What type of jurisdiction pertains to the authority of a court based on the location of the case within the judicial system?

The correct answer is hierarchical jurisdiction. This type of jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court based on its place in the structure of the judicial system, determining whether a court can hear a case in the first place, based on its level (such as trial court, appellate court, or supreme court) and the geographic area it serves.

Hierarchical jurisdiction is crucial for understanding how the court system is organized and functions, especially when cases escalate through different levels of the judicial system, moving from lower courts to higher courts for appeals and further review. For example, lower trial courts handle initial cases, while appellate courts review decisions made by these lower courts.

Contextually, the other types of jurisdiction mentioned do not pertain directly to the location of the case within the judicial hierarchy. Personal jurisdiction deals with the authority of a court over the individuals involved in a case, subject matter jurisdiction refers to the court's authority to hear a particular type of case, and appellate jurisdiction is concerned with the power of a higher court to review and potentially overturn decisions made by lower courts.