As one of the oldest bodies of law, Maritime and Admiralty Law began long before the United States existed. Most generally speaking, this area concerns regulation of activities involving transport of cargo and passengers over water. Today, the U.S. federal courts have been granted exclusive jurisdiction over this field, which covers all matters related to waters navigable within the United States for interstate or foreign commerce. The following treatises are considered the leading texts on Maritime and Admiralty Law and can be valuable resources when beginning research in this area.
Thomas J. Schoenbaum, Admiralty and Maritime Law (5th ed. 2011), KF1104.S36 2011 and Westlaw
Erastus Cornelius Benedict, Benedict on Admiralty (7th ed. 1958), KF1104 .B4 and Lexis
Martin J. Norris, The Law of Seamen (4th ed. 1985), KF1121 .N64 1985 and Westlaw (5th ed.)
Updated 4/9/2010 (sas)
Updated 3/19/2014 (SG)
Updated 10/19/2018 (SB)