Deck 7: The California Judiciary

Question 1

Jurisdiction refers to

A) the power of the governor to overturn decisions made by the California Supreme Court.
B) the kind of law the court handles and the geographic location.
C) the ability of the Assembly to withhold a bill before a vote within the chamber.
D) the ability of the Senate to withhold a bill before a vote within the chamber.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Judges selected by the governor to serve on the supreme court and the Court of Appeals in California must be approved by the

A) state legislature.
B) attorney general.
C) Commission on Judicial Appointments.
D) speaker of the assembly.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The most serious type of crime in California is a(n)

A) infraction.
B) misdemeanor.
C) felony.
D) plea bargain.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The California Supreme Court rules on a variety of issues. One example is Troester v. Starbucks, in which the state supreme court unanimously ruled that

A) all criminal defendants have a right to an attorney.
B) employees must be paid for all work performed, including work performed off the clock.
C) unsolicited emails violate provisions of the California state code.
D) justices running in retention elections are prohibited from soliciting campaign donations.

Question 5

Because of the increased amount of money needed in judicial elections, judges must solicit campaign funds from

A) political parties.
B) public employees.
C) organized interests.
D) elected officials.

Question 6

Chief Justice Rose Bird and associate justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin were voted out by voters who were angry about their decisions dealing with

A) same-sex marriage.
B) the death penalty.
C) Proposition 13.
D) term limits.

Question 7

Judges serving on the superior courts in California are elected in

A) partisan elections.
B) runoff elections.
C) nonpartisan elections.
D) primaries.

Question 8

California's courts of first instance are more commonly known as

A) appellate courts.
B) superior courts.
C) intermediate courts of appeal.
D) district courts.

Question 9

The largest financial contributions to most judicial races come from

A) attorneys.
B) firemen and police officers.
C) prison guards.
D) teachers.

Question 10

California filed a lawsuit to block the building of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico Border, claiming it violated environmental protection laws. California ________ the lawsuit.

A) lost
B) appealed
C) won
D) withdrew

Question 11

In order to bring a civil suit in California, an individual must have

A) a qualified attorney.
B) paid all the county fees.
C) standing to sue.
D) the approval of the local district attorney.

Question 12

During 2015-16, over ________ cases were filed in the superior courts of California.

A) 6,000
B) 60,000
C) 600,000
D) 6 million

Question 13

In recent years, campaign spending in judicial elections has

A) increased.
B) decreased.
C) remained the same.
D) become impossible to determine.

Question 14

The purpose of the California Courts of Appeal is to

A) determine bail in criminal cases.
B) determine sentencing guidelines.
C) hear political cases involving the plural executive.
D) review the trial or superior court records for error.

Question 15

State courts ensure that

A) politicians keep their campaign promises.
B) real estate taxes are collected on time.
C) citizens are guaranteed due process of law.
D) elections are held on time.

Question 16

In 2015-16 eighty percent of criminal cases in California were

A) felonies.
B) misdemeanors.
C) infractions.
D) dismissed.

Question 17

The Commission on Judicial Appointments consists of

A) a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, and the attorney general.
B) the governor, the attorney general, a lawyer, and a member of the supreme court.
C) a member of the supreme court, a lawyer, and a presiding judge on a superior court.
D) the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, the attorney general, and a presiding judge from the Court of Appeals.

Question 18

Which of the following reasons are given by people who argue that judicial elections are the best method of selection for judges?

A) Judicial elections allow judges to have greater independence.
B) Judicial elections insulate judges from politics.
C) Judicial elections allow citizens to hold judges accountable.
D) Judicial elections are the least expensive method for selecting judges.

Question 19

In California, which court has judicial discretion?

A) traffic court
B) superior court
C) court of appeal
D) supreme court

Question 20

Appeals to the California Supreme Court are

A) always rejected.
B) screened by the governor.
C) not automatically reviewed.
D) dependent on support from the attorney general.

Question 21

One method of removing judges in the state of California is

A) removal by the governor.
B) censure by the state legislature.
C) agreement between the Speaker of the Assembly and the attorney general.
D) a recall election.

Question 22

Describe the organization of California's judicial system. What types of cases does each level of court hear?

Question 23

In a 2001 poll of California judges, a majority believed that the best alternative to campaign financing of judicial elections was

A) political party control over raising campaign funds.
B) public funding of judicial elections.
C) the appointment of all California judges by the governor.
D) federal funding of judicial campaigns in California.

Question 24

Despite the high number of criminal cases in California, the criminal courts are able to resolve 89 percent of the cases within

A) six months.
B) twelve months.
C) two years.
D) six years.

Question 25

Using recent court cases, describe the conflict between federal and state courts regarding the issue of marijuana.

Question 26

Most criminal cases in California are resolved through

A) plea bargaining.
B) appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
C) incarceration.
D) clemency granted by the governor.

Question 27

Why is the increased amount of money spent in judicial elections in California a cause for concern? Is the concern justified?

Question 28

In California, the Commission on Judicial Performance has the power to

A) increase spending in judicial elections.
B) nominate candidates for the Supreme Court.
C) nullify a state law.
D) punish, censure, or remove a judge from office.

Question 29

What methods are available to remove judges in California? Briefly explain each method.

Question 30

In terms of direct democracy describe the conflict between the initiative process and judicial review.