When deciding which court has jurisdiction, what two factors are taken into consideration?
When deciding which court has jurisdiction, two factors are generally taken into consideration:
1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: This refers to whether the court has the authority to hear the particular type of case involved. Different courts have jurisdiction over specific subject matters, such as criminal, civil, family, tax, or administrative law cases. For example, a federal court would have subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws or constitutional issues, while a state court would have jurisdiction over cases involving state laws.
2. Geographical Jurisdiction: This refers to whether the court has the authority to hear cases within a particular geographic area. Courts are usually limited to a specific jurisdiction, whether it is a county, district, state, or country. For example, a state court would typically have jurisdiction over cases that occur within its specific state boundaries, while a federal court's jurisdiction could encompass cases that cross state lines or involve federal laws.