parent nodes: administrative law | exhaustion of administrative remedies
primary jurisdiction
An Article III court will generally not hear a case seeking relief against a private party if the case involves an issue that might be decided by an administrative agency. The purpose of the doctrine is to "promot(e) proper relationships between the courts and administrative agencies." [US v Western Pacific RR].
Primary jurisdiction issues arise where "a claim is originally cognizable in the courts," but "enforcement of the claim requires the resolution of issues which . . . have been placed within the special competence of an administrative body"). Compare exhaustion of administrative remedies (where the claim is "cognizable in the first instance by an agency alone"). Note also the clear connection between the primary jurisdiction doctrine and the legal deference of the Chevron v NRDC doctrine.
Sometimes, a court may hold that an agency has both "primary" and "exclusive" jurisdiction, so that once the agency reaches a decision, the court will not hold the case on its docket.
administrative law