Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of a court, administrative agency, or other governmental body to hear and decide cases. It is essential because a court must have jurisdiction to issue a valid decision; without it, any ruling may be overturned. Jurisdiction can be categorized in several ways. Territorial jurisdiction denotes the geographical area within which a court can exercise its authority. For example, a state court typically has jurisdiction within that state's borders. Subject matter jurisdiction refers to the types of cases a court can hear, such as civil, criminal, or family law matters. Personal jurisdiction is the power of a court to make a binding decision over a specific individual or entity.

Jurisdiction can also be classified as exclusive or concurrent. Exclusive jurisdiction means that only one court or body has the authority to hear a particular case. Concurrent jurisdiction allows multiple courts to handle the same type of case. Additionally, courts may have limited jurisdiction, which restricts them to specific types of cases, or general jurisdiction, which enables them to hear a broader range of cases. Understanding jurisdiction is crucial for determining which court has the power to resolve a legal dispute.