JURISDICTION. This term is the Latin wont which simply signifying the "declaration of jus or law," was used by the eitaied writers to express the "administration of Justice" (Cie • Vase 2 ep. 13 ad fin.) as well as " legal authority." (Cie' Agrar.' 2, c. 36; Swims, Calig. c. 16). Ile who had pin's/it-do was said " jos diem.," to "declare the law." The whole office (4eirm) of him who declared the law wm accordingly expressed by the word„ Jerimheno. (D. 2, 1.). Jerisdictie was either voluntary (reiestaria) or litigant (ceatatrieiel. The jerialietio rolmetaria related to certain mi., ouch for instance as those forms of manumision and adoption cinch must be done before a sayistratin In order to be valid; it is therelsni described in the law books as an eerie legis (D. 1, 16, 3, & D. 1, 20, 1). The jeriancrie ceeteetkea related to litigation, and such legal proceedings were said to be " in jure," before the magistratus, as opposed to the proceeding* before a which were said to be " in licio." The maoistratus was meld " jusdicere " or " reddere," when he exercised his functions ; and " inagustratus" and " qul Ronne jus licit' are accordingly convertible terms (Warnktenig,' Inatitutiones Jeri* Romani; Lb. iv. cap. I. tit. vii., and Atxly's ' Law of Civil Procedure among the Romani; chap. li.) Juriediction in England, which is defined by Coke to be " rotate] do Publics introducta CUM necessi tate Juria dieetyli." 10 Co. 73, and is explained to bean " authority or which • man has to do justice in causes of complaint brought before mews an authority which a court of law or equity has to decide matters that are litigated before it or questions that are tried before it. The courts at Westminster have jurisdiction all over England and
Wale.; but the jurisdiction of other courts Is limited by being con fined to orrtain limits of apace and to certain kinds of causes or matters ha dispute. When the jurisdiction of a court extends all over England, it may still be limited as to the kind of causes which it tries. Thum, the superior courts of law and the courts of equity have their several jurisdictions as to matters which they hear and determine. [Eotrerr.j The ecclaisotied courts also have their separate jurisdiction ; and other courts, such as the Probate and Divorce Court, Admiralty Court, the Court of Insolvency, Borough Courts, County Courts, and others, have their several jurisdictions. It follows, that if proceedings arc commenced against a man before a court which has no jurisdiction in the matter brought before it, the defendant may answer by alleging that the court has no jurisdiction; which is called pleading to the juriedietires. When • party is convicted by a court that leas no juris diction in the matter, the proceedings may be moved into the Court of Bench by the writ of Certiorari and quashed. [Ceirrionatti.] Thom who have limited jurisdiction are liable to an action, if they manna a jurisdiction which they have not. See Paley on ' Convictions,' 4th edition, p. 400, and 11 & 12 Viet. c. 44,s. 2.