---
title: "Primary Jurisdiction"
type: Legal Term
source: https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/primary-jurisdiction
---

# Primary Jurisdiction

A prudential doctrine under which a court with jurisdiction over a case may stay or dismiss proceedings to allow an administrative agency with special expertise to first resolve the issues, particularly when the case involves technical or policy questions within the agency's specialized competence. Unlike exhaustion of remedies, which concerns whether a party has completed the administrative process before coming to court, primary jurisdiction applies when a case is properly before a court but involves issues that Congress intended to be first addressed by an agency. The doctrine promotes uniformity and consistency in regulatory schemes and ensures that courts benefit from agency expertise. Courts retain ultimate jurisdiction and may review the agency's resolution.

## Related Terms

- exhaustion-of-remedies
- agency-discretion
- adjudication
- apa-administrative-procedure-act

## Related Cases

- chevron-usa-inc-v-natural-resources-defense-council

## Example

A federal district court stayed an antitrust lawsuit challenging airline pricing practices and referred the matter to the Department of Transportation under the primary jurisdiction doctrine because the case required expert analysis of complex airline fare structures.

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Source: [Primary Jurisdiction — CaseBriefly](https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/primary-jurisdiction)