What is meant by original jurisdiction?

Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, rather than on appeal from a lower court. This means that when a court exercises original jurisdiction, it is assessing the facts and evidence of the case and making determinations about its outcome based on that evidence.

In the U.S. legal system, certain courts, such as trial courts, typically have original jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, from civil to criminal matters. This is significant because it allows the court to assess and determine the case's merits directly, establishing factual and legal precedents.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different judicial functions. For instance, the power to hear appeals from lower courts refers to appellate jurisdiction, where courts review decisions made by other courts, focusing on whether the law was applied correctly rather than determining the facts of the case anew. The right to enforce judicial decisions falls under the enforcement power of the courts but does not pertain to original jurisdiction. Lastly, the ability to review legislative decisions relates more to judicial review, which assesses the constitutionality of laws rather than dealing with initial case hearings.