federal case

Etymology
In the United States of America, courts with federal jurisdiction generally are for much more serious offenses than those whose cases are heard by local courts.

Noun

 * 1)  Any over-exaggerated ordeal.
 * So I didn't put the toilet seat down — you don't have to make a federal case out of it.

Synonyms

 * big deal, big thing, production, meal, song and dance