Concurrent Jurisdiction
Concurrent jurisdiction exists when more than one court or government authority has legal power to hear the same type of case or address the same subject. Whether a case may proceed in a particular court depends on statutes, constitutional limits, and rules governing jurisdiction.
Concurrent jurisdiction exists when more than one court or government authority has legal power to hear the same type of case or address the same subject. Whether a case may proceed in a particular court depends on statutes, constitutional limits, and rules governing jurisdiction.
Example: Some civil-rights claims may be brought in either state or federal court, subject to the requirements for jurisdiction and the applicable law.
Common misconception: Concurrent jurisdiction means both courts must hear the same case at the same time. It means more than one court may have authority, not that all courts must exercise it.
Sources: https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-504/pdf/USREPORTS-504-555.pdf