Robert A. Schapiro

Polyphonic Federalism: State Constitutions in the Federal Courts

Introduction ............................................................................................. 1411 I. Federal Courts Doctrine and State Constitutions ............................. 1418 A. Siler: Avoiding Federal Constitutional Claims ........................ 1418 B. State Forum for Certain State Issues ......................................... 1418 1. Pullman Abstention ............................................................. 1419 2. Certification ................................. : ...................................... 1420 3. Declining Supplemental Jurisdiction .................................. 1421 4. The Supreme Courts New Federalism: The Implications of Pennhurst ........................................... 1423 C . Sum m ary .................................................................................... 1424 II. Current Supreme Court Doctrine on Dual Constitutional Claims .............................................................. 1424 A. Evolution of Supreme Court Treatment of State Constitutional Claims ....................................................... 1424 B. Justification for the Doctrine ..................................................... 1427 C. The Impact of the New Judicial Federalism .............................. 1429 III. The Current Lower Court Treatment of Dual Constitutional Challenges ................................................................ 1431 A. Option One: Federal Court Decides the Federal Question ........................................................................ 1431 B. Option Two: Federal Court Allows the State Court to Address the State Claim ..................................... 1432