Civil Procedure: Jurisdiction and Court Structures

State Courts

Courts that handle state law cases.

Federal Courts

Courts that handle federal law cases.

Original Jurisdiction

Court's power to hear a case first.

Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Authority over the case's subject matter.

Personal Jurisdiction

Authority over the parties involved in a case.

General Jurisdiction

Authority to hear any civil or criminal case.

Limited Jurisdiction

Authority restricted by subject matter or amount.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Both state and federal courts can hear a case.

Exclusive Jurisdiction

Only one court has authority to hear a case.

Long-Arm Statute

Allows jurisdiction over non-resident defendants with contacts.

Standing

Requirement for parties to have a personal stake.

Venue

Location where a case is tried.

Forum-Selection Clause

Contractual agreement on the court for disputes.

Choice-of-Law Clause

Specifies which jurisdiction's laws apply to a contract.

Georgia Superior Courts

Trial courts with general jurisdiction in Georgia.

Georgia Business Court

Specialized court for business-related disputes in Georgia.

Fulton County Business Court

Court for corporate governance and business claims.

Federal Question Jurisdiction

Cases arising under federal law or Constitution.

Diversity of Citizenship

Jurisdiction based on parties from different states.

U.S. District Courts

Trial courts for federal cases.

U.S. Supreme Court

Highest court in the United States.

Mass Torts

Many injured parties from a single incident.

Discretionary Review

Supreme Court's choice to hear certain cases.

Sliding Scale Standard

Determines jurisdiction based on online business activity.

Judicial Circuits

Geographic divisions for U.S. Courts of Appeal.

Trial De Novo

New trial in a higher court after small claims.

Judicial Expertise

Specialized knowledge of judges in certain areas.

Reversible Error

Mistake in law that affects trial outcome.