress provides excellent illustration settled scope comity principle source judicial congressional doctrine failure today acknowledge substantive limits principle may part product fact principle comity tied concrete language constitutional statutory provision see tribe american constitutional law distinction federal jurisdiction exercise equitable power escape chief justice stone writing great lakes dredge dock huffman recognized federal courts exercise sound discretion traditionally guided courts equity granting withholding extraordinary relief may afford ordinarily restrain state officers collecting state taxes state law affords adequate remedy taxpayer withholding extraordinary relief courts authority give denial jurisdiction congress conferred federal courts contrary recognition jurisdiction conferred federal courts embraces suits equity well law federal equity may appropriate case refuse give special protection private rights exercise jurisdiction prejudicial public interest stay hand public interest reasonably appears private interests suffer public interest federal courts equity exercise discretionary power grant withhold relief avoid needless obstruction domestic policy citations omitted emphasis added abstention often cited application comity principle see wells role comity law federal courts rev surprisingly applied abstention doctrine equity actions see railroad pullman resources equity equal adjustment avoid waste tentative decision well friction premature constitutional adjudication burford sun oil matter sound equitable discretion pullman described equitable origins rule appeal chancellor appeal exercise sound discretion guides determination courts equity history equity jurisdiction history regard public consequences employing extraordinary remedy injunction public interests higher claim upon discretion federal chancellor avoidance needless friction state policies abstention thus narrowly drawn meet particularized need serves federal remains open litigant present federal claim action remitted state fail afford relief england louisiana state board medical examiners see also louisiana power light city thibodaux course constitute abnegation judicial duty contrary wise productive discharge postponement decision best fruition principles comity also reflected federal habeas practice current habeas jurisdiction wholly statutory matter comity surely played part development exhaustion requirement see ex parte royall judicial creation requirement reflected usurpation judicial power issuance great writ historically regarded matter equitable discretion see fay noia suggest occasion apply principles comity actions law doctrine exhaustion administrative remedies based primarily concerns judicial administration see myers bethlehem shipbuilding reflects principles avoidance unnecessary litigation deference administrative expertise notions administrative autonomy see mckart surely broad enough encompass comity concerns well cf first national bank greeley board commissioners weld county role comity must narrow scope judicial discretion regard suits seeking monetary relief discretion limited explained equitable foundations anticipatory relief jurisdiction district present suit praying adjudication rights anticipation threatened infringement analogous equity jurisdiction called upon adjudicate essentially equitable cause action district free suit equity grant withhold relief prayed upon equitable grounds similar desire ensure state local governments deprived use tax proceeds lawfulness levy finally determined largely responsible enactment tax injunction act see infra suggests district determines assessments question unlawful state officials promptly cease conduct found infringed petitioners constitutional rights thus determination unlawfulness operate suspend collection state taxes ante never thought result something avoided great lakes rule seeks avoid withholding tax funds local authorities tax determined unlawful afterwards civil rights act became passed congress reference taxes added see county san mateo southern pacific cc cal justice field least one state tax case seeking damages remedy involved claim garrett bamford actions challenging constitutionality state taxation also held fall within general federal question jurisdiction see raymond chicago union traction claim action state board equalization making assessment consideration action state carried violate provisions fourteenth amendment constitution taking property appellee without due process law failing give equal protection laws constitutes federal question beyond controversy county san mateo southern pacific supra louisville bosworth ed jurisdictional grant reflects congressional policy pronouncement role federal courts federal system civil rights acts passed made federally cognizable followed act mar granted federal courts jurisdiction federal statutory constitutional questions requisite amount controversy met stat hardly disparages current standing state courts qualified adjudicators federal rights exercising jurisdiction concurrent federal courts note time enactment modest distrust state courts protectors federal rights see mitchum foster statute congress gave federal courts vast range power lain dormant constitution since courts ceased restricted tribunals fair dealing citizens different became primary powerful reliances vindicating every right given constitution laws treaties zwickler koota emphasis opinion quoting frankfurter landis business study federal judicial system stated zwickler congress imposed duty upon levels federal judiciary give due respect suitor choice federal forum hearing decision federal constitutional claims plainly escape duty permissible merely state courts also solemn responsibility equally federal courts guard enforce protect every right granted secured constitution yet like believe wherever federal courts sit human rights federal constitution always proper subject adjudication right decline exercise jurisdiction simply rights asserted may adjudicated forum citations omitted might also question whether terms totally devoid specialized legal meaning surely seem evoke association language equitable actions see dows chicago wall equity allow injunction issue restrain action emphasis added great lakes dredge dock huffman suspend collection state taxes litigation ended cognizable equity understood case must brought within recognized foundations equitable jurisdiction mere errors excess valuation hardship injustice law grievance remedied suit law either payment taxes justify equity interpose injunction stay collection tax state railroad tax cases limitations federal equity practice intensified need restraint equity limited enjoining collection tax whole effect injunctive relief allow complainant escape payment taxes due even though portion reflected lawful assessment justice paid england louisiana state board medical examiners douglas concurring two features federal equity practice explained willingness grant equitable relief first construction placed equitable maxim equity jurisdiction lie exists adequate legal remedy held adequate legal remedy must one cognizable federal city bank schnader limitations federal jurisdiction preclude adjudication suit monetary relief either mandate eleventh amendment otherwise barrier federal injunctive intervention thus removed part denied courts power grant anticipatory relief collection taxes see culp powers equity state tax litigation rev imbalance powers state federal judicial systems particularly remedied passage tax injunction act second feature federal courts construing strictly requirement remedy available law plain adequate complete see supra frequently concluded procedures provided state adequate see note federal interference assessment collection state taxes harv rev tax injunction act set forth deferential standard evaluate adequacy state remedy see rosewell lasalle national bank thus respect tax injunction act limited equitable range district brought federal practice closely line state courts assuredly required act within bounds state law procedure without regard whether federal courts considered law procedure plain adequate complete report noted common practice statutes various forbid actions state courts enjoin collection state county taxes unless tax law invalid property exempt taxation statutes generally provide taxpayers may contest taxes refund actions payment protest types state legislation makes possible various agencies survive tax litigation progress federal courts open may secure injunctive relief collection taxes highly unfair picture presented citizen state required pay first litigate privileged sue federal courts need pay choose withhold balance period litigation existing practice federal courts entertaining suits state officers makes possible foreign corporations business withhold governmental subdivisions taxes vast amounts long periods time seriously disrupt state county finances pressing needs tax money great many instances compelled compromise suits result substantial portions tax lost without judicial examination real merits controversy brief quotes many cases discussed part supra supporting view federal forum continue available sure house senate reports focus actions brought diversity jurisdiction emphasis merely reflects fact congress particularly concerned advantage conferred corporations virtue diversity jurisdiction unlikely congress enacting sought limit federal equity power diversity cases see rosewell lasalle national bank implausible congress wished ensure continued availability diversity jurisdiction actions law implicity barring damages actions arising constitution laws cases succeeded act see supra see apartments bldg smiley like rule applied equity actions see gorham mfg state tax first national bank greenville gildart mcdougal mudge revised statutes allowed state local taxation shares national bank subject two restrictions taxation shall greater rate assessed upon moneyed capital hands individual citizens state shares national banking association owned state shall taxed city town bank located elsewhere nothing herein shall construed exempt real property associations either state county municipal taxes extent according value real property taxed plaintiff error charged banks weld county assessed compelled pay upon valuation grossly excess put upon property county likewise excess put upon banks counties state exhaustion rule stated weld county reflecting established practice state tax matters limited exhaustion administrative judicial remedies see stason judicial review tax errors effect failure resort administrative remedies rev case far present examination authorities disclosed held taxpayer must resort available modes direct attack judicial proceedings proceeding collateral attack except injunction cases injunction refused adequacy legal remedy myers bethlehem shipbuilding set forth exhaustion requirement respect federal administrative remedies justice brandeis noted exhaustion rule frequently applied equity cases added rule one judicial administration merely rule governing exercise discretion applicable proceedings law well suits equity citing weld county petitioners seek distinguish case weld county arguing weld county action brought county directly thus effect suit refund exhaustion might appropriate action brought pursuant officials county seeking damages distinction unpersuasive relief obtained petitioners administrative process course reduce potential damages liability defendants moreover city county might susceptible suit apparently allegation alleged unlawful assessments artifact official policy monell new york city dept social services petitioners able circumvent exhaustion requirement designedly bringing suit single potential defendant actually benefited collection allegedly unlawful tax finally petitioners argument particularly inapt case many officials named defendants small involvement administrative process surely seems appropriate held accountable officials opportunity fully consider petitioners claims within administrative forum provides basis involvement matter see mckart course unnecessary decide whether allegations complaint issue state claim dissented preiser saw insufficient justification warrant displacement remedy favor habeas corpus procedure involving exhaustion state judicial remedies see also aggrieved party left suit law federal courts essential elements federal jurisdiction present quoting matthews rodgers perez ledesma concurring part dissenting part noted policies motivated judicial congressional restraint field special reasons justifying policy federal noninterference state tax collection obvious procedures mass assessment collection state taxes administration adjudication taxpayers disputes tax officials generally complex necessarily designed operate according established rules state tax agencies organized discharge responsibilities accordance state procedures federal declaratory relief available test state tax assessments state tax administration might thrown disarray taxpayers might escape ordinary procedural requirements imposed state law pendency federal suit collection revenue challenged law might obstructed consequent damage state budget perhaps shift state risk taxpayer insolvency moreover federal constitutional issues likely turn questions state tax law like issues state regulatory law properly heard state courts