Jurisdiction is a court’s power to render a decision affecting the rights of specific persons before the court.

Personal or Personam Jurisdiction.

Personal jurisdiction is the court’s authorization to determine the personal rights and obligations of the people before it.  Under personal jurisdiction, the court has the authority to determine matters of a particular respondent (in personam jurisdiction) or an article of property.  However Personal jurisdiction is separate from subject-matter jurisdiction or territorial jurisdiction.

The issue of personal jurisdiction may issue in the State courts and Federal courts.