ankenbrandt richards argued march decided june petitioner brought suit behalf daughters district alleging federal jurisdiction based diversity citizenship provision seeking monetary damages alleged torts committed girls father female companion respondents granted respondents motion dismiss without prejudice ruling alternative lacked jurisdiction case fell within domestic relations exception diversity jurisdiction decision dismiss justified abstention principles announced younger harris appeals affirmed held domestic relations exception federal diversity jurisdiction exists matter statutory construction pp exception stems barber barber announced dicta without citation authority discussion foundation federal courts jurisdiction suits divorce allowance alimony lower federal courts ever since recognized limitation jurisdiction based statement unwilling cast aside understood rule existed nearly century half pp examination article iii constitution barber progeny makes clear constitution mandate exclusion domestic relations cases federal jurisdiction rather origins exception lie statutory requirements diversity jurisdiction de la rama de la rama pp domestic relations exception exists demonstrated inclusion defining phrase suits civil nature common law equity versions diversity statute barber implicit interpretation phrase exclude divorce alimony actions congress silent acceptance construction nearly century considerations stare decisis particular strength context legislative power implicated congress remains free alter done patterson mclean credit union furthermore may presumed congress amended diversity statute replace distinction civil actions phrase full cognizance longstanding interpretation prior statutes absent indication intent contrary congress adopted interpretation reenacting statute pp domestic relations exception permit district refuse exercise diversity jurisdiction tort action damages exception articulated since barber encompasses cases involving issuance divorce alimony child custody decree limited exception validity must reaffirmed given long passage time without expression congressional dissatisfaction sound policy considerations judicial economy expertise lawsuit way seeks divorce alimony child custody decree appeals erred affirming district invocation domestic relations exception federal subject matter jurisdiction pursuant proper case pp district erred abstaining exercising jurisdiction younger doctrine although extended younger abstention civil context never applied notions comity critical younger proceeding pending state tribunals similarly inconceivable certain circumstances abstention principles developed burford sun oil might relevant case involving elements domestic relationship even parties seek divorce alimony child custody abstention inappropriate status domestic relationship determined matter state law event bearing underlying torts alleged pp white delivered opinion rehnquist scalia kennedy souter joined blackmun filed opinion concurring judgment post stevens filed opinion concurring judgment thomas joined richard ducote argued cause aand filed brief petitioner paul weidenfeld argued cause respondents brief samuel dalton marcia robinson lowry steven shapiro john powell filed brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae urging reversal justice white delivered opinion case presents issue whether federal courts jurisdiction abstain case involving alleged torts committed former husband petitioner female companion petitioner children sole basis federal jurisdiction provision petitioner carol ankenbrandt citizen missouri brought lawsuit september behalf daughters respondents jon richards debra kesler citizens louisiana district eastern district louisiana alleging federal jurisdiction based provision ankenbrandt complaint sought monetary damages alleged sexual physical abuse children committed richards kesler richards divorced father children kesler female companion december district granted respondents motion dismiss lawsuit citing burrus proposition whole subject domestic relations husband wife parent child belongs laws laws concluded case fell within become known domestic relations exception diversity jurisdiction lacked jurisdiction case also invoked abstention principles announced younger harris justify decision dismiss complaint without prejudice wl ed appeals affirmed unpublished opinion may judgt order reported granted certiorari limited following questions domestic relations exception federal jurisdiction permit district abstain exercising diversity jurisdiction tort action damages district case err abstaining exercising jurisdiction doctrine younger harris address issues turn ii domestic relations exception upon courts relied decline jurisdiction invoked often lower federal courts seeming authority originally stemmed announcement barber barber federal courts jurisdiction suits divorce allowance alimony case heard suit equity brought wife next friend federal district pursuant diversity jurisdiction former husband sought enforce decree new york state granted divorce awarded alimony former husband thereupon moved wisconsin place beyond new york courts jurisdiction divorce decree enforced sued divorce wisconsin representing wife abandoned failing disclose existence new york decree suit brought former wife wisconsin federal district former husband alleged lacked jurisdiction accepted jurisdiction gave judgment divorced wife appeal argued district lacked jurisdiction two grounds first diversity citizenship although divorced wife citizenship necessarily remained former husband second whole subject divorce alimony including suit enforce alimony decree exclusively ecclesiastical time adoption constitution constitution therefore placed whole subject divorce alimony beyond jurisdiction courts dissent three justices rejected arguments exhaustive survey authorities concluded divorced wife acquire citizenship separate former husband suit enforce alimony decree rested within federal courts equity jurisdiction reached conclusions summarily dismissing former husband contention case involved subject matter outside federal courts jurisdiction stating however also announced following limitation federal jurisdiction first remark wish remembered suit asking allowance alimony done competent jurisdiction wisconsin asked interfere prevent decree defeated fraud disclaim altogether jurisdiction courts upon subject divorce allowance alimony either original proceeding chancery incident divorce vinculo one bed board barber supra statements disclaiming jurisdiction divorce alimony decree suits though technically dicta formed basis excluding domestic relations cases jurisdiction lower federal courts jurisdictional limitation courts recognized ever since barber however cited authority discuss foundation announcement since time dealt occasionally domestic relations limitation federal jurisdiction never addressed basis limitation unwilling cast aside understood rule recognized nearly century half feel compelled explain continue recognize limitation federal jurisdiction counsel argued barber constitution prohibited federal courts exercising jurisdiction domestic relations cases brief appellant barber barber pp examination article iii barber cases since barber makes clear constitution exclude domestic relations cases jurisdiction otherwise granted statute federal courts article iii constitution provides pertinent part section judicial power shall extend cases law equity arising constitution laws treaties made shall made authority cases affecting ambassadors public ministers consuls cases admiralty maritime jurisdiction controversies shall party controversies two state citizens another state citizens different citizens state claiming land grants different state citizens thereof foreign citizens subjects subsequent decisions confirm barber relying constitutional limits justifying exception one case instance stated long established rule federal courts lack jurisdiction certain domestic relations matters based assumptions husband wife usually citizens different long marriage relation continues rule somewhat relaxed recent cases reason suit divorce involves pecuniary value de la rama de la rama since article iii contains monetary limit suits brought pursuant federal diversity jurisdiction de la rama articulation rule terms statutory requirements diversity jurisdiction supports view exception grounded constitution moreover even citing approval barber language purporting limit jurisdiction federal courts domestic relations matters heard appeals territorial courts involving divorce see de la rama supra simms simms upheld exercise original jurisdiction federal courts district columbia decide divorce actions see glidden zdanok thus even statements de la rama referring statutory prerequisites diversity jurisdiction alone persuasive testament statutory origins rule hearing appeals legislative article courts implicitly made clear understanding source constraint jurisdiction barber article iii otherwise lacked jurisdiction appeals legislative courts see national mut ins tidewater transfer vinson dissenting review legislative decision case among enumerated art iii hear case state involving purely state law questions therefore difficulty concluding barber disclaim ed altogether jurisdiction courts upon subject divorce basing statement constitution article iii mandate exclusion domestic relations cases federal jurisdiction however mean courts necessarily must retain exercise jurisdiction cases constitutional provisions explain article cl example authorizes congress constitute tribunals inferior article iii judicial power shall vested one inferior courts congress may time time ordain establish cases state rule inferior federal courts created congress required invest jurisdiction authorized bestow art iii palmore position held constant since least stated judicial power except enumerated instances applicable exclusively dependent distribution organization modes exercise entirely upon action congress possess sole power creating tribunals inferior investing jurisdiction either limited concurrent exclusive withholding jurisdiction exact degrees character congress may seem proper public good cary curtis see sheldon sill plaquemines tropical fruit henderson kline burke constr lockerty phillips thus turn attention relevant jurisdictional statutes judiciary act provided circuit courts shall original cognizance concurrent courts several suits civil nature common law equity matter dispute exceeds exclusive costs sum value five hundred dollars alien party suit citizen state suit brought citizen another state act stat emphasis added defining phrase suits civil nature common law equity remained key element statutory provisions demarcating terms diversity jurisdiction congress amended diversity jurisdiction provision eliminate phrase replace stead term civil actions judicial code judiciary act stat barber majority expressly refer diversity statute use limitation suits civil nature common law equity dissenters barber however implicitly made reference suggested federal courts power certain domestic relations actions chancery lacked authority issue divorce alimony decrees stating origin extent federal courts jurisdiction must sought laws settled rules principles laws bound dissenters contended jurisdiction chancery england extend embrace subjects divorce alimony jurisdiction courts chancery bounded chancery england power cognizance respect subjects courts chancery equally excluded barber daniel dissenting hence dissenters view suit seeking relief fall within statutory language suits civil nature common law equity barber disagree reason accepting jurisdictional limitation issuance divorce alimony decrees may inferred fairly jurisdictional limitation recognized rested statutory basis disagreement dissenters thus centered extent limitation occasion join historical debate whether english chancery jurisdiction handle certain domestic relations matters though note commentators found support barber majority interpretation certainly unprecedented time infer understood english chancery practice guide meaning act jurisdictional grant see robinson campbell wheat thus content rest conclusion domestic relations exception exists matter statutory construction accuracy historical justifications seemingly based rather congress apparent acceptance construction diversity jurisdiction provisions years prior statute limited jurisdiction suits civil nature common law equity phillips nizer benjamin krim ballon rosenstiel observed century elapsed since barber dictum without intimation congressional dissatisfaction whatever article iii may may permit thus accept barber dictum correct interpretation congressional grant considerations stare decisis particular strength context legislative power implicated congress remains free alter done patterson mclean credit union congress amended diversity statute replace distinction phrase civil actions presume congress full cognizance nearly interpretation prior statutes construed statutory diversity jurisdiction contain exception certain domestic relations matters respect amendment previously stated changes law policy presumed changes language revision unless intent make changes clearly expressed fourco glass transmirra products see also finley respect longstanding construction diversity statute congress made substantive changes statute respects see note presume absent indication congress intended alter exception see ibid advisory committee note fed rule civ proc app congress adopt ed interpretation reenacted diversity statute lorillard pons iii years since laid seeds development domestic relations exception lower federal courts applied variety circumstances see cases cited supra many applications go well beyond circumscribed situations posed barber progeny barber disclaimed federal jurisdiction narrow range domestic relations issues involving granting divorce decree alimony see stated limits federal power intervene prior rendering orders competent jurisdiction subject matter parties decrees divorce alimony wife incident unable enforce decree summarily upon husband courts equity interfere prevent decree defeated fraud interference however limited cases alimony decreed extent due always cases appeal pending decree divorce alimony subsequently expanded domestic relations exception include decrees child custody cases child custody case brought pursuant writ habeas corpus instance held void writ issued federal district restore child custody father right control possession child contested father grandfather one regard neither congress authority special jurisdiction burrus although burrus technically involve construction diversity statute understand barber done statement whole subject domestic relations husband wife parent child belongs laws laws interpreted federal courts apply equal vigor suits brought pursuant diversity jurisdiction see bennett bennett app solomon solomon hernstadt hernstadt see generally wright miller cooper federal practice procedure pp nn application consistent barber directive limit federal courts exercise diversity jurisdiction suits divorce alimony decrees see barber conclude therefore domestic relations exception articulated since barber divests federal courts power issue divorce alimony child custody decrees given long passage time without expression congressional dissatisfaction trouble today reaffirming validity exception pertains divorce alimony decrees child custody orders conclusion rooted respect understanding also supported sound policy considerations issuance decrees type infrequently involves retention jurisdiction deployment social workers monitor compliance matter judicial economy state courts eminently suited work type federal courts lack close association state local government organizations dedicated handling issues arise conflicts divorce alimony child custody decrees moreover matter judicial expertise makes far sense retain rule federal courts lack power issue types decrees special proficiency developed state tribunals past century half handling issues arise granting decrees see lloyd loeffler concluding domestic relations exception encompasses cases involving issuance divorce alimony child custody decree necessarily find appeals erred affirming district invocation exception lawsuit way seeks decree rather alleges respondents richards kesler committed torts ankenbrandt children richards federal subject matter jurisdiction pursuant thus proper case address whether even though subject matter jurisdiction might proper sufficient grounds exist warrant abstention exercise jurisdiction iv appeals district stated abstention alternative ground holding district quoted another federal effect bstention doctrine designed promote comity required render decision disrupt establishment coherent state policy app pet cert quoting zaubi hoejme wd axiomatic however bstention exercise federal jurisdiction exception rule colorado river water conservation dist abstention rarely invoked federal courts virtually unflagging obligation exercise jurisdiction given courts cited younger harris support holdings abstain case courts clearly erred younger held absent unusual circumstances federal interfere pending state criminal prosecution though extended younger abstention civil context see middlesex county ethics comm garden state bar ohio civil rights dayton christian schools pennzoil texaco never applied notions comity critical younger federalism state proceeding pending assertion important state interests made case allegation respondents pending state proceedings ankenbrandt contends proceedings ended prior filing lawsuit absent pending proceeding state tribunals therefore application lower courts younger abstention clearly erroneous inconceivable however certain circumstances abstention principles developed burford sun oil might relevant case involving elements domestic relationship even parties seek divorce alimony child custody case presents difficult questions state law bearing policy problems substantial public import whose importance transcends result case bar colorado river water conservation supra might well case federal suit filed prior effectuation divorce alimony child custody decree suit depended determination status parties status domestic relationship determined matter state law event bearing underlying torts alleged difficulty concluding burford abstention inappropriate case thus conclude appeals erred affirming district rulings decline jurisdiction based domestic relations exception diversity jurisdiction abstain doctrine younger harris supra exception place suit one former spouse sues another behalf children alleged abused allegations complaint request district issue divorce alimony child custody decree hold suit appropriate exercise jurisdiction given existence diverse citizenship petitioner respondents pleading relevant amount controversy accordingly reverse decision appeals remand case proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes courts appeals generally diverged cases involving application domestic relations exception tort suits brought federal pursuant diversity jurisdiction see bennett bennett app holding exception bar claim damages bar claims injunctive relief cole cole holding exception apply tort suits stemming custody visitation disputes drewes ilnicki holding exception apply tort suit intentional infliction emotional distress lloyd loeffler holding exception apply tort claim interference custody child mcintyre mcintyre holding exception apply case involve questions parental status interference pending state domestic relations proceedings alteration state judgment impingement state supervision minor ingram hayes holding exception applies divest federal jurisdiction tort action intentional infliction emotional distress read ohio ex rel popovici agler accord conclusion case referenced language burrus regarding domestic relations exception held state precluded constitution relevant federal statutes exercising jurisdiction divorce suit brought roumanian see see vestal foster implied limitations diversity jurisdiction federal courts atwood domestic relations cases federal toward principled exercise jurisdiction hastings rush domestic relations law federal jurisdiction state sovereignty perspective notre dame note domestic relations exception diversity jurisdiction note domestic relations exception diversity jurisdiction boston college justice blackmun criticizes us resting upon congress apparent acceptance earlier construction diversity statute codification see post opinion concurring judgment see nothing remarkable decision see flood kuhn better reasoned views among courts appeals similarly stated domestic relations exception narrowly confined suits divorce alimony child custody decrees see mcintyre mcintyre opinion kennedy exception jurisdiction arises cases federal asked grant decree divorce annulment grant custody fix payments support lloyd loeffler bennett bennett app cole cole courts offered explanation aware none domestic relations exception applies respondent kesler appear stand position respect ankenbrandt opponent tort suit brought federal pursuant diversity jurisdiction moreover burford abstention relevant circumstances may appropriate retain jurisdiction ensure prompt disposition matter upon determination state relevant issue cf kaiser steel ranch though acknowledges earlier cases invoking domestic relations exceptions speak jurisdictional terms justice blackmun nevertheless reinterpret support special abstention doctrine cases see post blackmun concurring judgment yet briefly sketching vision doctrine might operate justice blackmun offers authoritative support abstention doctrine might found principled reason retroactively concoct abstention doctrine whole cloth account federal practice existence years prior announcement first abstention doctrine railroad texas pullman persuasive reason articulation abstention doctrine offers sounder way achieving result construction statute justice blackmun concurring judgment agree district jurisdiction petitioner claims tort moreover agree federal courts entertain claims divorce alimony child custody unable agree however diversity statute contains exception domestic relations matters goes remarkable lengths craft exception simply statute supported case law view longstanding unbroken practice federal courts refusing hear domestic relations cases precedent continued discretionary abstention rather mandatory limits federal jurisdiction reasons concur judgment holds diversity statute contains exception cases seeking issuance divorce alimony child custody decree ante yet exception appears statute diversity statute ambiguous extends jurisdiction district courts civil actions diverse parties involving requisite amount controversy emphasis added recognized absence clearly expressed intention contrary language statute ordinarily conclusive see consumer product safety gte sylvania apparently discovers history diversity statute case law clearly expressed intention contrary words statute first observes diversity statute formerly extended suits civil nature common law equity rather civil actions ante interprets decision barber barber read common law equity limitation exclusion matters actions divorce alimony cognizable english courts common law equity ante points regards congress apparent acceptance construction diversity statute ante finally notwithstanding congress replacement common law equity limitation phrase civil actions considers evidence congress adopted prior construction diversity statute ibid great difficulty approach starting obvious point see language change anything expands jurisdictional scope statute said constitute evidence approval prior narrow construction inaction part congress failing expressly mention domestic relations matters diversity statute reflects fact discussed congress likely idea decision today diversity statute contained exception domestic relations matters leads primary concern conclusion congress understood barber interpretation diversity statute barber express intent construe diversity statute clearly barber cited authority discuss foundation announcement disclaiming jurisdiction divorce alimony matters ante puts may inferred basis declining jurisdiction diversity statute ante inferred anything barber majority opinion rather inferred comments dissenting justice absence rebuttal barber majority ante today difficult enough time arriving unlikely interpretation barber decision imagine congress ever assembled construction event least three subsequent decisions seriously undermine inference barber recognition domestic relations exception traces common law equity limitation diversity statute simms simms heard appeal husband territory arizona affirming territorial district dismissal bill divorce award wife alimony counsel fees pendente lite wife sought dismissal appeal suit involved domestic relations contrast barber undertook extensive review discussion statutory bases jurisdiction appeal expressly recognized appellate jurisdiction confined cases cases law equity emphasis added nevertheless simms find common law equity limitation bar jurisdiction distinguished barber grounds jurisdictional statute barber limited cases law equity simms indeed distinguished distinguished barber grounds involved domestic relations matters rather territories reasoned whole subject domestic relations belongs laws state laws territories congress entire dominion sovereignty national local today infers interpretation barber simms plainly rejected second decision undermining interpretation barber de la rama de la rama took jurisdiction appeal philippine islands wife action divorce alimony citing barber de la rama explained historical reasons federal courts exercised jurisdiction actions divorce alimony common law equity limitation finds significant among reasons even though appellate jurisdictional statute issue extended actions cases causes proceedings stat opening door easily distinguished barber grounds common law equity limitation diversity statute instead explicitly reaffirming grounds relied upon simms distinguishing barber pointed absence need defer regulation area domestic relations context appeal nonstate territorial third decision ohio ex rel popovici agler popovici roumanian vice consul sued wife ohio state divorce alimony defended claiming ohio state jurisdiction grant divorce federal statutes granted exclusive jurisdiction federal courts suits proceedings consuls suits consuls quoting act march ch stat rejecting claim justice holmes observed unanimous jurisdictional statutes affect present case true unquestioned century courts jurisdiction divorce traced absence jurisdiction diversity statute apparently constitution constitution adopted common understanding domestic relations husband wife parent child matters reserved difficulty construing instrument accordingly much dealing statutes suits consuls must taken refer ordinary civil proceedings include formerly belonged ecclesiastical courts id even assuming today correctly interprets barber extension domestic relations exception diversity statute child custody matters warranted known principles statutory construction relies burrus denied jurisdiction federal district issue writ habeas corpus favor father recover care custody child child grandfather case involve diversity statute rather habeas corpus statute expressly declined address diversity statute today technica distinction ante find germane best knowledge liberty craft exceptions statutes issue case ii reject construction diversity statute however necessarily reject federal courts longstanding practice declining hear certain domestic relations cases point today coherent jurisdictional explanation practice emerges line cases unreasonable presume congress divined accepted one cases sure old line domestic relations cases disclaimed jurisdiction domestic relations matters well growth general acceptance recent decades modern doctrines federal abstention distinguish refusal exercise jurisdiction disclaiming jurisdiction altogether see generally wright federal courts discussing growth traditional abstention doctrines see also francis henderson recognizing abstention context habeas corpus statute considerations comity concerns orderly administration criminal justice require nevertheless common concern reflected earlier cases modern terms abstentional jurisdictional nature cases premised upon concern historical limitation equity jurisdiction english courts upon virtually exclusive primacy time regulation domestic relations noted simms de la rama justified exercise jurisdiction actions divorce alimony reference scope equity jurisdiction reference absence interest appeals courts territories controlled national government similarly cases wholly outside common law equity limitation diversity statute denied federal review ohio ex rel popovici agler consuls statutes burrus supra habeas corpus stated whole subject domestic relations husband wife parent child belongs laws laws whether interest remains sufficient justification today abstention uncertain view expansion recent years federal law domestic relations area confident nonetheless unbroken unchallenged practice federal courts since war declining hear certain domestic relations cases provides rare justification continuing without significance moreover historical practice federal courts developed specialized courts institutions family matters congress federal courts generally done absent contrary command congress federal courts properly abstain least diversity actions traditionally excluded federal courts seeking divorce alimony child custody correct abstention rarely invoked ante rarer still far greater affront congress occasions invents statutory exceptions simply one thing defer century practice unquestioned congress quite another defer pretext congress legislated fact never although occasion resolve issue definitive fashion case suggest principles abstention provide principled basis continued disinclination entertain domestic relations matters whether domestic relations exception properly grounded principles abstention principles jurisdiction believe case falls within exception case peripherally involves subject domestic relations domestic relations actions loosely classifiable four categories first core category involves declarations status marriage annulment divorce custody paternity second semicore category involves declarations rights obligations arising status former status alimony child support division property third category consists secondary suits enforce declarations status rights obligations final catchall category covers suits directly involving status obligations arising status nonetheless generally relate domestic relations matters tort suits family former family members sexual abuse battering intentional infliction emotional distress none prior cases consider domestic relations exception involves type periphery domestic relations claim issue petitioner seek determination status obligations arising status moreover federal determination petitioner claims neither upset prior state determination status obligations appurtenant status preempt pending state determination nature cf moore sims applying younger abstention doctrine prevent federal action seeking enjoin pending state child custody proceeding brought state authorities petitioner claims involve federal question statute presence strongly counsel abstention see colorado river water conservation dist petitioner tort claims money damages easily cognizable federal considerations favor exercise federal jurisdiction petitioner claims sure modification language part wholesale revision judicial code recognized changes law policy presumed changes language revision unless intent make changes clearly expressed fourco class transmirra products see finley principle may negate inference change language expanded scope statute affirmatively authorize inference congress recodification designed approve prior constructions statute moreover intimates ante good reason question barber dissent interpretation english practice historical evidence unequivocal suggests english chancery courts fact exercise jurisdiction matrimonial matters see lloyd loeffler spindel spindel edny atwood domestic relations cases federal toward principled exercise jurisdiction hastings stated appellate jurisdiction review reverse affirm final judgments decrees territory includes cases cases law equity matter dispute exclusive costs shall exceed sum five thousand dollars concluded review question divorce involved matter law mere questions fact contrary statutory requirement involved matter value estimated money modified affirmed alimony award de la rama justified exception reason fact husband wife usually citizens different long marriage relation continues rule somewhat relaxed recent cases reason suit divorce involves pecuniary value first reason obviously discounted de la rama course untenable today second reason apply nonmonetary divorce actions actions alimony limitation second reason moreover disclaimed de la rama joint divorce alimony actions rate view de la rama explanation surely mistaken never addressed basis domestic relations exception ante claims hearing appeals legislative article courts implicitly made clear understanding source constraint jurisdiction barber article iii otherwise lacked jurisdiction appeals legislative courts ante however overlooks rule hen questions jurisdiction passed prior decisions sub silentio never considered bound subsequent case finally brings jurisdictional issue us hagans lavine see pennhurst state school hospital halderman never understood rule differently cranch marshall statement oral argument barber might said plausibly relied limitations english chancery courts respect divorce alimony seems highly unlikely burrus might relied similar justification child custody matters burrus attached appendix opinion instructive careful able opinion matter barry circuit southern district new york see burrus opinion stated child custody matters res solely england common law determinations devolved upon high courts equity law see also lehman lycoming county children services agency dissenting opinion historically english common law courts permitted parents use habeas writ obtain custody child way vindicating rights see victims child abuse act stat et seq family violence prevention services act stat et seq parental kidnaping prevention act stat adoption assistance child welfare act stat child abuse prevention treatment adoption reform act stat child abuse prevention treatment act stat et seq like diversity statute federal question grant jurisdiction article iii constitution limits judicial power federal question cases cases law equity art assuming limitation applies equal force constitutional context finds today statutory context decision today casts grave doubts upon congress ability confer federal question jurisdiction federal courts matters involving divorces alimony child custody previously observed various types abstention rigid pigeonholes pennzoil texaco new orleans public service council new orleans need affix label abstention principles suggest nevertheless fully agree younger abstention inappropriate facts us absence pending state proceeding justice stevens justice thomas joins concurring judgment exceedingly easy case demonstrated opinions whatever belief one holds existence origin scope domestic relations exception exception apply however one understands english chancery practice however one construes judiciary act result judgment appeals must reversed reason leave another day consideration whether domestic relations cases necessarily fall outside jurisdiction federal courts principle justify exception federal jurisdiction agree case come within domestic relations exception might exist concur judgment first justice harlan cautioned long ago duty courts justice take care general good community hard cases make bad law clark dissenting opinion quoting east india paul moo courts observe similar caution regard easy cases cf town nursing center blackmun concurring judgment easy cases make bad law burnham superior county marin stevens concurring judgment easy case especially likely make bad law unnecessarily transformed hard case