The court in which a person files a case depends on which court has jurisdiction over such cases. Jurisdiction is the power and authority of particular court to decide a case. A court also must have personal jurisdiction over the defendant in a case. There are different ways in which a court may have personal jurisdiction, such as the defendant's residence or business being within the court's geographical region. For example, a California plaintiff may not bring an action in a California superior court against a defendant who lives and works in another state, if that defendant has no contact with the state of California.
Jurisdiction is set in law, constitutions, or case law.
Some courts have overlapping jurisdiction, giving a person a choice of where to file an action. Exclusive jurisdiction means that only a particular court has authority to decide a case. An example of a court having exclusive subject matter jurisdiction is bankruptcy court. Only in a federal bankruptcy court can a person file a bankruptcy action. State courts have no jurisdiction in bankruptcy cases.