want of jurisdiction
want of jurisdiction. A court’s lack of power to act in a particular way or to give certain kinds of relief. • A court may have no power to act at all, may lack authority over a person or the subject matter of a lawsuit, or may have no power to act until the prerequisites for its jurisdiction have been satisfied. — Also termed lack of jurisdiction. See JURISDICTION. [Cases: Courts 39, 40; Federal Courts 30. C.J.S. Courts §§ 3, 87–92.]