What term describes a court's power to hear only specialized cases?

What term describes a court's power to hear only specialized cases?

• A. General jurisdiction
• B. Limited jurisdiction
• C. Writ of certiorari
• D. Subpoena

Answer: (B)

Limited jurisdiction describes a court’s authority to hear only specific kinds of cases defined by law. This means the court handles particular subject areas (like probate, family, or small-claims matters) and cannot preside over unrelated cases. General jurisdiction would let a court hear a broad mix of civil and criminal matters, which is the opposite of what’s described here. A writ of certiorari is a higher court’s review of a lower court’s decision, not about the court’s limited scope. A subpoena is a court order to compel testimony or evidence, also not about the scope of what cases a court can hear.

Limited jurisdiction describes a court’s authority to hear only specific kinds of cases defined by law. This means the court handles particular subject areas (like probate, family, or small-claims matters) and cannot preside over unrelated cases. General jurisdiction would let a court hear a broad mix of civil and criminal matters, which is the opposite of what’s described here. A writ of certiorari is a higher court’s review of a lower court’s decision, not about the court’s limited scope. A subpoena is a court order to compel testimony or evidence, also not about the scope of what cases a court can hear.