Subject-matter jurisdiction

Seal of the United States Bankruptcy Court, which has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases

Subject-matter jurisdiction, also called jurisdiction ratione materiae,[1] is a legal doctrine holding that a court can only hear and decide cases of a particular type (i.e., cases relating to a specific subject matter). The subject matter jurisdiction of a court may be described as either limited jurisdiction, meaning it is able to hear only certain types of cases, or general jurisdiction, meaning it is presumed able to hear and decide all types of cases. For instance, a bankruptcy court only has the authority to hear bankruptcy cases.

Subject-matter jurisdiction must be distinguished from personal jurisdiction, which is the power of a court to render a judgment against a particular defendant, and territorial jurisdiction, which is the power of the court to render a judgment concerning events that have occurred within a well-defined territory. Unlike personal or territorial jurisdiction, lack of subject-matter jurisdiction cannot be waived.[2] A judgment from a court that did not have subject-matter jurisdiction is forever a nullity.[3][4] To decide a case, a court must have a combination of subject (subjectam) and either personal (personam) or territorial (locum) jurisdiction.

Subject-matter jurisdiction, personal or territorial jurisdiction, and adequate notice are the three most fundamental constitutional requirements for a valid judgment.

  1. ^ "European Union Terminology | subject-matter jurisdiction". IATE.
  2. ^ William Marshall, The "Facts" of Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction, 35 DePaul L. Rev. 23 (1985).
  3. ^ Rhode Island v. Massachusetts, 37 U.S. 657 (1838)
  4. ^ Joyce v. United States, 474 U.S. 215 (1973)

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