Question 1

Which of the following may explain why public opinion polling found that 70% of the public are more distrustful of their judges than they have been in the past?

Accepted Answer

A)  States are increasingly moving to political judicial selection methods, rather than merit-based selection. 
B)  Judges are increasingly recusing themselves from cases where they have personal, political, or financial connections to the parties involved in the case. 
C)  Several states have passed laws eliminating political fundraising by judicial candidates. 
D)  Special interest groups have dramatically increased their funding of judicial elections, often while pressuring candidates to openly share their political views.

Question 2

Which of the following would be a preferable course of action for a new judge?

Accepted Answer

A)  slowly make changes to the operation of the courtroom workgroup 
B)  make decisions and rulings based on their knowledge and experience 
C)  accept help and mentoring from more experienced court staff and other judges 
D)  immediately make changes to the operation of the courtroom workgroup

Question 3

In the commission-based method of selecting judges, a selection commission evaluates potential nominees, makes selections, and the candidates are confirmed by the state legislature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

How are federal judges selected?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are selected by the president from a list of qualified candidates. 
B)  They are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. 
C)  They are elected by state court judges in a general election. 
D)  They are elected by citizens living in their federal judicial district.

Question 5

Defendants cannot sue ______ for civil damages for how they handle a case.

Accepted Answer

A)  police officers 
B)  bailiffs 
C)  prosecutors 
D)  defense lawyers

Question 6

No two states use the exact same method of selecting judges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The commission-based appointment is also referred to as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  partisan election 
B)  nonpartisan election 
C)  Missouri plan 
D)  gubernatorial appointment

Question 8

Which of the following is not an example of prosecutorial discretion?

Accepted Answer

A)  issuing an arrest warrant 
B)  determining the type of charge 
C)  weighing whether or not to charge an offender 
D)  deciding whether to offer a plea agreement

Question 9

In ______, the U.S. Supreme Court observed that "there can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has."

Accepted Answer

A)  Griffin v. Illinois 
B)  Thompson v. Illinois 
C)  McKeiver v. Wisconsin 
D)  Tennessee v. Griffin

Question 10

A prosecutor receives a case with insufficient evidence and some concerns about how evidence was collected. Which of the following options are open to the prosecutor?

Accepted Answer

A)  The prosecutor is obligated to file charges. 
B)  The prosecutor can choose not to file charges in the case. 
C)  The prosecutor may transfer the case to another prosecutor. 
D)  The prosecutor may petition the judge for further direction.

Question 11

What methods do judges have to ensure courtroom civility among attorneys?

Accepted Answer

A)  prohibiting attorneys from practicing in their courtroom 
B)  fining attorneys for misconduct 
C)  reporting attorneys to disciplinary boards 
D)  reassigning counsel to the case

Question 12

Which constitutional amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sixth Amendment 
B)  the First Amendment 
C)  the Eighth Amendment 
D)  the Fourteenth Amendment

Question 13

The ______ of a criminal proceeding include interrogation, arraignment, and trial--the points at which rights of the accused can be lost.

Accepted Answer

A)  pretrial stages 
B)  initial appearances 
C)  trial events 
D)  critical stages

Question 14

List the six actors of the Courtroom Work Group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List the six actors of the Courtroom...

Question 15

Which courtroom player is responsible for the charging decision, the bail decision, and offering plea agreements?

Accepted Answer

A)  the defense attorney 
B)  the prosecutor 
C)  the judge 
D)  the local police chief

Question 16

Less than ______ of criminal cases go to trial.

Accepted Answer

A)  50% 
B)  30% 
C)  20% 
D)  10%

Question 17

Why would it be considered inappropriate for a judge to have a YouTube channel where they post video commentary on political issues?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of their privileged position, they must carefully research their videos because any inaccuracies might be believed by the public. 
B)  A judge should not have political opinions. 
C)  Due to their importance, judges have more power to influence politics than average citizens. 
D)  The partisan nature of their videos would make them appear biased, which would impact perceptions of the judiciary as a whole.

Question 18

Which of the following positions is responsible for creating transcripts of the trial proceedings?

Accepted Answer

A)  administrative assistant to the prosecutor 
B)  court reporter 
C)  judicial clerk 
D)  judge

Question 19

Among the benefits of being a judge are the higher pay than is made by a private attorney, a security detail, and a high level of prestige and respect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Illustrate the responsibilities of the defense attorney.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Illustrate the responsibilities of the defense attorney....

Exam 10: The Bench and the Bar: Those Who Judge, Prosecute, and Defend

Which of the following may explain why public opinion polling found that 70% of the public are more distrustful of their judges than they have been in the past?

Which of the following would be a preferable course of action for a new judge?

In the commission-based method of selecting judges, a selection commission evaluates potential nominees, makes selections, and the candidates are confirmed by the state legislature.

How are federal judges selected?

Defendants cannot sue ______ for civil damages for how they handle a case.

No two states use the exact same method of selecting judges.

The commission-based appointment is also referred to as ______.

Which of the following is not an example of prosecutorial discretion?

In ______, the U.S. Supreme Court observed that "there can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets depends on the amount of money he has."

A prosecutor receives a case with insufficient evidence and some concerns about how evidence was collected. Which of the following options are open to the prosecutor?

What methods do judges have to ensure courtroom civility among attorneys?

Which constitutional amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial?

The ______ of a criminal proceeding include interrogation, arraignment, and trial--the points at which rights of the accused can be lost.

List the six actors of the Courtroom Work Group.

Which courtroom player is responsible for the charging decision, the bail decision, and offering plea agreements?

Less than ______ of criminal cases go to trial.

Why would it be considered inappropriate for a judge to have a YouTube channel where they post video commentary on political issues?

Which of the following positions is responsible for creating transcripts of the trial proceedings?

Among the benefits of being a judge are the higher pay than is made by a private attorney, a security detail, and a high level of prestige and respect.

Illustrate the responsibilities of the defense attorney.