Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction in general refers to the authority or legal power to decide cases or to issue decrees. In the context of criminal law, it refers to the power of the courts to hear and decide an action brought by the state or federal government against an individual for a wrongdoing classified as a felony or a misdemeanor. Valid criminal judgments require (1) subject-matter jurisdiction, (2) personal jurisdiction, and (3) territorial jurisdiction. States enjoy sovereign immunity from criminal prosecution, and visiting foreign government officials ...