Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court’s authority to hear and decide specific types of cases. It depends on the nature of the case and the laws that give courts their power. For example, a federal court can only hear cases related to federal laws, disputes between states, or involving parties from different states. State courts handle most personal and criminal cases. Without proper subject matter jurisdiction, a court’s decisions are invalid. It’s an essential legal requirement to ensure cases are heard in the appropriate court system with the proper authority.