General and Limited - Subject Matter Jurisdiction

The video tutorial explains subject matter jurisdiction, which is the authority of a court to hear specific types of cases. Courts of general jurisdiction can hear a wide range of cases, including those involving state or federal laws. In contrast, courts of limited jurisdiction are restricted in the types of cases they can hear, often based on the case's characteristics or the amount of money involved. An example is given of an intermediate trial court that cannot handle cases involving extremely large sums of money.

What is subject matter jurisdiction primarily concerned with?

• The duration of court proceedings

• The location of the court

• The type of cases a court can hear

• The number of judges in a court

Which type of court can hear a wide range of cases, including those involving state or federal laws?

• Courts of general jurisdiction

• Appellate courts

• Supreme courts

• Courts of limited jurisdiction

What is a characteristic of courts with limited jurisdiction?

• They can only hear specific types of cases

• They have no restrictions on case types

• They can hear any type of case

• They can hear cases from any state

Why might an intermediate level trial court be unable to hear a case involving millions of dollars?

• It lacks the necessary legal authority

• It is too expensive to process

• It is outside their subject matter jurisdiction

• It requires a jury trial

What is an example of a case that might be outside the jurisdiction of an intermediate level trial court?

• A dispute over a small debt

• A lawsuit involving millions of dollars

• A family law case

• A minor traffic violation