Question 1

Jurisdiction in the court system refers to a specific geographic area.

Accepted Answer

Jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear and decide a case, which can be based on geographic area, subject matter, or the parties involved.

Question 2

The New Jersey Plan included all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The New Jersey Plan did not propose sole jurisdiction of federal matters in federal courts; it aimed to maintain state sovereignty and allow states to have some control over federal matters.

Question 3

The Virginia Plan included all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The Virginia Plan did not include state involvement in federal court matters, as it proposed a federal judiciary system that would operate independently from state courts.

Question 4

___________ means that cases do not originate there and these courts only hear cases that are brought up on appeal, after a lower court has decided an outcome.

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question matches the concept of Appellate Jurisdiction.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true of Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction do not handle felony cases.

Question 6

In what level courts do judges conduct bail hearings, assign counsel, accept guilty pleas, conduct misdemeanor trials, sentence defendants, conduct preliminary hearings, issue warrants, and rule on the admissibility of evidence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what level courts do judges conduct...

Question 7

The method for selecting judges that a group of lawyers and citizens making recommendations to the governor, the governor appointing the judge, and an eventual "retention election" is called

Accepted Answer

The method described in the question is merit selection, which involves a nonpartisan commission or board made up of legal experts and citizens recommending potential judges to the governor. The governor then appoints the judge, who is subject to a retention election, in which voters decide whether to retain the judge for another term. This process is designed to promote the selection of qualified judges based on their merit and skill rather than political considerations.

Question 8

It has been argued that prosecutors exercise more discretion than judges.

Accepted Answer

Prosecutors have the power to decide whether or not to file charges, what charges to file, and what plea bargains to offer, giving them a greater level of discretion than judges who must follow sentencing guidelines and make decisions based on the evidence presented in court.

Question 9

The __________ system is usually a state- or county-administered organization that specializes in defending the poor.

Accepted Answer

The public defender system is a government-run organization that provides legal defense to those who cannot afford a private attorney. It is typically administered by the state or county and is specifically geared towards defending those who are considered to be indigent or impoverished.

Question 10

In _________________, the Court ruled that poor defendants charged with felonies have the right to court-appointed counsel.

Accepted Answer

Gideon v. Wainwright is the case that ruled that poor defendants charged with felonies have the right to court-appointed counsel. In this case, Clarence Earl Gideon was not appointed an attorney and instead had to represent himself in court, leading to his conviction. He filed a handwritten petition to the Supreme Court arguing that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel had been violated. The Court agreed and ruled that states must provide counsel for defendants who cannot afford one.

Question 11

At what stage are defendants informed of the charges against them, a bail decision is made, representation by a defense attorney is arranged (if applicable), and a date is set for the next stage in the case?

Accepted Answer

The initial appearance is the stage in the criminal justice process where defendants are informed of the charges against them, a bail decision is made, representation by a defense attorney is arranged, and a date is set for the next stage in the case.

Question 12

A(n) ________________ occurs when a lower-court judge (not the judge at initial appearance) views the evidence against the defendant to determine if there is enough probable cause to proceed to trial.

Accepted Answer

A preliminary hearing is where a lower-court judge reviews the evidence against the defendant to determine if there is enough probable cause to proceed to trial. At the initial appearance, the judge informs the defendant of the charges and their rights. Arraignment is where the defendant enters a plea (guilty or not guilty), and bail setting is where the judge determines if the defendant can be released from custody prior to trial and if so, sets the amount of bail.

Question 13

It is during arraignment that the defendant is required to enter a plea to the formal charges against him or her.

Accepted Answer

During arraignment, the defendant is required to enter a plea to the formal charges against him or her.

Question 14

The term __________________ refers to the movement of large caseloads through the court spending little time on cases so that each case is handled in a quick and efficient manner in order to move on to the next.

Accepted Answer

The term "assembly-line justice" specifically refers to the process described in the question. The other answer choices are not commonly used terms in the context of the court system.

Question 15

The questioning of the jury pool is called

Accepted Answer

Voir dire is the process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their suitability for serving on a jury. Peremptory challenges allow attorneys to remove a certain number of jurors without stating a reason, removal for cause occurs when a juror is disqualified due to a conflict of interest or other reason, and venire refers to the group of potential jurors summoned to appear for jury duty.

Question 16

Under a __________________ lawyers may dismiss a limited number of jurors based on reasons that do not need to be specified to the court.

Accepted Answer

A peremptory challenge allows lawyers to dismiss potential jurors without needing to provide a reason to the court. Removal for cause and challenge for cause refer to the dismissal of a potential juror due to specific reasons such as bias, inability to be impartial, or prior knowledge of the case. Voir dire is the process of questioning potential jurors to determine their suitability for the jury.

Question 17

The type of evidence that implies or infers guilt on the part of the defendant is called

Accepted Answer

Circumstantial evidence involves pieces of information that when taken together may suggest guilt, but do not directly prove it. This type of evidence is often used in criminal cases when there may not be direct evidence available.

Question 18

Determinate sentencing has been the primary method of sentencing utilized in the states over the past 100 years.

Accepted Answer

Determinate sentencing became more prevalent in the late 20th century, particularly from the 1970s onwards, as a response to concerns about the inconsistencies of indeterminate sentencing.

Question 19

In ______________________ judges sentence a defendant to a minimum and maximum range of time.

Accepted Answer

Indeterminate sentencing involves judges giving a range of time (minimum to maximum) for a defendant's sentence, allowing for parole and early release based on behavior and rehabilitation.

Question 20

Habitual offender statutes impose a substantial prison sentence for multiple misdemeanor convictions.

Accepted Answer

Habitual offender statutes typically impose harsher sentences for individuals with multiple felony convictions, not misdemeanors.

Quiz 4: The Court System