Final answer:
A court must have jurisdiction to hear a case and render an authoritative judgment. Jurisdiction allows courts to legally decide cases, either as original jurisdiction for first hearings or appellate jurisdiction for cases previously decided by lower courts.
Step-by-step explanation:
A court must have jurisdiction (“the power to speak the law”) in order to hear a case and render an authoritative judgment. Jurisdiction is the authority granted to a court to hear and decide cases, apply laws, and issue judgments that are legally binding.
Jurisdiction can be divided into original jurisdiction, where a court is the first to hear a case, and appellate jurisdiction, where a court hears a case after a lower court has made a decision.
Different courts have varying scopes of jurisdiction; for example, the Supreme Court of the United States has both forms, with original jurisdiction over certain types of cases and appellate jurisdiction over others. When judges make decisions on cases, they may also impact public policy, depending on how they interpret laws and precedents.
The requirement for courts to have jurisdiction ensures the judicial system functions properly, addressing only legitimate controversies and providing a systematic and lawful process for adjudication.