<P> Certain cases that have not been considered by a lower court may be heard by the Supreme Court in the first instance under what is termed original jurisdiction . The Supreme Court 's authority in this respect is also derived from Article III of the Constitution , which states that the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction `` in all cases affecting ambassadors , other public ministers and consuls , and those in which a state shall be party . '' The original jurisdiction of the Court is set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1251 . This statute provides further that , in the case of disputes between two or more states , the Supreme Court holds both original and exclusive jurisdiction and no lower court may hear such cases . </P>
the supreme court only have original jurisdiction in two kinds of cases
in all cases affecting ambassadors , other public ministers and consuls , and those in which a state shall be party . in the case of disputes between two or more states