What Is Forum Shopping and Why Courts Discourage It?

Forum shopping is when a party files a case in a court believed to offer a more favorable outcome, rather than the one with proper or logical jurisdiction.

For example, someone might approach a court in a city known for consumer-friendly judgments, even if the dispute arose elsewhere.

While it may help some access justice, forum shopping is often criticized for being unfair to the opposing party, causing jurisdictional confusion, and overburdening certain courts.

To curb this, courts strictly apply jurisdictional rules—like filing in the location where the cause of action arose or where the defendant lives—to uphold fairness and judicial efficiency.