What is subject matter jurisdiction?

Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear and decide a particular type of case. It is a fundamental requirement for a court to have the power to adjudicate a case before it can make any decisions.

Subject matter jurisdiction is determined by the type of legal issues involved in the case and the specific laws that govern those issues. This jurisdiction is typically established by statute and can be limited by the legislature to specific types of courts or judicial bodies.

Courts with limited subject matter jurisdiction can only hear cases that fall within the specific categories of law or types of disputes that they are authorized to handle. For example, family courts may only have jurisdiction over cases involving family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and support.

On the other hand, general jurisdiction courts have broader authority and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Federal courts, for example, have subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws, constitutional issues, and disputes between parties from different states.

It is important for parties to ensure that the court they are bringing their case to has the appropriate subject matter jurisdiction, as a court lacking such jurisdiction may not be able to validly hear and enforce any judgments or decisions made in the case. Parties can challenge a court's subject matter jurisdiction at any point during the litigation process.