J

• Jurisdiction

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Jurisdiction legal definition: Jurisdiction is defined as the authority of a court to hear and render a decision in a legal case. The purpose of jurisdiction is to determine where and how a case will be decided.

There are myriad types of jurisdiction, including:

• In Rem Jurisdiction – This is jurisdiction over a subject matter such as a divorce or bankruptcy, as opposed to a person.

• Personal Jurisdiction –  This refers to jurisdiction over a person. A court has a personal jurisdiction if the individual in question maintains a residence or business in the area or can reasonably foresee being sued in that court.

• Subject Matter Jurisdiction – This refers to authority over a specific subject matter, such as small claims courts.

• Federal and State Jurisdiction – Federal courts have jurisdiction – or authority – over federal questions and conflicts, while state courts have authority over state matters.

• Original Jurisdiction – This refers to a court’s jurisdiction when a claim is first filed, not on appeal.

Sources: https://definitions.uslegal.com/j/jurisdiction/

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