CLEARFIELD TRUST DOCTRINE

Clearfield Trust doctrine. The doctrine describing the federal courts’ power to make federal common law when there is both federal lawmaking power to do so and a strong federal interest in a nationally uniform rule. Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States, 318 U.S. 363, 63 S.Ct. 573 (1943). Cf. ERIE DOCTRINE . [Cases: Federal Courts  374.] [Blacks Law 8th]