Legal jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court or legal body to make decisions and enforce laws within a specific geographic area or over certain types of cases. This means that a court can only hear cases that fall within its defined boundaries, whether they are local, state, or federal. Jurisdiction can also be categorized by subject matter, such as criminal law or civil law, determining which court has the power to hear a particular case. Additionally, jurisdiction can be influenced by factors like the location of the parties involved or the nature of the dispute.