Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties

Issues

When jurisdiction is otherwise lacking, do federal courts have jurisdictional authority over the decision to confirm or vacate arbitration awards when the court exercised jurisdiction over the case before it went to arbitration?

This case asks the Supreme Court to determine whether federal courts retain jurisdictional authority to confirm or vacate arbitration awards stemming from cases they previously stayed under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”). Petitioner argues that the FAA does not confer on federal courts an independent jurisdictional basis for awarding or vacating post-arbitral awards after staying a pre-existing federal suit. Respondents rely on 28 U.S.C. § 1367 and ancillary jurisdiction to argue that a federal court with preexisting original jurisdiction may resolve FAA post-arbitration motions in the same pending case. The outcome of this case has policy implications for judicial efficiency, raising concerns about forum shopping and increased litigation in federal courts.

Questions as Framed for the Court by the Parties

Whether a federal court that initially exercises jurisdiction and stays a case pending arbitration maintains jurisdiction over a post-arbitration Section 9 or 10 application where jurisdiction would otherwise be lacking. 

In December 2020, Petitioner Adrian Jules (“Jules”) filed a lawsuit against Respondents Andre Balazs Properties and related entities (collectively “Balazs”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (“S.D.N.Y.”), a federal district court. 

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Abouammo v. United States

Issues

Can a criminal defendant be tried in a district where no criminal acts occurred but where the defendant intended the crime to have an effect?

This case asks the Supreme Court to consider whether the Constitution permits prosecution in districts where only effects of criminal conduct occurred or whether criminal prosecutions must occur in locations where the defendant’s actual conduct took place. In this case, the government prosecuted Abouammo, who allegedly falsified documents in order to obstruct a federal investigation, in the Northern District of California even though the conduct he was charged for occurred in the Western District of Washington. Abouammo argues that venue is only proper where an “essential conduct element” occurred, not where the effects of that conduct occurred. The United States argues that venue is proper where the intended effects of a defendant’s conduct took place, especially in inchoate offenses where an express intent element is essential to the crime. The outcome of this case could impact traditional venue protections, forum selection, and prosecutorial discretion.

Questions as Framed for the Court by the Parties

Whether venue is proper in a district where no offense conduct took place, so long as the statute’s intent element “contemplates” effects that could occur there.

Ahmad Abouammo began his role as a Media Partnerships Manager for the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) region at Twitter in 2013. Ahmad Abouammo v.

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Forecasting refers to predicting future trends of business operations, socio-organizational behavior, economic markets, and policy-making. Forecasting aids business managers in strategizing for sales, adjusting resources, and other future scenarios.

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