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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Subject matter jurisdiction
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A quick definition of Subject matter jurisdiction:
Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of a court to hear and decide a specific type of case. It means that a court can only handle cases that it is allowed to by law. There are two types of jurisdiction: personal jurisdiction, which is about the court's power over the defendant, and subject matter jurisdiction, which is about the court's power to hear a certain type of case. Federal courts have limited subject matter jurisdiction, which means they can only hear cases that Congress has given them the power to hear. State courts are usually courts of general jurisdiction, which means they can hear most types of cases, but some states also have specialized courts that can only hear certain types of cases.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: The power of a court to hear and decide a specific type of legal case.
Overview: A court must have subject matter jurisdiction to make a valid decision on a case. There are two types of jurisdiction: personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction. Personal jurisdiction is the court's power over the parties involved in the case, while subject matter jurisdiction is the court's power to hear a specific type of case. Subject matter jurisdiction cannot be waived by the parties involved in the case.
Examples: A federal court has subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving federal law, such as a case involving a violation of a federal statute. A state court has subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving state law, such as a case involving a violation of a state statute. A probate court has subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving the distribution of a deceased person's assets.
Explanation: The examples illustrate how different courts have subject matter jurisdiction over different types of cases. A federal court can only hear cases involving federal law, while a state court can only hear cases involving state law. A probate court can only hear cases involving the distribution of a deceased person's assets. This means that if a case involves federal law, it must be heard in a federal court, and if a case involves state law, it must be heard in a state court.