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 Wisconsin, subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear cases of a particular type or cases relating to specific subject matter. The Wisconsin Constitution, along with state statutes, outlines the scope of jurisdiction for different courts within the state. For example, the Wisconsin Circuit Courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction and have the authority to hear all civil and criminal matters, including family, probate, juvenile, and traffic cases. On the other hand, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reviews decisions of the lower courts and has jurisdiction as prescribed by law, primarily focusing on correcting errors that occurred at the trial court level. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases that are appealed from lower courts and may also have original jurisdiction in some cases as provided by law. Additionally, federal laws and the U.S. Constitution can confer jurisdiction to federal courts for certain matters, such as cases involving federal law, disputes between states, or cases where the United States is a party. It is important for a court to have proper subject matter jurisdiction to render a legally binding and enforceable judgment.