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 North Carolina, subject matter jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear cases of a particular type or cases relating to specific subject matter. This jurisdiction is established by the North Carolina Constitution, federal law, and state statutes. The North Carolina General Statutes outline the jurisdiction of various courts within the state. For example, the North Carolina Superior Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but typically handle more serious criminal cases and civil cases involving larger sums of money. On the other hand, District Courts have jurisdiction over matters such as family law cases, juvenile proceedings, misdemeanors, and civil cases involving smaller amounts of money. The subject matter jurisdiction of federal courts, such as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, is determined by the U.S. Constitution and federal statutes, and includes cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and cases involving diversity of citizenship. It is important for a case to be filed in a court with the proper subject matter jurisdiction to ensure that any judgment is legally enforceable.