Legal Definitions - equitable abstention

Equitable abstention is a legal principle that allows a federal court to refrain from interfering with a state administrative agency's decision on a local matter when the aggrieved party has adequate relief in the state courts. This means that the federal court will not get involved in a case if the state court can provide a fair and just resolution.

For example, if a person is unhappy with a decision made by a local zoning board, they may try to bring the case to federal court. However, if the federal court determines that the person can get adequate relief in the state court system, they may choose to abstain from the case and let the state court handle it.

Equitable abstention is just one type of abstention that federal courts may use in certain situations. Other types of abstention include Burford abstention, Colorado River abstention, permissive abstention, Pullman abstention, Thibodaux abstention, and Younger abstention.