Exam 9: The Judiciary

Appellate courts are different from trial courts because

Connecticut, California and Massachusetts courts expanded a woman's right to an abortion and the right for her to obtain state aid to pay for it. This is an example of

State courts resolve disputes and administer justice by interpreting

What percentage of civil and criminal cases are resolved outside the courtroom?

Trial courts are more prone to interpret the law, whereas appellate courts are more apt to apply the law and make public policy.

According to the text, the quality of judicial decision making is inversely related to

An objective definition of judicial activism points to court-generated change in public policy that is perceived as illegitimate by opponents who favor the status quo.

Which of the following statements about original jurisdiction courts is true?

The first state to adopt the merit plan for selecting judges was Arizona in 1940.

Why did nonpartisan election of judges become popular during the first half of the twentieth century?

Judges who attain their position through electoral politics tend to behave like elected officials in the executive and legislative branches of state government by emphasizing political, rather than legal, factors in their decision making.

In a bench trial, the _______ alone hears all arguments, determines the facts, and makes rulings on questions of law.

Four states use legislative selection to elect all state judges.

If you were arrested for a major traffic violation, and then negotiated with the prosecutor to plead guilty to a minor traffic offense, you engaged in

Currently, the average annual salary for a state supreme court justice is approximately

Court caseloads continue to mount, while at the same time budget cuts have forced staff reductions. What have courts done over the past twenty years to streamline operations, utilize technology, and consolidate operations to conduct business?

Centralized budgeting, also referred to as _______, consolidates the budget for all state and local courts and details all personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenditures.

According to the American Bar Association's guidelines, which of the following should NOT be a basis for choosing a judge?

Only about 2 percent of all cases are resolved by jury trial.

When judges use previous judicial rulings to guide their decisions, they are employing the doctrine of