Jurisdiction in Law

Types of Jurisdiction

Original Jurisdiction

• The power of a court to hear a case for the first time
• Trial courts have original jurisdiction in the United States
• The U.S. Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction in certain cases, such as suits between states over territorial or water rights disputes

Appellate Jurisdiction

• The power of a higher court to review a lower court's decision
• The U.S. Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over lower courts in the United States
• In India, the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction can be invoked by a certificate granted by the High Court in cases involving substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Indian Constitution

Concurrent Jurisdiction

• Multiple courts share the power to hear a case
• Example: in Georgia, a civil dispute over $200 can be heard in either a Georgia District Court or a Georgia County Court
• Allows parties to choose the court in which they want to file their case
• However, forum shopping (bringing a case to a court that is presumed to rule in one's favor) is not always allowed

Federal Jurisdiction

• The power of federal courts to hear certain types of cases
• Federal courts in the United States have exclusive jurisdiction over federal matters (cases based on federal statutes or the federal Constitution)
• State courts have nonexclusive jurisdiction and can hear both state and federal matters
• Federal criminal prosecutions always take place in federal courts, while state criminal prosecutions take place in state courts

Understand the concept of jurisdiction in law, including original, appellate, concurrent, and federal jurisdiction. Learn about the power of courts to hear and decide cases in the United States.