Prize Jurisdiction

Prize jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of naval courts to adjudicate cases involving captured enemy vessels and goods during wartime. When a ship is seized, typically by a military force, it can be brought before a prize court, which determines whether the capture was lawful and decides how the captured property should be treated. This jurisdiction ensures that the rights of the captor, the captured parties, and neutral interests are fairly assessed under international law, balancing military necessity with the protection of property rights.