Final answer:
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving foreign diplomats, including Ambassadors and Consuls, and in disputes between states. These cases can be presented directly to the Supreme Court without first going through lower courts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court has specific types of jurisdiction when it comes to cases in the United States. Particularly, the Court has original jurisdiction in all cases affecting foreign diplomats—including Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls—as well as in disputes between different states. This means that such cases can start directly in the Supreme Court, rather than reaching it through an appeal.
Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution clarifies that in situations involving states or foreign diplomats, the Supreme Court will be the first to hear the case. In contrast, other cases that concern the Constitution, federal laws, or treaties typically reach the Supreme Court through its appellate jurisdiction, where the Court serves as the final arbiter after lower court decisions.