Rule 82.Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Effective July 1, 1974 · Last verified June 26, 2026
Full Text of Rule 82
Rule History
Effective date July 1, 1974.
Reporter’s Notes
(1973)
Rule 82, taken with minor changes from Federal Rule 82, makes clear that the new Rules are entirely procedural, and that they have left unchanged the various statutes setting out jurisdiction of the courts and venue of actions.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 82 is a short but important disclaimer: these rules are procedural and do not extend or limit the jurisdiction of the courts or the venue of actions in them. Jurisdiction and venue continue to be governed by the constitution and statutes; the rules only supply the procedure once a court properly has a case. It forecloses any argument that a procedural rule has quietly enlarged or shrunk a court's power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the Rules of Civil Procedure change a court's jurisdiction or venue?
No. Rule 82 states that the rules shall not be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the courts or the venue of actions, which remain governed by the constitution and statutes.
Why does Rule 82 exist if it does not change anything?
It forecloses an argument that a procedural rule quietly expanded or narrowed a court's power. The rules govern how a case proceeds once a court has it; they are not a backdoor way to change which court can hear a case in the first place.