What is meant by "ancillary jurisdiction"?

The term "ancillary jurisdiction" refers to the authority of a court to hear and decide claims that are closely related to the original claim before it. This concept is rooted in the idea that a court can effectively resolve all issues that arise from a single transaction or occurrence, even if some of those issues might not independently satisfy the requirements for federal jurisdiction. By exercising ancillary jurisdiction, a court ensures judicial efficiency and avoids multiple lawsuits regarding the same facts or events.

This is crucial because it helps streamline the legal process by allowing the court to address all pertinent disputes in a single proceeding, rather than requiring separate litigation that could lead to inconsistent results. Ancillary jurisdiction is particularly important in cases involving joinder of parties or claims, where the overlapped facts make it logical to handle all aspects of a case together.

Other options do not accurately define ancillary jurisdiction; they may either misinterpret its role or describe unrelated legal concepts. For example, the idea of ruling on appeals or joining multiple litigants in one claim would not fall specifically under the umbrella of ancillary jurisdiction as it pertains to the relationship of claims in a single case.