Jurisdiction (area) explained

A jurisdiction is an area with a set of laws and under the control of a system of courts or government entity that is different from neighbouring areas.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Each state in a federation such as Australia, Germany and the United States forms a separate jurisdiction. However, certain laws in a federal state are sometimes uniform across the constituent states and enforced by a set of federal courts; with the result that the federal state forms a single jurisdiction for that purpose.

A jurisdiction may also prosecute for crimes committed outside its jurisdiction once the perpetrator returns.^[4] In some cases, a citizen of another jurisdiction outside its own, can be extradited to a jurisdiction in which the crime is illegal even if it was not committed in that jurisdiction.^{[5] [6]}

Unitary states are usually single jurisdictions, but the United Kingdom is a notable exception since it has three separate jurisdictions because of its three separate legal systems. Also, China has the separate jurisdictions of Hong Kong and Macao.

See also

• Ecclesiastical jurisdiction
• Political division
• State (polity)
• Sovereign state
• Federated state
• State law
• Change of venue

Further reading

• Beale, Joseph H. (1935) A Treatise on the Conflict of Laws.
• Dicey & Morris. (1993) The Conflict of Laws 12th edition. London: Sweet & Maxwell Ltd. (pp26/30)
• McClean, David. (2000). Morris: The Conflict of Laws. London: Sweet & Maxwell Ltd.

Notes and References

1. Book: Lehman . Jeffrey . Phelps . Shirelle . West's Encyclopedia of American Law, Vol. 6 . 2 . 2005 . Thomson/Gale . Detroit . 9780787663742 . 293.
2. Book: Declining jurisdiction in private international law : reports to the XIVth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law, Athens, August 1994 . 1995 . Clarendon Press . Oxford . 019825959X.
3. Civil society in multi-level public policy: the case of Ireland's two jurisdictions . Acheson . Nicholas V. . Williamson . Arthur P. . Policy & Politics . 35 . 1 . January 2007 . 25 . Policy Press . 10.1332/030557307779657711 .
4. News: 3 Americans Charged With Traveling to Cambodia for Sex With Children. Surdin. Ashley. . 2009-09-01. 2018-03-11. en-US. 0190-8286.
5. News: Copyright Infringement: British Man Faces Extradition To U.S.. 2012-01-14. Deadline. 2018-03-11. en-US.
6. Web site: New web law - Man extradited to foreign prison for web site content. www.dba-oracle.com. 2018-03-11.