Section 11.6 Consequences of Admiralty Jurisdiction

• Library: Tort Law 2016

C. (§11.6) Consequences of Admiralty Jurisdiction

Historically, the Constitution empowered the federal courts to declare admiralty and maritime law, to issue specific admiralty process, and to grant specific admiralty remedies. 1 STEVEN F. FRIEDELL, BENEDICT ON ADMIRALTY § 121 (7^th ed. 1988 Rev. 2015). Traditionally, admiralty cases were tried to a judge. Special terminology was used—the complaint was called a "libel"; the plaintiff was called a "libelant"; the defendant was called a "respondent"; and the lawyers were "proctors."

But these traditional terms are seldom used today. In 1966, courts of admiralty were merged with the civil courts, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure were made...