Jurisdiction

1. A court’s power or authority to decide a case. E.g., the district courts of appeal do not have jurisdiction to review cases where the death penalty was given.  2. A geographic area within which judicial authority may be used. E.g. Bob lives in New York and he has never had any contact with another state, so the Florida court does not have jurisdiction over him. The shooting happened in Colorado and both parties are residents of Colorado, so the Florida court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.