Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
Anti-Injunction Act
Read a random definition: conspiracy
A quick definition of Anti-Injunction Act:
The Anti-Injunction Act is a law that says federal courts cannot stop state court proceedings unless Congress allows it, it's necessary for the federal court's jurisdiction, or it's needed to prevent the same case from being tried again. This law was made to stop federal courts from unfairly using injunctions and to promote collective bargaining to solve disputes. It's also called the Norris-La Guardia Act and the Labor Disputes Act.
A more thorough explanation:
The Anti-Injunction Act is a federal law that limits the power of federal courts to issue injunctions in certain situations.
Under the Anti-Injunction Act, a federal court cannot stop or "enjoin" a state court proceeding unless:
- Congress has expressly authorized the injunction
- The injunction is necessary for the federal court's jurisdiction over a particular piece of property
- The injunction is necessary to prevent the re-litigation of a judgment already rendered by the federal court
For example, if a state court is hearing a case involving a contract dispute, a federal court cannot issue an injunction to stop the state court from proceeding unless one of the three conditions above is met.
The Anti-Injunction Act is related to another federal law called the Norris-La Guardia Act. The Norris-La Guardia Act limits the power of federal courts to issue injunctions in labor disputes. The purpose of the Norris-La Guardia Act is to promote collective bargaining and prevent employers from using injunctions to stop union activity.
For example, if a group of employees goes on strike to protest working conditions, their employer cannot ask a federal court to issue an injunction to force them back to work unless the employer meets certain requirements under the Norris-La Guardia Act.