Mullin v. Doe · ¶76

Before proceeding further, we briefly explain why we may address the substance of Miot respondents’ equal protection claim without deciding whether the District Court had jurisdiction to entertain it. It is a cardinal rule that a federal court may not consider the merits of a claim without first making a firm determination that it has jurisdiction. Steel Co. v. Citizens for Better Environment, 523 U. S. 83, 93–94 (1998).

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