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 Virginia, 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 determined by both the Virginia state constitution and legislative statutes, as well as applicable federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. Virginia's judicial system is structured with different levels of courts, each with its own jurisdictional limits. For example, the General District Courts handle most traffic violations and misdemeanor cases, as well as civil cases involving amounts of money up to $25,000, while the Circuit Courts have the authority to hear felony criminal cases, civil cases with larger amounts of money in dispute, and appeals from the lower courts. The Virginia Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases involving substantial points of law and provides final interpretations of state law. Additionally, federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal law, the U.S. Constitution, or when there are parties from different states involved with a dispute amount exceeding a certain threshold. 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.