tafflin levitt argued november decided january petitioners nonresidents maryland holders unpaid certificates deposit issued failed maryland savings loan association filed civil action federal district respondents former association officers directors others alleging claims inter alia racketeer influenced corrupt organizations act rico dismissed action concluding among things federal abstention appropriate civil rico claims raised pending litigation state since state courts concurrent jurisdiction claims appeals affirmed held state courts concurrent jurisdiction civil rico claims presumption favor jurisdiction rebutted factors identified gulf offshore mobil oil pp petitioners concede nothing rico explicit language suggest congress affirmative enactment divested state courts civil rico jurisdiction contrary grant federal jurisdiction civil rico claims plainly permissive thus operate oust state courts concurrent jurisdiction pp rico legislative history reveals evidence congress even considered question concurrent jurisdiction much less suggestion congress affirmatively intended confer exclusive jurisdiction civil rico claims federal courts petitioners argument congress modeled clayton act confers exclusive jurisdiction federal courts intended implication grant exclusive federal jurisdiction claims rejected sedima imrex agency holding distinguished since cases looked clayton act interpreting rico without benefit background juridical presumption type presented pp clear incompatibility exists state jurisdiction federal interests interest uniform interpretation federal criminal laws see inconsistent jurisdiction merely state courts required construe federal crimes constitute rico predicate acts section claims offenses laws result imposition criminal sanctions also significant danger inconsistent application federal criminal law since federal courts bound state interpretations predicate acts since state courts guided federal interpretations federal criminal law since state judgments misinterpreting federal criminal law subject direct review moreover state courts ability handle complexities civil rico actions many cases involve asserted violations state law state courts presumably greater expertise seem anomalous rule incompetent adjudicate civil rico claims claims subject adjudication arbitration see express mcmahon although fact rico procedural mechanisms applicable federal may tend suggest congress intended exclusive federal jurisdiction suffice create clear incompatibility federal interests extent congress intended rico serve broad remedial purposes concurrent jurisdiction advance rather jeopardize federal policies underlying statute pp delivered opinion unanimous white filed concurring opinion post scalia filed concurring opinion kennedy joined post norman goldberger argued cause petitioners briefs brian flaherty gary leshko lawrence weisman andrew marks argued cause respondents brief joseph curran attorney general maryland ralph tyler iii assistant attorney general clifton elgarten luther zeigler david isbell william allen charles ruff mark lynch justice delivered opinion case requires us decide whether state courts concurrent jurisdiction civil actions brought racketeer influenced corrupt organizations act rico pub title ix stat amended underlying litigation arises failure old savings loan old maryland savings loan association attendant collapse maryland insurance mssic nonprofit corporation created insure accounts maryland savings loan associations federally insured see brandenburg seidel reviewing history maryland savings loan crisis petitioners nonresidents maryland hold unpaid certificates deposit issued old respondents former officers directors old former officers directors mssic law firm old mssic accounting firm old state maryland deposit insurance fund successor mssic petitioners allege various state law causes action well claims securities exchange act exchange act stat et rico district granted respondents motions dismiss concluding petitioners failed state claim exchange act state courts concurrent jurisdiction civil rico claims federal abstention appropriate causes action raised pending litigation state appeals fourth circuit affirmed appeals agreed district old certificates deposit securities within meaning exchange act see petitioners exchange act claims therefore properly dismissed appeals held reliance prior decision brandenburg seidel supra rico action instituted state maryland comprehensive scheme rehabilitation liquidation insolvent savings loan associations provided proper basis district abstain authority burford sun oil citations omitted resolve conflict among federal appellate courts state courts granted certiorari limited question whether state courts concurrent jurisdiction civil rico claims hold accordingly affirm judgment appeals ii begin axiom federal system possess sovereignty concurrent federal government subject limitations imposed supremacy clause system dual sovereignty consistently held state courts inherent authority thus presumptively competent adjudicate claims arising laws see houston moore wheat claflin houseman plaquemines tropical fruit henderson charles dowd box courtney gulf offshore mobil oil noted claflin exclusive jurisdiction neither express implied state courts concurrent jurisdiction whenever constitution competent take see also dowd box supra start premise nothing concept federal system prevents state courts enforcing rights created federal law concurrent jurisdiction common phenomenon judicial history exclusive federal jurisdiction cases arising federal law exception rather rule see generally kent commentaries american law federalist hamilton frankfurter landis business friendly federal jurisdiction general view deeply rooted presumption favor concurrent state jurisdiction course rebutted congress affirmatively ousts state courts jurisdiction particular federal claim see claflin supra congress may see fit give federal courts exclusive jurisdiction citations omitted see also houston supra stated gulf offshore considering propriety jurisdiction particular federal claim begins presumption state courts enjoy concurrent jurisdiction congress however may confine jurisdiction federal courts either explicitly implicitly thus presumption concurrent jurisdiction rebutted explicit statutory directive unmistakable implication legislative history clear incompatibility jurisdiction federal interests citations omitted iii precise question presented therefore whether state courts divested jurisdiction hear civil rico claims explicit statutory directive unmistakable implication legislative history clear incompatibility jurisdiction federal interests gulf offshore supra find none factors present respect civil claims arising rico hold state courts retain presumptive authority adjudicate claims outset petitioners concede nothing language rico much less explicit statutory directive suggest congress affirmative enactment divested state courts jurisdiction hear civil rico claims statutory provision authorizing civil rico claims provides full person injured business property reason violation section chapter may sue therefor appropriate district shall recover threefold damages sustains cost suit including reasonable attorney fee emphasis added petitioners thus rely solely second third factors suggested gulf offshore arguing exclusive federal jurisdiction civil rico actions established unmistakable implication legislative history clear incompatibility jurisdiction federal interests review legislative history however reveals evidence congress even considered question concurrent state jurisdiction rico claims much less suggestion congress affirmatively intended confer exclusive jurisdiction claims federal courts courts appeals considered question concluded legislative history contains indication congress ever expressly considered question concurrent jurisdiction indeed principal draftsman rico remarked one even thought issue brandenburg quoting flaherty two lay claim rico nat may see also lou belzberg legislative history provides evidence congress ever expressly considered question jurisdiction indeed evidence establishes attention focused solely whether provide private right action citation omitted cert denied chivas products owen smoking gun legislative history rico sponsors indicated express intention commit civil rico federal courts petitioners nonetheless insist congress considered issue granted federal courts exclusive jurisdiction civil rico claims argument however misplaced even reliably discern congress intent might considered question liberty speculate fact congress even consider issue readily disposes argument congress unmistakably intended divest state courts concurrent jurisdiction sensing void legislative history petitioners rely alternative decisions sedima imrex agency holding noted congress modeled clayton act see sedima supra agency holding supra petitioners assert interpreted clayton act confer exclusive jurisdiction federal courts see general investment lake shore congress may presumed aware incorporated interpretations used similar language rico cf cannon university chicago congress intended implication grant exclusive federal jurisdiction claims arising argument also flawed rebut presumption concurrent jurisdiction question whether intent may divined legislative silence issue whether congress deliberations may said affirmatively unmistakably intended jurisdiction exclusively federal instant case lack indication rico legislative history congress either considered assumed importing remedial language clayton act rico jurisdictional implications dispositive mere borrowing statutory language imply congress also intended incorporate baggage may attached borrowed language lou supra indeed extent impute congress knowledge clayton act precedents makes less sense impute congress knowledge claflin dowd box congress sought confer exclusive jurisdiction civil rico claims every incentive expressly sedima agency holding contrary although observed sedima clearest current legislative history reliance clayton act model statement made context noting distinction private governmental actions clayton act ibid intimated nothing whether congress reliance clayton act implied intention establish exclusive federal jurisdiction civil rico claims sedima rejected requirement proving racketeering injury nothing borrow antitrust injury requirement antitrust law creat exactly problems congress sought avoid likewise agency holding concerned borrowing light legislative silence issue appropriate statute limitations period analogous statute circumstances found appropriate borrow statute limitations clayton act case contrast issue whether jurisdiction exclusive concurrent free add content statute via analogies statutes unless legislature specifically endorsed action gulf offshore legislative silence counsels compels us enforce presumption concurrent jurisdiction short sedima agency holding looked clayton act interpreting rico without benefit background juridical presumption type present case thus whatever extent clayton act analogy may relevant interpretation rico generally place inquiry jurisdiction state courts petitioners finally urge state jurisdiction civil rico claims clearly incompatible federal interests noted gulf offshore factors indicating clear incompatibility include desirability uniform interpretation expertise federal judges federal law assumed greater hospitality federal courts peculiarly federal claims citation omitted petitioners primary contention concurrent jurisdiction clearly incompatible federal interest uniform interpretation federal criminal laws see state courts required construe federal crimes constitute predicate acts defined racketeering activity see petitioners predict state courts permitted interpret federal criminal statutes create body precedent relating statutes federal courts consequently lose control orderly uniform development federal criminal law perceive clear incompatibility state jurisdiction civil rico actions federal interests preliminary matter concurrent jurisdiction suits clearly incompatible civil rico claims offenses laws result imposition criminal sanctions uniform otherwise see express mcmahon civil rico intended primarily remedial rather punitive point however decision today creates significant danger inconsistent application federal criminal law although petitioners concern need uniformity consistency federal criminal law well taken see ableman booth cf musser utah vague criminal statutes may violate due process clause federal courts pursuant retain full authority responsibility interpretation application federal criminal law bound state interpretations federal offenses constituting rico predicate acts state courts adjudicating civil rico claims addition guided federal interpretations relevant federal criminal statutes federal courts sitting diversity guided state interpretations state law see commissioner estate bosch state judgments misinterpreting federal criminal law course also subject direct review thus think state adjudication civil rico actions practice negligible effect uniform interpretation application federal criminal law cf petroleum superior delaware newcastle county rejecting claim uniform interpretation natural gas act jeopardized concurrent jurisdiction event result inconsistency multimembered multitiered federal judicial system already creates cf northwestern bell telephone surveying conflict among federal appellate courts rico pattern racketeering activity requirement moreover contrary petitioners fears full faith ability state courts handle complexities civil rico actions particularly since many rico cases involve asserted violations state law state fraud claims state courts presumably greater expertise see listing state law offenses constituting predicate acts gulf offshore supra state judges greater expertise applying laws whose governing rules borrowed state law see also sedima rico become tool everyday fraud cases bna civil rico report vol apr rico cases sedima involved common law fraud another involved either nonsecurities fraud theft conversion hold otherwise denigrate respect accorded coequal sovereigns also ignore consistent history hospitable acceptance concurrent jurisdiction dowd box indeed seem anomalous rule state courts incompetent adjudicate civil rico suits recently found inconsistency subjecting civil rico claims adjudication arbitration see express supra rejecting argument rico claims complex subject arbitration irreconcilable conflict arbitration rico underlying purposes petitioners note evidence incompatibility rico procedural mechanisms include extended venue provisions applicable federal see think sufficient however observe previously found concurrent state jurisdiction even federal law provided special procedural mechanisms similar found rico see dowd box supra finding concurrent jurisdiction labor management relations act suits despite federal enforcement venue provisions maine thiboutot finding concurrent jurisdiction suits despite federal procedural provisions cf hathorn lovorn finding concurrent jurisdiction disputes regarding applicability voting rights act despite provision panel although congressional specification procedural mechanisms applicable federal may tend suggest congress intended exclusive federal jurisdiction suffice create clear incompatibility federal interests finally note far disabling frustrating federal interests ermitting state courts entertain federal causes action facilitates enforcement federal rights gulf offshore see also dowd box supra conflicts deriving concurrent jurisdiction necessarily unhealthy thus extent congress intended rico serve broad remedial purposes see pub stat rico must liberally construed effectuate remedial purposes sedima supra congress mandate applied anywhere rico remedial purposes evident concurrent state jurisdiction civil rico claims advance rather jeopardize federal policies underlying statute reasons hold state courts concurrent jurisdiction consider civil claims arising rico nothing language structure legislative history underlying policies rico suggests congress intended otherwise judgment appeals accordingly affirmed footnotes title provides full district courts shall original jurisdiction exclusive courts offenses laws nothing title shall held take away impair jurisdiction courts several laws thereof agree state courts concurrent jurisdiction civil rico actions join opinion judgment add words rarely considered contentions civil actions based federal criminal statutes must heard federal courts observes ante uniform construction federal criminal statutes insignificant matter particularly congress recognized potential dangers nonuniform construction confined jurisdiction federal criminal cases federal courts therefore reason caution concluding state courts jurisdiction civil claims related federal criminal statutes assessing case danger federal interests presented potential inconsistent constructions federal criminal statutes rico unusual federal criminal statute borrows heavily state law racketeering activity defined terms numerous offenses chargeable state law well various federal offenses extent danger rico construction criminal statutes quite likely damage result federal misunderstanding content state law problem sure one solved exclusive federal jurisdiction many federal offenses named racketeering activity rico close though perhaps exact analogues cf durland construed federal mail fraud statute unlikely state courts incompetent construe federal statutes incorrect construction statutes present significant threat federal interests posed improper interpretation federal antitrust laws disastrous effect interstate commerce particular concern federal government racketeering activity defined rico includes federal offenses without analogues given history written civil rico litigation doubt construction offenses greatly disruptive important federal interests also possibility state courts disrupt uniform construction criminal rico launching new interpretations pattern enterprise elements offense hearing civil rico suits possibility though insubstantial cf northwestern bell telephone enough require exclusive federal jurisdiction civil rico claims even though varying interpretations pattern enterprise elements rico may drastically change consequences flow particular acts variations make act criminal one system blameless another therefore implicate core due process concerns identified ante underlying need uniform construction criminal statutes moreover authority reduce risk set aside incorrect interpretations elements rico liability justice scalia justice kennedy joins concurring join opinion addressing issues us basis argued parties included acceptance dictum gulf offshore mobil oil presumption concurrent jurisdiction rebutted explicit statutory directive unmistakable implication legislative history clear incompatibility jurisdiction federal interests ante dicta repeatedly used point departure analysis regrettable tendency acquire practical status legal rules write separately one become entrenched note view one respect correct statement law another respect may state courts jurisdiction federal causes action conferred upon congress even inherent powers permit entertain transitory causes action arising laws foreign sovereigns see mckenna fisk laws laws several much binding citizens courts thereof state laws two together form one system jurisprudence constitutes law land state courts two jurisdictions foreign claflin houseman see also minneapolis louis bombolis therefore takes affirmative act power supremacy clause oust jurisdiction exercise one earliest cases referred power congress withdraw federal claims jurisdiction houston moore wheat emphasis added see also bombolis supra concurrent jurisdiction exists unless excepted express constitutional limitation valid legislation missouri ex rel louis taylor congress made provision concerning remedy federal state courts concurrent jurisdiction original proposition eminently arguable depriving state courts sovereign authority adjudicate law land must done utmost clarity cf atascadero state hospital scanlon state sovereign immunity eliminated clear statement least expressly view alexander hamilton consider state governments national governments truly light kindred systems parts one whole inference seems conclusive state courts concurrent jurisdiction cases arising laws union expressly prohibited federalist bourne ed assuming however exclusion implication possible surely required implication text statute merely second part gulf offshore dictum permit unmistakable implication legislative history although charles dowd box courtney concluding statute state even suggest federal jurisdiction shall exclusive proceeded quite unnecessarily examine legislative history reinforce rather contradict conclusion already reached never found state jurisdiction excluded unmistakable implication legislative history perhaps harmless enough say since one hardly imagine implication legislative history unmistakable demonstrates agreement proposition majority houses president unless proposition embodied statutory text parties given assent harmless simply wrong principle assert congress effect affirmative legislative act simply talking unmistakable clarity needed oust jurisdiction congressional action provision law merely congressional discussion perhaps also true implied preclusion established fact statute expressly mentions federal courts plus fact jurisdiction plainly disrupt statutory scheme conceivably meant third part gulf offshore dictum clear incompatibility jurisdiction federal interests phrase interpreted broadly however taken assert power part exclude jurisdiction systemic federal interests make undesirable absolutely foundation precedent gulf offshore cited three cases support incompatibility formulation first dowd box supra contains nothing support incompatibility principle except quotation second case gulf offshore cited claflin indeed response argument nly federal judiciary possesses familiarity federal labor legislation monolithic judicial system necessary elaborate coherent system national labor laws dowd box opinion said whatever merits argument matter policy find nothing indicate congress adopted policy enacting second case cited claflin said concurrent jurisdiction exists excluded express provision incompatibility exercise arising nature particular case subsequent discussion makes entirely clear however meant incompatibility exercise arising nature particular case particular statute issue impliedly excluded jurisdiction congress said may sees fit give federal courts exclusive jurisdiction sometimes express enactment sometimes implication third case cited garner teamsters nothing jurisdiction federal cause action held national labor relations act whose express provision jurisdiction national labor relations board shall exclusive already held prevent federal courts assuming primary jurisdiction labor disputes see myers bethlehem shipbuilding prevented state courts well sum holds rico cause action meets none three tests exclusion jurisdiction recited gulf offshore since proposition meeting one tests sufficed dictum view meeting second test assuredly enough meeting third may