Question 1

Explain the strategies used by defense attorneys when their cases go to trial.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the strategies used by defense attorneys...

Question 2

A judge's behaviors, and especially their misconduct, can negatively impact the reputation of the entire judicial system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following represents a common defense strategy undertaken by defense counsel?

Accepted Answer

A)  highlighting the defendant's faults in order to gain the trust of the jury 
B)  trying to make the victim appear to deserve what happened to them 
C)  conserving defense resources by focusing only on investigating a few prosecution witnesses rather than investigating all of them 
D)  attempting to coerce the defendant into pleading guilty, even though they have strongly refused to do so

Question 4

A state wants to take actions to try and restore public trust in their state court judges. They want to change the perception that judges are simply "politicians in robes." What could the state do to achieve this outcome?

Accepted Answer

A)  write laws requiring judges to recuse themselves from a case if one of the parties involved was a donor to their campaign 
B)  change the method of judicial selection from a legislative appointment to a gubernatorial appointment 
C)  write laws which make it easier for special interest groups to fund judicial campaigns 
D)  ensure that every candidate is officially endorsed by a political party

Question 5

Surprisingly, special interest groups have had little impact on the composition of state courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What type of judicial selection method often requires that the selected judges periodically run unopposed in retention elections, which allows voters to decide whether or not they should remain on the bench?

Accepted Answer

A)  partisan election 
B)  merit selection 
C)  non-partisan election 
D)  legislative election

Question 7

The prosecutor's primary responsibility is to convict offenders.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

List some of the factors that weigh on a prosecutor's determination of whether to file charges in a case.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List some of the factors that weigh...

Question 9

Approximately what percentage of cases heard in the United States are handled by state court judges?

Accepted Answer

A)  66% 
B)  78% 
C)  50% 
D)  97%

Question 10

Why did former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor say "if I could wave a magic wand, I would wave it to secure some kind of merit selection of judges across the country"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Elections are too time consuming compared to merit selection. 
B)  Elections lead to less politically connected judges on the bench. 
C)  There is significant evidence proving that courts have become increasingly political in the past decade. 
D)  Judicial elections contribute to the public's perception that judges are "politicians in robes."

Question 11

The three systems for providing legal representation to indigent persons include each of the following EXCEPT the ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  public defender system 
B)  assigned counsel system 
C)  contract system 
D)  private defense system

Question 12

Describe what qualities are considered essential for "good judging."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe what qualities are considered essential for...

Question 13

Which of the following describes a disadvantage of the assigned counsel system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Counsel may be ineffective due to going for the "lowest bidder" and interfere with the defendant's Sixth Amendment rights. 
B)  The attorney may have little experience with the criminal matter involving their client. 
C)  The attorney may be prohibitively expensive. 
D)  Counsel may not be willing to participate in the system, and may refuse to take the case.

Question 14

Which method of judicial selection is more likely to result in qualified individuals being selected as a judge in the state court system, even if those individuals lack political connections?

Accepted Answer

A)  commission-based appointment 
B)  partisan election 
C)  nonpartisan election 
D)  gubernatorial appointment

Question 15

In the ______ method of judicial selection, the applicant is evaluated by a nominating commission, which sends a list of best-qualified candidates to the governor for selection.

Accepted Answer

A)  gubernatorial appointment 
B)  legislative appointment 
C)  commission-based appointment 
D)  committee appointment

Question 16

What is the term that describes criminal justice professionals who cooperate in order to move cases through the court system?

Accepted Answer

A)  court administration 
B)  criminal justice work group 
C)  courtroom work group 
D)  criminal justice administrative group

Question 17

Which method of judicial selection might require confirmation by the state legislature or an executive counsel?

Accepted Answer

A)  commission-based appointment 
B)  gubernatorial appointment 
C)  legislative appointment 
D)  executive counsel appointment

Question 18

A defendant who was found guilty of murder and complains that his defense attorney did not check out the defendant's alibi or interview witnesses could potentially claim ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  ineffective counsel 
B)  exceptional counsel 
C)  appointed counsel 
D)  incompetent counsel

Question 19

Explain why courtroom civility is important.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why courtroom civility is important....

Question 20

Which of the following provides guidance to U.S. Federal judges in order to promote ethical behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress 
B)  The Federal Committee for Judicial Conduct 
C)  The American Bar Association 
D)  The Committee on Codes of Conduct of the Judicial Conference of the United States

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

Explain the strategies used by defense attorneys when their cases go to trial.

A judge's behaviors, and especially their misconduct, can negatively impact the reputation of the entire judicial system.

Which of the following represents a common defense strategy undertaken by defense counsel?

A state wants to take actions to try and restore public trust in their state court judges. They want to change the perception that judges are simply "politicians in robes." What could the state do to achieve this outcome?

Surprisingly, special interest groups have had little impact on the composition of state courts.

What type of judicial selection method often requires that the selected judges periodically run unopposed in retention elections, which allows voters to decide whether or not they should remain on the bench?

The prosecutor's primary responsibility is to convict offenders.

List some of the factors that weigh on a prosecutor's determination of whether to file charges in a case.

Approximately what percentage of cases heard in the United States are handled by state court judges?

Why did former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor say "if I could wave a magic wand, I would wave it to secure some kind of merit selection of judges across the country"?

The three systems for providing legal representation to indigent persons include each of the following EXCEPT the ______.

Describe what qualities are considered essential for "good judging."

Which of the following describes a disadvantage of the assigned counsel system?

Which method of judicial selection is more likely to result in qualified individuals being selected as a judge in the state court system, even if those individuals lack political connections?

In the ______ method of judicial selection, the applicant is evaluated by a nominating commission, which sends a list of best-qualified candidates to the governor for selection.

What is the term that describes criminal justice professionals who cooperate in order to move cases through the court system?

Which method of judicial selection might require confirmation by the state legislature or an executive counsel?

A defendant who was found guilty of murder and complains that his defense attorney did not check out the defendant's alibi or interview witnesses could potentially claim ______.

Explain why courtroom civility is important.

Which of the following provides guidance to U.S. Federal judges in order to promote ethical behavior?