Due Process--Traditional Notions of Fair Play and Substantial Justice
The Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution governs a State's exercise of jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant. Thus, a "defendant's contacts with the forum State must be such that maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice."
Minimum Contacts Test
The "minimum contacts" with the forum State required to exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident will be found only if a defendant
- "purposely avails [himself] of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum State" and
- his contacts with the State are of a nature that "he should reasonably anticipate being haled into court there."
Categories of Personal Jurisdiction
The United States Supreme Court distinguishes between causes of action directly related to the defendant's contacts with the State, and causes of action that are unrelated to those contacts:
Specific Jurisdiction. Courts exercise specific jurisdiction over nonresidents where the cause of action directly relates to the nonresident's contacts with the forum state
General Jurisdiction. Courts exercise general jurisdiction over nonresidents where the cause of action is unrelated to the nonresident's contacts with the forum state
C.L. v. W.S., 406 N.J. Super. 484 (App. Div. 2009)
