in the statute or constitution that created the court.

a. Example 1: Probate Court - Court that handles only wills and estates.

b. Example 2: Family Court - Court that handles disputes involving members of the family
(such as divorce and child custody).

E. General vs. Limited Jurisdictions. You must also know generally the difference between a court of
general jurisdiction and a court of limited jurisdiction.

1. General Jurisdiction. A court of general jurisdiction can decide almost any type of case. Some
examples of such courts are district courts, circuit courts and county courts.

2. Limited Jurisdiction. A court of limited jurisdiction hears only specialized or limited subject
matter cases. Again, the family court is one example.

F. Original vs. Appellate Jurisdiction. The text clarifies this distinction. Courts having original
jurisdiction are those who first hear the case, while appellate jurisdiction deals with a court who reviews
the decision of a lower court.

1. Example. NC Court of Appeals may review cases of district courts of North Carolina. NC Court
of Appeals are never the court of original jurisdiction.

IV. VENUE. Venue simply means the "place of trial." Venue rules attempt to allocate cases within a judicial system
in a manner that is convenient for the parties, witnesses and the court.

1. General Rule. The general rule is that venue is proper where the incident occurred or where the parties
involved in the suit reside.

a. Example 1: Barney Fife ran into Gomer's car. Barney and Gomer live in NC and the accident
occurred in NC. What state has proper venue?

(1) Answer. NC because Barney and Gomer lived in NC and the incident occurred in NC.

b. Example 2: Barney ran into Floyd's car. Barney lives in NC and Floyd lives in Texas. The
accident occurred in Florida. Where is venue proper?

(1) Answer: NC, Texas, or Florida.

NC because Barney lives there
Texas because Floyd lives there
Florida because the accident occurred there.

V. STANDING TO SUE. This is a "WHO" question. When we say a person must have standing to assert a claim,
we mean a party must have a legally protectible and tangible interest at stake in the litigation.

A. Standing focuses on the party asserting the claim.

B. The party must have been injured or be threatened with injury by the action complained of.

C. EXAMPLE. Barney Fife was a member Mayberry's police force. He was also a member of the local
police lodge. You had to be a police officer to be a member of the lodge. After Barney opening opposed
Major Pike's re-election, the police lodge voted to expel Barney out of the lodge. Barney resigned from
the police force the next day. After Barney's resignation, he file an action in the federal district court
seeking to be re-instated into the lodge. WHAT'S THE OUTCOME?
(A) BARNEY LOSSES. Since Barney resigned from the Mayberry police force, he lacks standing