Legal Definitions - certification to state court

Definition: Certification to state court is a process where a federal court of appeals delays making a decision on a new question of state law by sending the question to the highest court of the state for a ruling. This is also known as certification.

Example: If a federal court of appeals is unsure how to interpret a new state law, it may certify the question to the highest court of the state. For instance, if a federal court in California is unsure how to interpret a new California law, it may send the question to the California Supreme Court for clarification.

This process allows the federal court to avoid making a decision that could conflict with the state's interpretation of its own law. It also helps to ensure consistency in the interpretation of state law across different federal courts.