Question 1

In which states are judges elected by the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) North Carolina and Alabama 
B) South Carolina and Virginia 
C) New Mexico and Oklahoma 
D) North Dakota and South Dakota 
E) Utah and Colorado 
A) North Carolina and Alabama 
B) South Carolina and Virginia 
C) New Mexico and Oklahoma 
D) North Dakota and South Dakota 
E) Utah and Colorado

Question 2

How many state judges are minorities?

Accepted Answer

A) 6 
B) 9 
C) 12 
D) 17 
E) 19 
A) 6 
B) 9 
C) 12 
D) 17 
E) 19

Question 3

How many states have retention elections for state judges?

Accepted Answer

A) 19 
B) 15 
C) 13 
D) 8 
E) 5 
A) 19 
B) 15 
C) 13 
D) 8 
E) 5

Question 4

All state supreme courts have Web sites.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In what year did New Jersey become the first state since 1976 to eliminate the death penalty through an act of the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) 1963 
B) 1972 
C) 2007 
D) 2000 
E) 2008 
A) 1963 
B) 1972 
C) 2007 
D) 2000 
E) 2008

Question 6

With respect to advisory opinions, state judges are giving the court's view about a constitutional or legal issue.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

State judges are constrained by the doctrine of federalism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The U.S.Supreme Court has ruled that states CANNOT ban judicial candidates from announcing their positions on controversial legal and political matters because that would be a violation of the First Amendment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

When presented with a case by the police, a judge decides whether to file formal charges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Alternative dispute resolution refers to

Accepted Answer

A) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S.Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution. 
B) an opinion unrelated to a particular case that gives a court's view about a constitutional or legal issue. 
C) a system for selecting judges that combines features of the appointive and elective methods. 
D) procedures that substitute for formal trials including mediation, arbitration, conciliation, private judging, and advisory settlement conferences. 
E) a repeat offender. 
A) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S.Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution. 
B) an opinion unrelated to a particular case that gives a court's view about a constitutional or legal issue. 
C) a system for selecting judges that combines features of the appointive and elective methods. 
D) procedures that substitute for formal trials including mediation, arbitration, conciliation, private judging, and advisory settlement conferences. 
E) a repeat offender.

Question 11

All states have a court of last resort.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

An assigned counsel system is

Accepted Answer

A) a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial. 
B) a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill. 
C) an arrangement whereby the judge assigns a member of the bar to provide counsel to a particular defendant. 
D) to serve the public good; a term used to describe work that lawyers (or other professionals) do for which they receive no fees. 
E) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys. 
A) a certification by a public prosecutor that there is evidence to justify bringing named individuals to trial. 
B) a formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill. 
C) an arrangement whereby the judge assigns a member of the bar to provide counsel to a particular defendant. 
D) to serve the public good; a term used to describe work that lawyers (or other professionals) do for which they receive no fees. 
E) an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.

Question 13

The major argument of those who favor the elective method of selecting judges is that

Accepted Answer

A) it saves time and money. 
B) the selection of judges by the governor is invariably partisan. 
C) judges should be directly accountable to the people. 
D) the Bar Association has too much power in American society. 
E) the judiciary is nonpartisan. 
A) it saves time and money. 
B) the selection of judges by the governor is invariably partisan. 
C) judges should be directly accountable to the people. 
D) the Bar Association has too much power in American society. 
E) the judiciary is nonpartisan.

Question 14

Before rehabilitation became the purpose of sentencing, which of the following was (were) its primary purpose(s)?

Accepted Answer

A) Retribution 
B) Deterrence 
C) Protection of society 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) Retribution 
B) Deterrence 
C) Protection of society 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 15

Often, a single issue will compel interest groups to focus their efforts on turning out a judge with whose decisions they disagree.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What percentage of judges on state courts is women?

Accepted Answer

A) 10% 
B) 12% 
C) 16% 
D) 26% 
E) 36% 
A) 10% 
B) 12% 
C) 16% 
D) 26% 
E) 36%

Question 17

Which of the following are alternative dispute resolution procedures?

Accepted Answer

A) Litigation 
B) Appeal 
C) Out-of-court settlement 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above 
A) Litigation 
B) Appeal 
C) Out-of-court settlement 
D) All of the above 
E) None of the above

Question 18

About half of the states have passed three-strikes-and-you're-out laws which prescribe mandatory life sentences after three felony convictions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

All of the following are among the various trial courts of original jurisdiction, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) county courts. 
B) circuit courts. 
C) superior courts. 
D) district courts. 
E) courts of appeal. 
A) county courts. 
B) circuit courts. 
C) superior courts. 
D) district courts. 
E) courts of appeal.

Question 20

An advisory opinion is defined as

Accepted Answer

A) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that, in the opinion of the judges, conflicts with the U.S.Constitution (or, in a state court, the state constitution). 
B) an opinion unrelated to a particular case that gives a court's view about a constitutional or legal issue. 
C) a system for selecting judges that combines features of the appointive and elective methods. 
D) procedures that substitute for formal trials including mediation, arbitration, conciliation, private judging, and advisory settlement conferences. 
E) a repeat offender. 
A) the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that, in the opinion of the judges, conflicts with the U.S.Constitution (or, in a state court, the state constitution). 
B) an opinion unrelated to a particular case that gives a court's view about a constitutional or legal issue. 
C) a system for selecting judges that combines features of the appointive and elective methods. 
D) procedures that substitute for formal trials including mediation, arbitration, conciliation, private judging, and advisory settlement conferences. 
E) a repeat offender.

Exam 26: Judges and Justice in the States

In which states are judges elected by the legislature?

How many state judges are minorities?

How many states have retention elections for state judges?

All state supreme courts have Web sites.

In what year did New Jersey become the first state since 1976 to eliminate the death penalty through an act of the legislature?

With respect to advisory opinions, state judges are giving the court's view about a constitutional or legal issue.

State judges are constrained by the doctrine of federalism.

The U.S.Supreme Court has ruled that states CANNOT ban judicial candidates from announcing their positions on controversial legal and political matters because that would be a violation of the First Amendment.

When presented with a case by the police, a judge decides whether to file formal charges.

Alternative dispute resolution refers to

All states have a court of last resort.

An assigned counsel system is

The major argument of those who favor the elective method of selecting judges is that

Before rehabilitation became the purpose of sentencing, which of the following was (were) its primary purpose(s)?

Often, a single issue will compel interest groups to focus their efforts on turning out a judge with whose decisions they disagree.

What percentage of judges on state courts is women?

Which of the following are alternative dispute resolution procedures?

About half of the states have passed three-strikes-and-you're-out laws which prescribe mandatory life sentences after three felony convictions.

All of the following are among the various trial courts of original jurisdiction, EXCEPT

An advisory opinion is defined as

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