appeals feldman argued december decided march respondents filed petitions district columbia appeals asking waivers district columbia bar admission rule requires applicants graduated law school approved american bar association issued per curiam orders denying petitions respondents filed complaints district district columbia challenging district columbia appeals denials waiver petitions also challenging constitutionality bar admission rule district dismissed complaints ground lacked jurisdiction appeals district columbia circuit reversed remanded held proceedings district columbia appeals judicial nature involved judicial inquiry called upon investigate declare enforce liabilities stood present past facts laws supposed already exist prentis atlantic coast line respect respondents adjudicated claims present right admission bar pp district courts jurisdiction challenges decisions particular cases arising judicial proceedings even challenges allege state action unconstitutional review decisions may thus extent respondents sought review district district columbia appeals denials petitions waiver district lacked jurisdiction complaints district courts jurisdiction general challenges state bar rules promulgated state courts nonjudicial proceedings require review final judgment particular case accordingly district jurisdiction elements respondents complaints involving general attack constitutionality district columbia bar admission rule pp brennan delivered opinion burger white marshall blackmun powell rehnquist joined stevens filed dissenting opinion post daniel rezneck argued cause petitioners briefs charles cochran robert sussman argued cause respondent feldman brief william skinner michael healy argued cause filed brief respondent hickey allen snyder elliot mincberg filed brief conference chief justices amicus curiae urging reversal justice brennan delivered opinion must decide case authority district district columbia appeals district columbia circuit review decisions district columbia appeals bar admission matters appeals district columbia circuit reversing district held district jurisdiction review district columbia appeals denials respondents requests waivers bar admission rule requires applicants graduated approved law school vacate decision appeals district columbia circuit remand case proceedings consistent opinion discussed detail earlier opinions changes structure district columbia system effected district columbia reform criminal procedure act pub stat see key doyle palmore purposes case three provisions legislation crucial one provision made inal judgments decrees district columbia appeals reviewable accordance section title code stat codified code another provision amended specify term highest state used includes district columbia appeals stat provisions make judgments district columbia appeals like judgments state courts directly reviewable cases longer proceed local courts appeals see key doyle supra third provision authorized district columbia appeals make rules deems proper respecting examination qualification admission persons membership bar censure suspension expulsion stat codified code provision divested district former authority supervise admission district columbia bar pursuant new rulemaking authority district columbia appeals adopted part general rules rule governs admission bar rule proof legal education applicant graduated law school time graduation approved american bar association shall eligible graduated approved law school within days date examination permitted take bar examination circumstances shall applicant admitted bar without first submitted secretary committee admissions certificate verifying graduated approved law school respondent feldman attend law school instead pursued alternative path legal career provided state virginia involving highly structured program study office practicing attorney see code addition work study law firm charlottesville feldman formally audited classes university virginia school law final six months alternative course study feldman served law clerk district judge passed virginia bar examination feldman admitted state bar april march year begun working staff attorney baltimore legal aid bureau continued job january like district columbia maryland rule limiting access bar examination graduates law schools maryland board law examiners waived rule feldman feldman passed maryland examination later admitted state bar november feldman applied committee admissions district columbia bar admission district bar rule prior recent amendment allowed member bar another jurisdiction seek membership district bar without examination january committee denied feldman application ground graduated approved law school initially committee stated waivers rule exceptions authorized following contact committee however feldman granted informal hearing hearing committee reaffirmed denial feldman application stated district columbia appeals waive requirement graduation approved law school june feldman submitted district columbia appeals petition admission bar without examination app alternatively feldman requested allowed sit bar examination petition feldman described legal training work experience qualifications suggested professional training education equal received attended approved law school view training experience success passing bar examinations jurisdictions feldman stated objectives district columbia procedures requirements admission bar frustrated granting petition ibid district columbia appeals act feldman petition several months march feldman counsel wrote chief judge district columbia appeals urge favorable action feldman petition letter stated feldman abundantly demonstrated fitness practice law suggested gross injustice exclude bar without even considering individual qualifications letter went state unique circumstances case barring feldman practice law merely graduated accredited law school raise important questions constitution federal antitrust laws questions feldman prepared pursue district necessary support feldman position letter stressed strength training breadth experience acknowledging strict reading rule prevented feldman taking bar examination feldman counsel suggested precluded considering feldman application merits plenary power regulate licensing attorneys view feldman counsel includes discretion waive requirements rule deserving case view feldman unusually high qualifications admission case provided ideal occasion exercise discretion ibid feldman counsel also pointed granted waivers rule past suggested failure consider feldman application highly arbitrary raise serious questions fairness policies regarding bar admissions went state serious questions constitution raised bar admissions procedure automatically rejects applicants graduated accredited law school without opportunity show experience education provide equivalent evidence fitness practice law feldman counsel cited case authority support position finally feldman counsel stated federal antitrust laws provide alternative basis questioning legality bar admissions procedure presumes applicants unqualified lack law degree denies opportunity show individual training experience still qualify practice law feldman counsel also cited cases support position late march chief judge district columbia appeals responded letter feldman counsel chief judge stated committee admissions recognized feldman exceptional opportunity training fine personal qualities purpose rule issue prevent committee assuming practicably impossible task making separate subjective evaluations applicant training education hence objective reasonable standard prescribed rule must utilized ibid light decided waive rule upheld committee denial feldman application march district columbia appeals issued per curiam order denying feldman petition order stated simply consideration petition marc feldman waive provisions rule general rules ordered applicant petition denied ibid may feldman filed complaint district district columbia challenging district columbia appeals refusal waive rule behalf complaint stated efendants refusal consider plaintiff individual qualifications practice law unlawful view demonstrated fitness competence well prior admission bar several individuals attend accredited law school feldman sought declaration defendants actions violated fifth amendment constitution sherman act injunction requiring defendants either grant plaintiff immediate admission district columbia bar permit sit bar examination soon possible ibid district granted defendants motion dismiss ground lacked jurisdiction action found district columbia appeals order denying feldman petition judicial act fully encompassed constitutional statutory issues raised stated assume jurisdiction subject matter lawsuit find unsupportable position reviewing order jurisdiction highest ibid respondent hickey began study law march potomac school law washington concluding distinguished career pilot navy time entered potomac hickey aware accredited aba thought transfer later date school shortly hickey started studies district columbia appeals granted waivers rule graduates international school law new unapproved school area granted waivers members graduating classes international practice encouraged hickey believe also able obtain waiver rule november however appeals denied potomac petition temporary waiver rule announced longer grant waivers future international graduates april hickey submitted district columbia appeals petition waiver rule sit bar examination petition hickey described career navy law school record also submitted affidavits four law professors attesting competence legal studies hickey went suggest unfair deny students currently enrolled potomac waiver pursued three years legal education reliance previous policy granting waivers international graduates hickey pointed denying petition waiver impose especially severe burden view age status husband father hickey also suggested burdensome attempt comply rule permits graduates unapproved law schools sit bar examination completing credit hours approved law school furthermore hickey contended unable comply rule aba instructed approved law schools district columbia deny admission nondegree candidates completion requirement finally hickey stated years military service demonstrated far beyond average bar exam candidate possesses qualities essential good lawyer including judgment maturity courage face adversity concern fellow man commitment society attention detail app suggested ar earned right sit bar examination ibid june issued per curiam order denying hickey petition waiver order stated considered petition hickey contention aba instructed approved law schools district columbia deny admission nondegree candidates completion requirement stated american bar association standards rules procedure amended permit enrollment persons petitioner category standard ii satisfy requirement admission set forth standard ibid july hickey filed complaint district district columbia challenging district columbia appeals denial waiver petition hickey alleged denial petition violated fifth amendment federal antitrust laws allegations prayer relief hickey complaint virtually identical allegations prayer relief feldman complaint see supra except hickey simply sought order requiring defendants allow sit bar examination earliest possible date app district granted defendants motion dismiss hickey complaint lack jurisdiction regard stated well settled admission exclusion attorneys members highest state exercise judicial function may reviewed district view hickey seeking review defendants denial petition admission bar examination suggested constitutional challenge denial wholly directly intertwined plaintiff efforts secure exemption rule allegations complaint relief requested concern essentially application rule particular case ibid light concluded basis extraordinary attempt invoke jurisdiction matter entrusted congress appeals ibid hickey feldman appealed dismissals complaints appeals district columbia circuit district columbia circuit affirmed dismissals hickey feldman antitrust claims ground insubstantial feldman gardner app however concluded waiver proceedings district columbia appeals judicial federal sense thus foreclose litigation constitutional contentions district ibid therefore reversed dismissals constitutional claims remanded consideration merits ibid although district columbia circuit acknowledged review final judgment highest judicial tribunal state vested solely omitted district therefore without authority review determinations district columbia appeals judicial proceedings found district jurisdiction cases proceedings district columbia appeals judicial ibid based conclusion finding neither feldman hickey asserted waiver petitions sort right admitted district columbia bar even take examination therefor emphasis original feldman hickey simply sought exemption rule particular hickey present legal arguments demand admission examination matter legal entitlement ibid merely asked exercise administrative discretion permit take test ibid amounted request make policy decision equating personal qualities accredited legal education adjudication requiring resort legal principles ibid omitted district columbia circuit found feldman case difficult still concluded proceedings waiver petition judicial nature element lacking ibid feldman petition claim refusal waiver request deny right ibid instead petition invoked administrative discretion simply asking temper rule favor personal legal reasons ibid district columbia circuit rejected argument letter feldman counsel raised certain legal arguments changed nature proceedings district columbia circuit stated unable discern letter desire consider feldman legal criticisms rule merits hand decision dealing letter made unmistakably clear criticisms litigated district ibid footnotes omitted ii district columbia circuit properly acknowledged district without authority review final determinations district columbia appeals judicial proceedings review determinations obtained see see also atlantic coast line locomotive engineers rooker fidelity trust crucial question case therefore whether proceedings district columbia appeals judicial nature considered distinction judicial administrative ministerial proceedings several occasions prentis atlantic coast line railroads challenged federal constitutionality rail passenger rates set state corporation commission question presented case whether federal free enjoin implementation rate order considering question assumed state corporation commission least purposes held however federal enjoin implementation rate order commission acted legislative opposed judicial capacity setting rates reaching conclusion stated judicial inquiry investigates declares enforces liabilities stand present past facts laws supposed already exist purpose end legislation hand looks future changes existing conditions making new rule applied thereafter part subject power establishment rate making rule future therefore act legislative judicial kind ibid summers considered petitioner challenge constitutionality state refusal admit practice law outset noted record customary form state treated proceeding judicial fact state contested certiorari jurisdiction ground proceedings judicial nature case controversy therefore existed art iii federal constitution considering contention conceded proceedings might judicial state law denial petitioner application admission bar treated ministerial act performed virtue judicial power appointment clerk bailiff specification requirements eligibility course study applicants admission bar rather judicial proceeding stated however determining nature proceedings must appraise circumstances refusal ibid conducting appraisal first stated case arises within meaning constitution question respecting constitution treaties laws assumed form judicial power capable acting declaration rights stand must sought rights may arise future must actual controversy issue desire abstract declaration law form proceeding significant nature effect controlling quoting osborn bank wheat citations omitted relief thus sought state action committee appointed advise takes cognizance complaint without requiring appearance committee members think consideration petition body authority act give relief sought makes proceeding adversary sense true case controversy claim present right admission bar state denial right controversy claim made state denial right made judicial order case may reviewed article iii constitution federal questions raised proper steps taken end omitted precedents clearly establish proceedings district columbia appeals surrounding feldman hickey petitions waiver judicial nature proceedings legislative ministerial administrative district columbia appeals loo future chang existing conditions making new rule applied thereafter part subject power prentis atlantic coast line engage rulemaking specify requirements eligibility course study applicants admission bar summers supra district columbia appeals simply engage ministerial action instead proceedings district columbia appeals involved judicial inquiry called upon investigate declare enforce liabilities stood present past facts laws supposed already exist prentis atlantic coast line supra petition district columbia appeals discussed detail supra feldman contended possessed requisite fitness good moral character necessary practice law jurisdiction app support position described detail legal training experience asserted professional education training equal received attended approved law school argued granting petition frustrate objectives district columbia procedures requirements admission bar later letter see supra feldman pointed former practice granting waivers graduates unaccredited law schools raised questions fairness denying petition also made explicit legal arguments rule based constitution federal antitrust laws done background existing rule essence feldman argued policy grounds rule applied fulfilled spirit letter rule alternatively argued letter rule invalid short seeking declaration rights stood rights might arise future summers required district columbia appeals determine light existing law light feldman qualifications arguments whether feldman petition granted also legal arguments validity rule issued per curiam order denying feldman petition determined legal matter feldman entitled admitted bar without examination sit bar examination adjudicated feldman claim present right admission bar rejected essence judicial proceeding conclusion obtains respect proceedings hickey petition waiver petition see supra hickey asserted substantively qualified sit bar examination support position submitted affidavits supporting competence described detail military service legal education also argued relied former policy granting waivers graduates unaccredited law schools developing reasonable expectation granted waiver well moreover suggested aba policy made impossible pursue alternative route rules permitted sit bar examination finally argued based equitable considerations age military service status father husband granted waiver stated ar earned right sit bar examination app feldman case hickey petition called upon district columbia appeals consider policy equitable arguments deciding whether waive rule fact hickey cite case authority support arguments make explicitly legal contentions render proceedings nonjudicial still required determine hickey qualifications background fulfilled basic purposes rule sufficiently justify waiver whether equitable considerations compelled waiver essentially judicial inquiries resulted per curiam order denied hickey petition explicitly rejected contention aba policy prevented acquiring credit hours accredited law school admittedly proceedings feldman case hickey case assume form commonly associated judicial proceedings said summers supra however form proceeding significant nature effect controlling iii determination proceedings feldman hickey petitions judicial finally dispose case noted supra district authority review final judgments state judicial proceedings review judgments may therefore extent hickey feldman sought review district district columbia appeals denial petitions waiver district lacked jurisdiction complaints hickey feldman sought review district columbia appeals judgments extent hickey feldman mounted general challenge constitutionality rule however district jurisdiction complaints difference seeking review federal district state final judgment bar admission matter challenging validity state bar admission rule recognized lower courts least implicitly opinions doe pringle plaintiff challenged district constitutionality decision denying application admission bar concluding district lacked jurisdiction action appeals stated concur district finding without subject matter jurisdiction review final order state denying particular application admission state bar rule applies even though challenge anchored alleged deprivations federally protected due process equal protection rights emphasis original course opinion appeals stated district denying plaintiff relief declared subtle fundamental distinction two types claims frustrated bar applicant might bring federal first constitutional challenge state general rules regulations governing admission second claim based constitutional grounds state unlawfully denied particular applicant admission held federal courts exercise jurisdiction many constitutional claims attack state power license attorneys involving challenges either authority administration rules true review state adjudication particular application sought ruled latter claim may heard exclusively emphasis original applying standard respondents complaints clear allegations district columbia appeals acted arbitrarily capriciously denying petitions waiver acted unreasonably discriminatorily denying petitions view former policy granting waivers graduates unaccredited law schools see supra required district review final judicial decision highest jurisdiction particular case allegations inextricably intertwined district columbia appeals decisions judicial proceedings deny respondents petitions district therefore jurisdiction elements respondents complaints remaining allegations complaints however involve general attack constitutionality rule see supra respondents claims rule unconstitutional creates irrebuttable presumption graduates accredited law schools fit practice law discriminates obtained equivalent legal training means impermissibly delegates district columbia appeals power regulate bar american bar association require review judicial decision particular case district therefore jurisdiction elements respondents complaints deciding district jurisdiction elements respondents complaints involve general challenge constitutionality rule expressly reach question whether doctrine res judicata forecloses litigation elements complaints leave question district remand iv judgment district columbia circuit vacated case remanded district proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes complaint named defendants district columbia appeals chief judge district columbia appeals official capacity committee admissions chairman secretary committee app complaint feldman specifically alleged district columbia appeals refusal admit bar violated fifth amendment five respects first feldman alleged rule limiting bar membership graduates accredited law schools creates irrebuttable presumption graduates schools fit practice law district columbia thereby deprives persons pursued alternative methods legal training liberty property without due process law app second feldman alleged rule impermissibly irrationally discriminates persons obtained equivalent legal training means therefore denies persons equal protection laws ibid third feldman alleged conclusively presuming graduates accredited law schools fit practice law district columbia rule impermissibly delegates american bar association district columbia appeals power regulate practice law therefore deprives persons alternative legal training property liberty without due process law ibid fourth feldman alleged refusing consider whether individual qualifications training equivalent graduation accredited law school reason justified waiver rule district columbia appeals acted arbitrarily capriciously deprived liberty property without due process law ibid finally feldman alleged district columbia appeals repeatedly waived rule past permit admission bar persons graduated approved law schools acted unreasonably discriminatorily refusing consider individual qualifications denied equal protection laws deprived liberty property without due process law complaint also included allegation limiting membership district columbia bar graduates approved law schools defendants entered combination restraint trade attempted monopolize fact monopolized practice law district columbia ibid prayer relief feldman asked declaration rule either face applied plaintiff violates fifth amendment defendants refusal consider individual qualifications training violated rights fifth amendment defendants rejection application graduate approved law school violated federal antitrust laws feldman requested order requiring defendants admit bar without examination allow sit bar examination earliest possible date determine whether training qualifications provided competence practice law graduates approved law schools defendants also asserted res judicata ground motion dismiss hickey also suggested former policy granting waivers members first three graduating classes new law school continued view difficulty meeting strict standards aba approval mere three years inception new law school first graduation hickey also asserted unnecessary take credit hours approved law school view breadth legal education already received stated completed credit hours covering subjects included bar examination take credit hours enroll elective courses even tested bar examination direction clerk district columbia appeals written aba determine whether instructed matter policy approved law schools district columbia deny admission candidates potomac graduates completion credit hour requirement aba responded citing standard permits among things enrollment limited number courses candidates students enrolled colleges members bar graduates approved law schools persons successfully completed least three years toward bachelor degree regionally accredited college university complaint named defendants district columbia appeals individual judges official capacities district pointed issues concerning validity rule raised district columbia appeals entertained determined stated course followed precluded event thereafter entertaining issues also noted advised counsel defendants district columbia appeals still willing consider matters suggested violation principles comity judicial economy circumstances exercise jurisdiction even jurisdiction exists ibid finally dismissed antitrust claims ground antitrust laws apply kind action challenged ibid although cases consolidated district columbia circuit dealt single opinion raised nearly identical legal issues argued day feldman gardner app denied respondents certiorari disposition antitrust claims feldman district columbia appeals hickey district columbia appeals claims therefore us district columbia circuit rejected petitioners alternative argument consideration legal issues feldman sought raise district barred principles res judicata feldman gardner supra ground proceedings district columbia appeals nonjudicial nature ibid opinion concurring part dissenting part judge robb expressed view district jurisdiction review orders district columbia appeals ibid noted district columbia appeals status state stated adverse decisions appellants cases reviewable although appellants cast petitions appeals terms requests waivers petitions essence demands declare petitioners qualified sit bar examination demands denied en banc orders appeals denials judicial acts reviewable writ certiorari reviewable district ibid district columbia circuit recognized question federal law whether particular proceeding another tribunal truly judicial purposes ascertaining jurisdiction federal feldman gardner supra see summers fact feldman counsel stated letter prepared pursue constitutional antitrust challenges rule federal district feldman petition denied irrelevant consideration whether issues district columbia appeals case like england louisiana board medical examiners arose abstention context discussed litigant right reserve federal claims consideration federal even though might required inform state nature federal claims state statute construed light claims conclusion proceedings district columbia appeals judicial nature consistent grants certiorari review decisions matters cases schware new mexico board bar examiners konigsberg state bar california konigsberg state bar california anastaplo willner committee character baird state bar arizona stolar last term recognized judicial nature state bar disciplinary proceedings middlesex county ethics committee garden state bar possible review decision barred petitioner failure raise constitutional claims state courts cardinale louisiana stated early established decide federal constitutional issues raised first time review state decisions see also tacon arizona hill california street new york cf raley ohio question proper presentation federal claim highest state passes think sufficient satisfy statutory requirement federal right sought vindicated one claimed omitted boykin alabama coleman alabama appeals fifth circuit relied limit certiorari jurisdiction hold federal district jurisdiction constitutional claims asserted plaintiff denied admission state bar judicial proceeding failed raise constitutional claims state dasher texas appeals stated record gives indication plaintiff asserted federal constitutional claims basis action denial application admission bar examination deprived constitutionally protected liberty property interest pursuing practice law texas constituted violation equal protection infringed upon constitutionally protected right travel texas since authorizes review judgments state cases federal issue raised adjudicated apparent plaintiff case reviewed writ certiorari following texas denial motion since plaintiff complaint claims relief grounded federal constitutional rights claims presented texas suit constitute impermissible effort seek review state judgment lower federal omitted moreover fact may jurisdiction review final judgment petitioner failure raise constitutional claims state mean district jurisdiction claims failing raise claims state plaintiff may forfeit right obtain review decision federal result eminently defensible policy grounds noted competence state courts adjudicate federal constitutional claims see sumner mata allen mccurry swain pressley also noted cardinale one policies underlying requirement constitutional claims raised state predicate certiorari jurisdiction desirability giving state first opportunity consider state statute rule light federal constitutional arguments state may give statute saving construction response arguments finally important note context case strength state interest regulating state bar stated goldfarb virginia state bar interest regulating lawyers especially great since lawyers essential primary governmental function administering justice historically officers courts see also middlesex county ethics committee garden state bar supra leis flynt mackay nesbett stated rders state relating admission discipline disbarment members bar may reviewed certiorari state means original action lower federal rule serves substantial policy interests arising historic relationship state judicial systems members respective bars state federal judicial systems ibid see also brown board bar examiners reaching conclusions regarding district jurisdiction particular elements respondents complaints necessarily refuse accept entirety either petitioners argument sum substance respondents federal actions obtain review prior adverse decisions appeals individual cases brief petitioners reply brief petitioners respondents argument complaints involved general challenges constitutionality rule without seeking review particularized decisions district columbia appeals adjudicating right practice law see brief respondent hickey brief respondent feldman discussed close reading complaints discloses respondents mounted general challenge constitutionality rule sought review district columbia appeals decisions particular cases district reach question whether doctrine res judicata barred litigation respondents claims either feldman case app hickey justice stevens dissenting many crafts state performs licensing function function important seeking access gainful occupation members public served profession well rules governing grant denial licenses must comply constitutional standards must administered accordance due process law given acknowledged constitutional limitations action state beyond question federal district jurisdiction individual lawsuit raising federal constitutional challenges either licensing rules application case curiously however today ignores basic jurisdictional principles decides jurisdictional issue affecting licensing members legal profession holds respondents may make general constitutional attack rules governing admission lawyers practice district columbia agree also concludes district jurisdiction claim rules administered unconstitutional manner according opinion respondents contentions bar admission rules unconstitutionally applied district columbia appeals somehow constitute impermissible attempts secure appellate review final judgments see ante two basis flaws analysis first neither feldman hickey requested district columbia appeals pass validity rule grant admission bar bar examination matter right rather asked waive requirements rule variety reasons characterize refusal grant requested waiver adjudication unlike decision illinois reviewed summers order district columbia appeals determine claim right even apply standard equitable principles prayer relief rather performed less administrative function licensing board appeals wrote hickey asked make policy decision equating personal qualities accredited legal education adjudication requiring resort legal principles feldman gardner app omitted feldman invoked administrative discretion body simply asking temper rule favor personal legal reasons rejection petitions adjudicative therefore susceptible certiorari review second even refusal grant waiver adjudication federal statute confers jurisdiction upon district entertain constitutional challenge rules also authorizes entertain collateral attack upon unconstitutional application rules opinion fails distinguish two concepts appellate review collateral attack challenge state decision brought district alleges violations constitution definition seek appellate review plainly within jurisdiction federal supp may reasons denying relief plaintiff failure state cause action claim issue preclusion failure prove violation constitutional rights violence jurisdictional concepts hold federal district jurisdiction conduct independent review specific claim licensing body action comply federal constitutional standards fact licensing function legal profession controlled judiciary sufficient reason immunize allegedly unconstitutional conduct review federal courts therefore respectfully dissent title supp provides district courts shall original jurisdiction civil actions arising constitution laws treaties constitutional challenges specific licensing actions may course fail merits view plaintiffs challenging bar admissions decision state prove facts comparable allegations made plaintiff error appellant yick wo hopkins clearly entitled relief district seeking admission craft regulated state unquestionably right