In Re Jose B.

Summary

The court held that failure to allege or prove an essential statutory fact generally concerns the legal sufficiency of a claim and the proper exercise of statutory authority, not subject matter jurisdiction. Because the governing statutes authorized neglect or uncared-for adjudications only for persons under eighteen, the trial court lacked authority to adjudicate the petitioner after his eighteenth birthday, rendering the case moot because no practical relief remained. The court therefore affirmed the Appellate Court's judgment affirming dismissal.