What establishes general jurisdiction over a defendant?

General jurisdiction is established when a defendant has substantial, continuous, and systematic contacts with the forum state, which enables a court in that state to exercise jurisdiction over the defendant for any matter, regardless of where the cause of action arose. This principle is rooted in the idea that a defendant's affiliations with the state are so significant that it would be reasonable for them to be subject to the state's laws and courts.

For general jurisdiction to be appropriate, the defendant's connections must be more than just occasional or isolated interactions with the state. The contacts need to be extensive and ongoing, reflecting a level of activity that indicates the defendant has established a substantial presence there. This can include having offices, employees, or a significant market presence within the state.

Options such as occasional contact with the state, merely having property, or even simply being a resident cover aspects of jurisdiction but do not meet the rigorous standard required for general jurisdiction. Occasional or minimal interactions do not suffice to establish the comprehensive relationship needed for a court to claim jurisdiction over all of a defendant's activities. Having property is generally insufficient unless it is related to a business operation or an aspect that connects significantly to the jurisdiction. While being a resident of the state does support personal jurisdiction, it is specifically through the