Chapter 8: Courts and the Quest for Justice – Worksheet 2

TRUE/FALSE

1. Five justices, representing a majority of the United States Supreme Court, must agree to hear a case before a writ of certiorari will be issued.

T F REF: 266 OBJ: 6

2. The Rule of Four requires that at least four Supreme Court justices make any decision.

T F REF: 266 OBJ: 6

3. The judge is both a teacher and a referee during the trial.

T F REF: 269 OBJ: 7

4. In a partisan election, candidates align themselves with a specified political party.

T F REF: 270 OBJ: 8

5. Debate about judicial selection methods often raises two key issues, experience and independence.

T F REF: 270 OBJ: 8

6. Federal judges have lifetime appointments, and therefore cannot be impeached for judicial misconduct.

T F REF: 272 OBJ: 8

7. Keeping up with paperwork generated during a trial, including transcripts and evidence, is the responsibility of the court clerk.

T F REF: 274 OBJ: 9

8. The court reporter publishes case highlights for release to the popular media.

T F REF: 274 OBJ: 9

9. The courtroom workgroup differs from a traditional workgroup at a company is that each participant answers to a different sponsoring agency.

T F REF: 275 OBJ: 9

10. The term “assembly-line justice” is associated with case overload.

T F REF: 276-277 OBJ: 9

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The U.S. Supreme Court is

a. / only a court of origination.
b. / only an appellate court.
c. / both a court of origination and appellate court.
d. / partisan court.

REF: 264-265 OBJ: 5

2. What type of request does the Supreme Court issue to lower courts as an order to review the case record?

a. / writ of certiorari
b. / writ of habeas corpus
c. / rule of four
d. / corpus delicti

REF: 266 OBJ: 6

3. U.S. Supreme Court rulings are decided

a. / in oral arguments.
b. / in briefs.
c. / in dissenting opinions.
d. / in conference.

REF: 267 OBJ: 6

4. All of the following are found in a U.S. Supreme Court decision except

a. / the opinion.
b. / conference notes and transcripts.
c. / concurring opinions.
d. / dissenting opinions.

REF: 267 OBJ: 6

5. During pretrial activities a judge may handle all of the following except

a. / review probable cause for arrest.
b. / review to determine if evidence to justify detention exists.
c. / bond issues.
d. / jury selection.

REF: 268 OBJ: 7

6. During pretrial activities, the judge assumes the role of

a. / referee.
b. / teacher.
c. / negotiator.
d. / court administrator.

REF: 268 OBJ: 7

7. In the federal court system judges are

a. / elected by popular vote.
b. / nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
c. / appointed by a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee.
d. / nominated by the Senate and confirmed by the President.

REF: 270 OBJ: 8

8. One criticism of merit selection is that

a. / it is a partisan process.
b. / it results in a lack of diversity on the bench.
c. / the process is too lengthy.
d. / the full senate must approve each candidate.

REF: 271-272 OBJ: 8

9. How many women have been confirmed and seated as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?

a. / 6
b. / 3
c. / 4
d. / 2

REF: 273 OBJ: 8

10. Which member of the courtroom work group is responsible for the large amount of paperwork which is generated during a trial?

a. / The court clerk.
b. / The judge.
c. / The court reporter.
d. / The prosecutor.

REF: 274 OBJ: 9

11. The dominant figure in the courtroom work group is the ______.

a. / court clerk.
b. / prosecutor.
c. / judge.
d. / bailiff.

REF: 275 OBJ: 9

12. Case overload has been linked to all of the following situations except

a. / prosecutors charge only slam dunk cases in minor/non-violent incidents.
b. / prosecutors negotiate reduced sentences unnecessarily.
c. / police officers are too eager to obtain confessions in lieu of other evidence.
d. / closure rates rise.

REF: 278 OBJ: 9

COMPLETION

1. A request from the U.S. Supreme Court asking a lower court for the record of a case is a(n) .

REF: 266 OBJ: 6

2. Supreme Court judges express their disagreement with a decision by their fellow Supreme Court members by writing a ______.

REF: 267 OBJ: 6

3. During pretrial activities, the judge takes on the role of ______-.

REF: 268 OBJ: 7

4. The judge performs duties in order to manage the day-to-day operations of their court.

REF: 269 OBJ: 7

5. The ______combines both merit appointment and popular election to select judges.

REF: 271 OBJ: 8

6. ______maintain order and security in the court.

REF: 274 OBJ: 9

7. A main criticism of the American court system is that it has sacrificed the goal of for efficiency.

REF: 276 OBJ: 9

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