Legal Definitions - concurrent jurisdiction

Definition: Concurrent jurisdiction refers to a situation where two or more courts have the power to hear the same case. For example, both federal and state courts may have concurrent jurisdiction over certain types of legal disputes.

Examples:

• A person may file a lawsuit in either federal or state court for a breach of contract claim, as both courts have concurrent jurisdiction over this type of case.
• In some states, a family court and a general court may have concurrent jurisdiction over a divorce case.

These examples illustrate how concurrent jurisdiction works. When multiple courts have concurrent jurisdiction over a case, the plaintiff can choose which court to file the lawsuit in. This can be advantageous if one court is more favorable to the plaintiff's case than the other.

Overall, concurrent jurisdiction can be a complex legal issue, but it is important to understand how it works in order to navigate the legal system effectively.