Although the possibility of government shutdowns and trillion-dollar deficits preoccupied the time and thoughts of Congress, the president and the public at the end of 2011, significant legislation had been sifting through congressional committees for some time that was designed to clarify some of the more arcane areas of federal jurisdiction and venue. First-year
students in civil procedure classes as well as federal court litigators and judges should thank Congress and the president for this holiday gift. Although not perfect, the Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act of 2011 (JVCA) does achieve the goal of clarifying several troublesome aspects of jurisdiction, removal practice and venue.
