"Jurisdiction, put simply, is a fancy word that encompasses a court's power or authority to hear a case. Both federal and state laws, as well as the constitutions of the United States and every single state, have rules concerning the power of federal and state courts to hear cases. These laws and constitutions also limit those courts' power to hear cases.
Jurisdiction is important because if a court does not have jurisdiction over a case, it does not have the legal authority to pass judgment on the case. In order for a court to make a binding judgment on a case, it must have both subject matter jurisdiction (the power to hear the type of case) as well as personal jurisdiction (the power over the parties to the case).
If you end up filing your case in the wrong court, the defendant may get the case removed from the court you choose to a proper court. This court may be in a place that is less favorable to the outcome you desire, or it may be so far away that it becomes inconvenient for you to litigate. In addition, the defendant, instead of just moving the case, may end up getting the case dismissed altogether."
Federal or State Court: Subject Matter Jurisdiction, FindLaw (last updated Jan. 18, 2017).
Florida has three federal district courts in which a federal claim may be brought: the Northern, Middle, and Southern District. Florida falls within the Eleventh Circuit, and thus, decisions rendered by any one of Florida's federal district courts are reviewed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Eleventh Circuit's decisions are subject to review by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving (1) federal questions and (2) diversity of citizenship. Federal question cases are cases which arise under / are based upon federal law. Diversity cases are cases which the parties to the lawsuit are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy is greater than $75,000.
Florida has twenty judicial circuits in which a state court action may be brought, and within those twenty judicial circuits are sixty-seven county courts. Decisions rendered by the circuit/county courts are reviewed by one of Florida's five state appellate courts (the First, Second, Third, Fourth, or Fifth District Court of Appeal, depending on the location of the judicial circuit). The Supreme Court of Florida is authorized to review state appellate court decisions.
All cases which do not fall within federal court jurisdiction may be brought in state court.
