Whoever has an ordinary jurisdiction is ordinary of that place.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) The holder of ordinary jurisdiction over a place is the recognized judicial authority there — cite this to establish which court or officer has inherent jurisdiction over a locale.

Where this applies

• A bishop exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the churches in his diocese, and the law recognizes him as the ordinary — the inherent judicial authority — of that place.
• A probate judge has ordinary jurisdiction over all wills and estates in the county, making her the recognized judicial authority for those matters in that locale.
• A local magistrate holds ordinary jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses in the township, and the law treats him as the ordinary of that place for those purposes.