16. Reading: Court structure and jurisdiction

  

 

  

District courts. These are general courts. But in some cases, the jurisdiction is passed to specialized courts. These include: bankruptcy courts, tax courts and the court of private land claims.

 

Court of Appeals. It reviews all decisions in the lower courts that people object to.

 

State courts. These courts decide disputes that pertain to state laws rather than federal laws.

 

The Supreme Court. This is another appeals court, but it is the only court that operates under discretionary review. This means it can choose which cases to hear. The Supreme Court is also called a High Court in some countries.

 

 

Jurisdiction is the authority of judge legal matters. It is given to legal bodies or political leaders. There are three main types of jurisdiction:

 

1. Personal jurisdiction is authority over a person.

 

2. Territorial jurisdiction is authority over an area.

 

3. Subject jurisdiction is authority over a particular subject.

 

Jurisdiction in courts can be exclusive  or concurrent. With exclusive court jurisdiction, only one court is able to decide the issue. With concurrent jurisdiction, more than one court is able to adjudicate. In this case, lawyers are able to go forum shopping. They choose the court which is more likely to rule in favour of their clients.

 

  

1. Court of Appeals. It reviews all _______ in the lower courts that people object to.  

 

  

 

2. Territorial jurisdiction is authority over an _____.

 

   

 

3. They choose the court which is more likely to rule in favour of their______.