Juridiction

Juridiction is the legal authority or power of a person or body to hear and determine cases and to apply laws within a defined area or over a specific subject matter. In English, the standard term is jurisdiction; juridiction is chiefly seen in translations from romance languages such as French, or in historical or doctrinal writings referring to the same concept.

Types of juridiction include territorial (geographic area where authority applies), subject-matter (types of cases a body may decide), personal (jurisdiction over individuals or entities), and hierarchical or appellate (which court may review decisions). Many legal systems also distinguish between general and limited or specialized jurisdictions, and between exclusive and non-exclusive jurisdiction.

Authority to exercise juridiction typically arises from constitutions, statutes, treaties, and procedural rules. Effective exercise depends on proper service of process, the domicile or residence of parties, the location of property, or the place where a suit or cause of action arose. Once jurisdiction is established, the competent body can hear the case, render judgments, and enforce them within its legal limits.

Conflicts over juridiction arise when multiple bodies claim authority, leading to issues like concurrent jurisdiction or forum shopping. In international law, questions include state sovereignty, immunities, comity, and the allocation of jurisdiction between states. Doctrines such as forum non conveniens address cases where another jurisdiction is more appropriate, while lis pendens records aim to prevent parallel proceedings.

Examples vary by system: many national courts have territorial and subject-matter jurisdiction defined by statute; federal or central courts may have limited jurisdiction, while local or state courts handle broader matters. Arbitration and administrative tribunals operate under agreement-based or specialized jurisdiction.