What term refers to the legal authority of a court to hear a case?

The term that refers to the legal authority of a court to hear a case is jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is a crucial concept in the legal system, as it delineates the boundaries within which a court can exercise its power. It can be defined in several ways, including personal jurisdiction (the authority over the parties involved) and subject matter jurisdiction (the authority over the type of case presented).

This concept ensures that cases are heard in the appropriate court, based on factors such as the nature of the dispute and the location of the parties involved. For instance, specific courts are set up to handle particular types of cases, like family courts for divorce proceedings, due to their specialized expertise.

Other options such as venue refer to the geographical location where a case should be tried, authority is a more general term that doesn't specifically address legal contexts, and adjudication refers to the legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding a case. These terms are related but do not define the specific legal power a court holds, which is captured by the term jurisdiction.