What test governs a state’s authority to exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident, and what is required for due process?

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Personal jurisdiction over a nonresident hinges on the minimum contacts standard. The due process clause requires that the defendant have enough connection to the forum state so that exercising jurisdiction would not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. In practice, this means the defendant must have purposefully availed themselves of the forum or directed activities there, and the claim must arise from those contacts. If those conditions are met, courts then weigh reasonableness factors to ensure the exercise is fair. Foreseeability alone isn’t enough, and general jurisdiction is a higher bar (continuous and systematic contacts allowing a suit on anything), while consent can create jurisdiction but only when given.