In the context of jurisdiction, what does "removal" refer to?

In the context of jurisdiction, "removal" specifically refers to the process of transferring a case from state court to federal court. This typically occurs when a defendant believes that they will be unable to receive a fair trial in state court or if the case involves federal questions or diversity jurisdiction, where parties are from different states and the amount in controversy exceeds a certain threshold. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure outline the procedure for removal, ensuring that defendants can seek a neutral ground in the federal system.

The other choices reflect various judicial concepts that do not align with the legal definition of removal. For instance, sending a case to a higher court pertains to appeals, which is distinct from the jurisdictional shift described in removal. The suggestion of transferring a case from federal court to state court does not match the scenario of removal and generally is related to remand procedures. Finally, the relocation of witnesses is entirely different and concerns trial preparation rather than the jurisdictional processes involved in moving cases between courts.