This article analyzes the constitutional and doctrinal foundations of general jurisdiction in American courts, with emphasis on how state and federal systems assert authority over non-resident defendants.
The authors explore the historical development of personal and general jurisdiction doctrines, documenting how courts have long distinguished between specific jurisdiction tied to discrete claims and broader jurisdiction tied to a party’s presence, consent, or contacts with the forum.
The study examines key Supreme Court decisions and doctrinal tests that have shaped general jurisdiction, explaining the rationales behind assertions of power over defendants whose activities or affiliations bring them within a court’s reach.
This work is frequently cited in scholarship on jurisdiction, procedural authority, and the limits of judicial reach.
Citation
Brilmayer, L., Haverkamp, J., Logan, B., & Lynch, L. (1987). A general look at general jurisdiction. Texas Law Review, 66, 721–783.