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jurisdiction

noun
the power of a court, authority or other official body to decide a legal case or to make an orderThe High Court has jurisdiction over criminal cases in this district.
the extent of this powerTitle 28 of the United States Code gives the United States district courts exclusive jurisdiction over all matters arising in bankruptcy with few exceptions.
the territory in which this power existsThe jurisdiction of the European Union includes all of the member states.
the area in which a particular legal system operatesLegal concepts in English speaking jurisdictions do not always correspond to legal concepts in other jurisdictions.
the system of law courts that make up a particular legal systemIn many jurisdictions, the use of the name veterinarian is restricted by law to persons with specific degrees or licenses.
Phrasebank
  • The court dismissed the action for lack of jurisdiction.
  • Diplomats are exempt from the jurisdiction of the receiving state.
  • The civil court found that it had no jurisdiction over the matter.
  • A party doing business in another state is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of that state.
  • The territory is within the country's jurisdiction.
  • The Special Peacekeeping Forces are under the jurisdiction of the United Nations.
  • The District Court has original jurisdiction while the Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction.
Common mistakes
  • Do not confuse jurisdiction with jurisprudence.
Additional notes
  • exclusive jurisdiction: where one court has the power to decide a case to the exclusion of all other courts. It is the opposite situation from concurrent jurisdiction, in which more than one court may take jurisdiction over the case.
  • original jurisdiction: the right of a court to hear the case for the first time, as opposed to the jurisdiction to hear the case on appeal, which is known as appellate jurisdiction
  • extradition: the process by which a suspected criminal who has fled to another jurisdiction is returned to the jurisdiction where the crime occurred