c5
In most states, which courts hear major criminal and civil cases?
All of these answers are correct.
Across all fifty states, the most common method for selecting state Supreme Court judges is
Missouri plan.
The lowest number of states select judges through
legislative election
A justice of the peace court is a(n)
magistrate court.
Texas uses ________ to review the facts and decide whether enough evidence exists to try cases.
both grand juries and administrative hearings
The Texas Government Code allows jurisdictions to draw upon which source(s) for jury selection?
both registered voters and licensed drivers
Most voters go to the election booth with scant knowledge about the qualifications of judicial candidates, and they often end up voting
by name familiarity.
What are the two kinds of county courts?
constitutional county courts and county courts at law
According to Figure 5.5, what is the most common way of selecting appellate court judges?
merit plan
The strict procedural rules that govern courts
might disallow evidence gathered in an illegal manner.
What kind of criminal case is a county court most likely to hear?
misdemeanor
Judges appointed by governors are typically
more competent and less responsive.
Which method of judicial selection leads to the highest degree of judicial responsiveness?
nonpartisan election
What is the most often called-for fix to the problems caused by straight-ticket voting in Texas?
nonpartisan elections
Most court cases in Texas deal with
controversies between individuals.
Courts differ from legislatures in that
courts cannot initiate policy changes.
Justices of the peace (JP courts) in Texas can do all of the following EXCEPT
create records of proceedings for county courts to review.
Judges must base their decisions only on the federal and state constitutions, statutes, and earlier court decisions. This concept is called
objectivity
How are appellate court judges selected in Texas?
partisan election
How are trial court judges selected in Texas?
partisan election
The highest number of states' courts use which method for selecting trial court (including municipal level) judges?
partisan election
Which method of judicial selection leads to the lowest degree of judicial independence?
partisan election
Which method of judicial selection leads to the lowest level of judicial competence?
partisan election
In Texas, appellate courts
decide whether procedure was followed.
What is the most important difference between trial and appellate courts?
deciding points of fact versus points of law
A murder case would most likely first be tried in a(n)
district court.
Cases heard in trial de novo courts can be appealed
for any reason.
According to a 2006 Texans for Public Justice study, the Texas Supreme Court
is more than seven times more likely to hear cases filed by large contributors.
Texas has two Supreme Courts because
it divides its courts of last resort between criminal and civil cases.
If a court makes a ruling based on a principle established in a previous ruling from another court, it is an example of
stare decisis.
In 1984, many incumbent Democratic judges lost their seats in large urban counties to unknown Republican challengers because of
straight-ticket voting.
What is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas?
the Court of Criminal Appeals
In Texas, criminal appeals involving the death penalty are heard by
the Court of Criminal Appeals.
The merit system used to identify and select judges is also known as
the Missouri system.
In merit systems, appointed judges rarely lose retention elections because
the appointed judge does not run against an opponent.
Why does the U.S. have a dual court system?
the federal system of government
All of the following are concerns about Texas judicial selections EXCEPT that
vacancies from death or resignation require expensive special elections.
How many elections must a judge win prior to being seated on the bench under the Texas partisan election system?
2
As of 2017, ________ of Texans identify as Hispanic or Latino, while ________ of all judges in the state identify as Hispanic.
39.1 percent; 17 percent
Which of the following is true of typical grand juries?
They ideally serve to prevent arbitrary excesses by prosecuting attorneys.