Legal Definitions - Specific jurisdiction

Specific jurisdiction is a legal term that refers to a court's ability to exercise power over a corporation or individual in a particular state. This power is based on the extent of the defendant's activities within that state. It is a form of minimum contacts that allows a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant without violating due process.

For example, in the case of McGee v. International Life Insurance, an individual purchased a life insurance policy in California from an Arizona insurance company. Later, a Texas company bought the Arizona insurance company. The Texas company conducted no operations in California. When the beneficiaries of the policy sued the Texas company in California state court, the court held that California had personal jurisdiction over the Texas company because the claim arose directly from the Texas company's activities in California, namely providing a policy to someone in California. This is an example of specific jurisdiction.

It is important to note that specific jurisdiction is different from general jurisdiction. General jurisdiction refers to a court's ability to exercise power over a corporation or individual regardless of where the claim arose. Specific jurisdiction, on the other hand, is limited to claims that arise directly from the defendant's activities within the state.

Overall, specific jurisdiction is a legal concept that allows a court to exercise power over a defendant in a particular state based on the extent of their activities within that state. It is an important aspect of due process and ensures that defendants are not subject to unfair legal proceedings.