Significant Changes To The Federal Jurisdictional Statutes Effective January 6, 2012

The Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011, H.R. 394, P.L. 112-63 (the "JVCA"), took effect with relatively little fanfare on January 6, 2012. Although the JVCA has not garnered much attention, it amended important sections of Title 28 of the United States Code concerning the removal to federal court of lawsuits initially commenced in state court, venue, and diversity jurisdiction.¹ The JVCA was passed by unanimous consent in both chambers of Congress and applies to cases commenced on or after its effective date. For removed cases, the JVCA applies if the action was commenced in state court on or after the effective date. This Commentary briefly summarizes certain aspects of the JVCA of particular interest to litigants and litigators, with a prevailing focus on the provisions concerning civil case removal.²