With regard to a written product, a recording, or a photograph, the best-evidence rule
means that only
a. non-hearsay evidence may be used.
b. judicial notice must be given to make the evidence admissible.
c. only expert witnesses may give opinions.
d. the original is generally required.
The Uniform Crime Report’s Type I offenses are also referred to as
a. index crimes
b. felony crimes
c. serious crimes
d. violent crimes
How do postconviction remedies differ from appeals?
a. They may be filed only by those actually in custody.
b. Post-conviction petitions may bring up issues not raised during trial.
c. Many state courts allow unlimited post-conviction remedies.
d. All of these answers are correct.
The various selection systems produce judges with
a. very similar backgrounds.
b. very poor backgrounds.
c. very diverse backgrounds.
d. very productive backgrounds.
The National Center for State Courts studied 21 courts across the nation and found that
a. the relative size of court caseloads bore little relationship to case-processing time.
b. the level of court resources was not associated with court delay.
c. courts that emphasized plea bargaining processed cases as slowly as courts that
emphasized trying cases.
d. All of these answers are correct.
Infancy and insanity are known as:
a. substantive defenses
b. excuse defenses
c. justification defenses
d. mental incapacity defenses
Courts are required to utilize a set of rules during the processing of both civil and
criminal cases, referred to as ____________________ law.
When lawyers think an error is being made at trial, they must object in order to give the
trial court the opportunity to correct the error.
Judges may be impeached.
Appellate courts modify, reverse, remand, or reverse and remand only if they find
errorthat is, a mistake made during trial.
The major trial courts decide felony cases and civil cases including relations, estate,
personal injury, and contract cases.
Supreme courts in states without intermediate courts of appeals have no power to
choose which cases will be placed on their dockets.
What are legal ethics and why are they important to the legal system?
Explain the reasons that some defendants plead guilty.
Explain the options for appeal that a convicted indigent defendant may have. Discuss
appeals as well as post-conviction relief. Name at least four features of post-conviction
relief.
A writ of _____________ is issued by the U.S. Supreme Court to obtain and review the
proceedings of a lower court.
What are the different standards of appellate review? What impact do they have on
criminal appeals?
A law on the books approach to mandatory minimum sentences stresses nullification by
discretion, whereas a law in action approach stresses certainty of punishment.
Most state courts have four levels of courts. List and briefly describe the jurisdiction of
the four levels of state courts. Be sure to provide examples of the types of cases each
level hears.
Victims and witnesses face major problems while testifying in .
Many victims and witnesses are to become involved in the criminal justice process.
State and federal courts sometimes have jurisdiction (meaning they share some judicial
powers).
The U.S. ____________________ specifies that the President of the United States has
the power to nominate judges with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Federal courts maintain a hands-off policy with respect to lawsuits filed by prison
inmates, allowing the prison administration to handle all claims.
In operation, the Missouri Bar Plan increases the power and role of the legal profession
in judicial selection.