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How does concurrent jurisdiction allow more than one court to hear a case?

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Wood-paneled courtroom with judge's bench, American and Nevada flags, wooden chairs and tables, and a mounted animal head above the bench in the Esmeralda County courthouse, Goldfield, Nevada. — Court Judge's bench in a courtroom in Nevada, U.S.

Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two or more courts possess the legal authority to hear and determine the same type of case or matter within the same geographic area.12

This arrangement allows a plaintiff to choose to bring a suit to any of the courts that share this authority for an original determination. Because multiple courts are deemed competent to adjudicate the specific issue, the legal system provides the plaintiff with options regarding where to file their claim.12

Factors influencing this choice often include convenience, such as the proximity of the court to the parties or the availability of evidence, as well as potential procedural or substantive advantages offered by a specific jurisdiction. While concurrent jurisdiction grants this flexibility, the exercise of such authority remains subject to constitutional limits and legal principles designed to ensure fairness and prevent the abuse of the judicial process, such as the doctrine of forum non conveniens in common-law systems.34