Plea to the Jurisdiction Definition

Plea to the Jurisdiction Definition:: A preliminary challenge to a court's authority to decide the action before it.

Related Terms: Dilatory Plea, Jurisdiction

Justice George Hanks of the Court of Appeals of Texas wrote, in City of Houston v Buttitia:

"A plea to the jurisdiction is a dilatory plea by which a party challenges a court's authority to determine the subject matter of the action."

REFERENCES:

City of Houston v. Buttitta, 274 SW 3d 850 (2008). See, also, City of Pasadena v. Smith, 263 SW 3d 80 (2006)

Categories & Topics:

Civil Litigation & Evidence Law Dictionary

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