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Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Subject matter jurisdiction defines a court’s power to decide a lawsuit involving a particular subject matter, and to render an enforceable judgment. A court generally has jurisdiction when the particular claim raised in the case is within its constitutional jurisdiction—as provided by the state constitution or the U.S. Constitution—or because jurisdiction has been mandated by the state legislature or the United States Congress.

In Arizona, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear and decide cases of a specific nature. The Arizona Constitution, along with state statutes, delineates the scope of jurisdiction for various courts within the state. For example, the Arizona Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction and can hear a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and tax matters. Conversely, limited jurisdiction courts, such as justice courts and municipal courts, handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and other minor civil matters. Federal courts, on the other hand, have jurisdiction as defined by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, typically involving federal questions, diversity of citizenship, or other matters specified by Congress. A court must have both subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction to render an enforceable judgment. If a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the case must be dismissed or transferred to a court that has the proper authority to hear it.

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Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Arizona State Code

Arizona State Code

Civil procedure

subject matter jurisdiction

Articles