original jurisdiction
US /əˌrɪdʒ.ə.nəl ˌdʒʊr.ɪsˈdɪk.ʃən/
UK /əˌrɪdʒ.ə.nəl ˌdʒʊr.ɪsˈdɪk.ʃən/
1.
the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, which is the authority to review a lower court's decision
:
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The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving states or ambassadors.
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Most cases begin in courts with original jurisdiction.