The courts
venue
Which court, among those with jurisdiction, is the proper place for a case. Jurisdiction is about power; venue is about location and convenience.
In full
Federal venue rules generally point to where the defendant resides or where the events occurred. A case filed in an improper venue can be transferred rather than dismissed, and even a proper venue can be changed for the convenience of parties and witnesses. Forum shopping, choosing among permissible venues for a favorable bench, is a persistent complaint about the system.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.