What is Subject Matter Jurisdiction? UPDATED VERSION: https://youtu.be/P7oky-OOz7U
Summary
TLDRThis video explains subject matter jurisdiction in the U.S. legal system, focusing on the distinction between federal and state courts. It covers how subject matter jurisdiction determines whether a case should be heard in federal or state court. State courts generally have broad jurisdiction over cases like car accidents, contracts, and divorces, while federal courts have limited jurisdiction, requiring cases to meet specific criteria such as federal question or diversity jurisdiction. The video sets up a future discussion on these federal court jurisdiction types and offers additional resources for viewers to engage further.
Takeaways
- 📝 Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's power to decide a case.
- ⚖️ In the U.S., there are two court systems: federal courts and state courts.
- 🗺️ Subject matter jurisdiction determines whether a case belongs in federal court, state court, or possibly both.
- 🏛️ State courts generally have broad jurisdiction and can hear almost any type of case.
- 🚗 In a car accident case involving Patty and David, a state court likely has jurisdiction due to its broad powers.
- 📜 State courts handle cases like car accidents, contracts, torts, divorces, business disputes, and wills.
- ⚖️ Federal courts, in contrast, have limited subject matter jurisdiction and can only hear specific types of cases.
- 🔍 Federal court jurisdiction can be invoked in cases involving federal questions or diversity jurisdiction.
- 📝 Federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction are the two main types of subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts.
- 📚 Future videos will explore these two types of jurisdiction in more detail.
Q & A
What is subject matter jurisdiction?
-Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's power to decide a particular type of case. It determines whether a case can be heard in state court, federal court, or either.
How many court systems exist in the United States, and what are they?
-There are two court systems in the United States: federal courts and state courts.
What is the difference between state court and federal court subject matter jurisdiction?
-State courts have almost unlimited subject matter jurisdiction, meaning they can hear a wide variety of cases. In contrast, federal courts have limited subject matter jurisdiction and can only hear certain types of cases.
Can state courts hear car accident cases?
-Yes, state courts have subject matter jurisdiction over car accident cases, as well as other types of cases like contract disputes, divorces, and business disputes.
Why might someone like Patty sue in state court instead of federal court?
-Patty might sue in state court because state courts have broad subject matter jurisdiction and are likely able to hear her case involving a car accident. Federal courts, however, can only hear certain types of cases.
What are the two major types of subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts?
-The two major types of subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts are federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction.
What types of cases can federal courts decide?
-Federal courts can only decide cases that fall under specific categories, such as those involving federal law (federal question jurisdiction) or cases where the parties are from different states and the amount in dispute exceeds a certain threshold (diversity jurisdiction).
In the example of Patty and David's car accident, can the case be heard in federal court?
-It depends on the specifics of the case. Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, so unless the case involves a federal question or meets the requirements for diversity jurisdiction, it may not be eligible for federal court.
Why is choosing between state and federal court a strategic decision in real life?
-Deciding whether to bring a case in state or federal court can involve strategic considerations, such as the laws that apply, the procedural rules, and the perceived advantages of one court system over the other.
What will be discussed in the upcoming video?
-The upcoming video will discuss federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction, which are the two main types of subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts.
Outlines
📖 Introduction to Subject Matter Jurisdiction
This paragraph introduces the concept of subject matter jurisdiction, explaining that it refers to a court's power to decide a case. It highlights the distinction between federal and state courts in the United States, emphasizing that subject matter jurisdiction determines whether a case should be heard by a federal court, a state court, or potentially either. It also notes that in legal education, understanding where a case should be filed is crucial, while in practice, it often involves strategic considerations.
🚗 Case Example: Patty and David's Car Accident
This section uses an example involving two people, Patty and David, who were in a car accident. It explores whether Patty should file a lawsuit in federal or state court. The explanation reveals that state courts have broad, almost unlimited subject matter jurisdiction, meaning they can hear a wide variety of cases, including car accidents, contracts, torts, divorce, and more. The paragraph suggests that Patty would likely file her case in state court because of its expansive jurisdiction.
⚖️ Federal Court: Limited Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Here, the focus shifts to federal courts and their limited subject matter jurisdiction. Unlike state courts, federal courts can only hear certain types of cases. The paragraph stresses that if Patty wants to sue David in federal court, her case must fall under specific criteria that grant federal courts the authority to hear it. If her case doesn't meet these criteria, federal courts will lack the power to decide it.
🔑 Two Major Types of Federal Jurisdiction
This paragraph introduces the two main types of subject matter jurisdiction in federal courts: federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction. While the details of these types of jurisdiction are not elaborated here, the paragraph sets the stage for future videos that will cover these concepts in greater depth.
💬 Conclusion and Further Discussion
The final paragraph invites viewers to engage in further discussion about subject matter jurisdiction and other aspects of U.S. law. The speaker encourages interaction through a message board, blog, email, or comment section, indicating that they are open to answering questions and fostering dialogue on the topic.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Subject Matter Jurisdiction
💡Federal Courts
💡State Courts
💡Federal Question Jurisdiction
💡Diversity Jurisdiction
💡Strategic Question
💡Car Accident
💡Limited Jurisdiction
💡Contract Cases
💡Torts
Highlights
Introduction to subject matter jurisdiction, defining it as the court's power to decide a case.
Explanation of two types of court systems in the United States: federal courts and state courts.
Subject matter jurisdiction determines whether a case goes to state court, federal court, or potentially either.
Strategic consideration of whether to bring a case in state or federal court in real-life situations.
State court subject matter jurisdiction is almost unlimited, covering cases like car accidents, contracts, torts, divorce, business disputes, and wills.
Federal courts have limited subject matter jurisdiction, only deciding certain types of cases.
Hypothetical example of Patty suing David after a car accident, and whether she should sue in state or federal court.
State courts are likely to have subject matter jurisdiction over a car accident case, as they handle many types of disputes.
Federal courts' limited jurisdiction means Patty might not be able to sue David in federal court unless certain conditions are met.
Federal courts have two major types of subject matter jurisdiction: federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction.
Federal question jurisdiction involves cases where the plaintiff’s claim is based on federal law.
Diversity jurisdiction applies when the parties are from different states and the amount in controversy exceeds a certain threshold.
Promise of further discussion on federal question and diversity jurisdiction in an upcoming video.
Encouragement to join the message board or visit the blog for further discussion on US law topics.
Invitation to submit comments or email questions related to the subject matter jurisdiction.
Transcripts
hi in this video we are going to discuss
subject matter jurisdiction when we say
that a court has subject matter
jurisdiction we mean that the court has
the power to decide the case remember
that in the United States there are two
types of court systems there are federal
courts and there are state courts we
have to ask whether a federal court or
state court has the power to hear the
case subject matter jurisdiction tells
us whether a case should go to state
court federal court or maybe either
federal court or state court if you
study US law in school you'll probably
see a question on a test like this but
in real life whether to bring a case in
state court or federal court is often a
strategic question
the rules for federal court subject
matter jurisdiction are not the same as
the rules for state court subject matter
jurisdiction let's say we have someone
named patty and someone named David and
they were in a car accident
patty was injured by David and wants to
sue them but should patty sue David in
federal court or should she sue him in
state court let's say patty wants to
bring her case in state court our
question that is will a state court have
subject matter jurisdiction over a case
concerning Patti and David's car
accident and the answer is probably yes
because state courts have the power to
hear almost any kind of case in other
words state courts have almost unlimited
subject matter jurisdiction state courts
have the power to decide cases that
involve car accidents also contract
cases towards divorce business disputes
and wills state courts have subject
matter jurisdiction over many types of
cases federal courts have different
rules regarding subject matter
jurisdiction federal courts only have
the power to decide certain types of
cases in other words federal courts are
courts of limited subject matter
jurisdiction
patty might not be able to sue in
federal court because federal courts
only have the power to decide certain
types of cases only if Patty's bringing
the right type of case will a federal
court have the power to decide the case
there are two major types of subject
matter jurisdiction in the federal
courts
the first major type of subject matter
jurisdiction in the federal courts is
called
federal question jurisdiction the second
major type of federal subject matter
jurisdiction is called diversity
jurisdiction
in an upcoming video we will discuss
federal question jurisdiction and
diversity jurisdiction if you'd like to
discuss subject matter jurisdiction or
any other matter related to US law stop
by the message board also please visit
my blog feel free to send me an email or
submit your comments below
you
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