T. M. v. University of Md. Medical System Corporation · ¶17

The Fourth Circuit affirmed. The panel observed that in Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co., 263 U. S. 413 (1923), this Court held that a Federal District Court lacked jurisdiction to “‘declar[e]’ that [a] state court’s judgment was ‘null and void’” under the Federal Constitution because doing so “‘would be an exercise of appellate jurisdiction,’” which only the Supreme Court possesses. 139 F. 4th, at 348 (quoting 263 U. S., at 414–415, 416). Because T. M. was asking the District Court here to do precisely that, the Fourth Circuit reasoned that this “case is too much like Rooker to justify a different” conclusion and thus required dismissal based on Rooker-Feldman. 139 F. 4th, at 346. In so holding, the Fourth Circuit also rejected T. M.’s argument that Rooker- Feldman applies only to judgments that are “‘final judgment[s] from the highest court of a State in which the decision could be had,’”…

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