CH 5
What method do Texas courts use to screen criminal cases?
- Administrative Hearings. - Grand Juries.
Under a merit system of electing judges, judges
- Are initially appointed by the governor. - Must stand for a periodic retention election.
Which of the following can be heard in a Justice of the Peace court in Texas?
- Cases involving traffic tickets. - Criminal misdemeanor cases. - Requests for search-and-arrest warrants.
Which of the following are county courts?
- County courts at law. - Constitutional county courts.
Which of the following may Texas district court judges remove?
- County judges - Justices of the peace
In what ways do courts differ from governors and legislatures in the way that they make decision?
- Courts must maintain a passive role. - Court must enforce rules that restrict access to the courts. - Courts must confine their decisions to the specifics of the case before them.
For petit juries, how do jurisdictions collect names for jury selection?
- From voter registration lists. - From lists of licensed drivers.
Switching from a partisan election system to a nonpartisan election system for judicial selection would result in which of the following?
- It would eliminate straight-ticket voting. - It would reduce the cost of campaigns.
Which of the following would be true if all criminal cases were subject to jury trials?
- It would result in increased costs. - More court officers would be needed.
In Texas, which of the following courts are trial de novo courts?
- JP courts - Municipal courts
In addition to appointment by governor, which of the following are possible alternatives to Texas's partisan judicial election system that are in use in other states?
- Merit Plan - Nonpartisan elections
Which steps in a case involving serous criminal charges can occur at the municipal level?
- Person is told of his or her rights. - Bail is set.
Unlike justices of the peace, Texas's municipal courts cannot
- Serve as small claims courts. - Perform marriages.
Identify all of the following courts of last resort in Texas.
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Texas Supreme Court
In what Instances can the Texas governor fill a seat for district or appellate court?
- Vacancy because of resignation. - Vacancy because of death. - A new position created by the legislature.
Administrative hearing
A hearing before a judge who decides if a person must stand trial is known as a(n).
Appellate
A(n)- court primarily considers questions such as, "Were legal procedures followed?"
A hearing before a judge who decides if a person must stand trial is known as a(n)
Administrative hearing.
The most important difference between trial and appellate court is
Appellate courts decide cases based on points of law.
The American legal system can be divided into broad branches. What are these branches?
Civil and Criminal
The majority of court cases deal with
Controversies between individuals.
County
Courts primarily hear intermediate criminal and civil cases.
In Texas, as in most states, which courts hear major criminal and civil trials?
District.
TRUE or FALSE: A majority of states do not have any courts of appeal.
FALSE
TRUE or FALSE: The U.S Constitution gave the Congress the authority to create the Supreme Court.
FALSE
TRUE or FALSE: Law firms and other organizations that have business before a Texas judge are not permitted to give money to that judge's election campaign.
FALSE.
TRUE or FALSE: The U.S. Constitution gave the Congress the authority to create the Supreme Court.
FALSE.
Many Texas judges receive their initial seats on the courts via appointment by the Texas
Governor.
Laws passed by the legislature that apply to all people in a category of citizens are
Majoritarian.
In 1995, the Texas Supreme Court established the Commission on Judicial Efficiency to
Make recommendations on the method of judicial selection.
In finding solutions in conflicts between individuals, the courts
May create laws that affect individuals other than case participants.
Also known as the Missouri system, the- system is a method of judical selection by which the governor of a given state appoints judges from a list submitted by a screening committee of legal officials.
Merit
The two types of minor courts in Texas are justice of the peace and- courts.
Municipal
What is unique about a trial de novo court?
No record of the proceeding is kept.
What method of judicial selection is used in Texas?
Partisan elections.
When reviewing crime rates, there is a strong correlation between the- and crime rates.
Percentage of the population living in urban areas.
The ruling of appellate and supreme courts serve as especially important- for future legal decisions.
Precedents.
In Texas, the State Commission of Judicial Conduct can take all of the following actions concerning the disciplining of a judge except
Remove the judge.
Straight Ticket
Voting allows a voter to vote for all candidates in a party by making a single mark on the election ballot.
Missouri system, Merit
What system of electing judges involves appointment by the governor and a periodic retention election?
Unlike governors and legislatures, courts seek to evaluate cases
With the appearance of objectivity.
A grand jury is
a screening body for criminal cases.
Trial court judges are elected for- year terms, and appellate court judges are elected for- year terms.
four; six
Mr. Smith was found guilty of capital murder in a Texas district court. Because it involves the death penatly, Mr. Smith's case, on appeal, will be heard next by which Texas court?
the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Primarily- states have several courts of appeal.
Large urban
In Texas, the method of removal of state judges can depend on the
Level of the judgeship.
How many intermediate appellate courts are there in Texas?
14
Because Texas uses a partisan election system to select judges, a candidate for either the Democratic or Republican party win- elections to reach the bench.
2
How many kinds of county courts are there in Texas?
2
Which article of the U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court and gave the Congress the authority to create other lower federal courts?
III
In which of the following areas are judges that are appointed by the governor considered to be weak?
Responsiveness.
In states that use the merit plan, after their term is up a judge must stand for a- election.
Retention
Familiarity
Since most voters in Texas go to the election booth with scant knowledge about the qualifications of judicial candidates, they often end up voting by this name.
How are state courts created?
States create their own courts.
When judges are elected by the legislature, how would your characterize their independence?
Strong.
Most state courts consist of three levels of courts: trial courts, appellate courts, and a - court
Supreme
In Texas, there are two supreme courts. The Court of Criminal Appeals focuses on criminal cases, while the - Court focuses on - and juvenile cases.
Supreme, Civil
TRUE or FALSE: Unlike appellate courts, which involve virtually no direct citizen participation, trial courts have citizens participate as members of juries and a witnesses during trials.
TRUE
Which of the following statements about women in the Texas judiciary is accurate?
The number of female judges in the state is significant and growing.
Which of the following best characterizes the comparison between African Americans in the Texas judiciary and in the population at large?
The percentage of African Americans in the judiciary is significantly lower than in the population at large.
Why did voters elect Don Yarbrough to the Texas Supreme Court in 1976?
They recognized his name.
Why are death penalty cases automatically appealed in Texas?
To ensure procedural accuracy.
How are trial courts are different from appellate courts?
Trial courts are localized.
