Question 1

District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office

Accepted Answer

District and appellate judges in Texas may be removed from office by impeachment after a vote of two-thirds majority of the legislature as per the Texas Constitution. No other options listed are valid methods of removal.

Question 2

Critics of the judicial selection process in Texas complain that

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that the reliance on campaign contributions in Texas's judicial selection process can compromise judges' independence, and that partisan elections can lead to corruption through these contributions.

Question 3

The Texas Fair Defense Act attempts to remedy the problem of unequal justice by establishing

Accepted Answer

The Texas Fair Defense Act establishes a public defenders system in felony cases, providing legal representation to individuals who are unable to afford an attorney. This helps to address the issue of unequal justice by ensuring that all defendants have access to competent legal counsel, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Question 4

Compare the functions of trial juries and grand juries in Texas.Explain how jurors are selected in most Texas counties.Take a position with regard to the following question: Is the usual method of jury selection adequate to insure fair trials?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the functions of trial juries and...

Question 5

When an accused person enters a plea of guilty after negotiating a lesser charge,it is known as a

Accepted Answer

A plea bargain is a negotiation between the prosecutor and the accused person's attorney, in which the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence. This is a common practice in the criminal justice system, as it can help expedite cases and reduce the burden on the court system. The other options, such as "good deal" or "raw deal," are subjective opinions and do not accurately reflect the legal process.

Question 6

The execution of __________________ in 2009 raised questions about whether an innocent man was put to death.

Accepted Answer

Cameron Todd Willingham was executed by lethal injection in Texas in 2009 for allegedly killing his three children in a house fire. However, many experts have since questioned the validity of the forensic evidence used to convict him and suggest that he may have been innocent. This case has raised concerns about the use of the death penalty and the potential for wrongful executions.

Question 7

The cases of Ben Salazar,Kevin Byrd,Roy Wayne Criner,and Josiah Sutton illustrate that

Accepted Answer

The cases of Ben Salazar, Kevin Byrd, Roy Wayne Criner, and Josiah Sutton are well-known examples of innocent people who were wrongly convicted and sent to prison. This highlights flaws in the judicial process and undermines the public's confidence in the conviction of the guilty.

Question 8

In Texas,all judges except municipal judges are

Accepted Answer

In Texas, all judges except municipal judges are chosen in partisan elections. This means that the candidate's political party is listed on the ballot, and they campaign as a member of that party. Municipal judges, on the other hand, are either appointed by the city council or chosen through nonpartisan elections, where the candidate's party affiliation is not listed on the ballot.

Question 9

The ____ is authorized by the legislature to reprimand or disbar any practicing attorney in the state for fraudulent,dishonest,or unethical conduct.

Accepted Answer

The State Bar of Texas is the regulatory body authorized by the Texas Legislature to reprimand or disbar attorneys for unethical conduct. The American Bar Association is a national organization that provides resources and guidelines for legal professionals, but does not have regulatory power over individual attorneys. The Texas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state, but its primary function is to hear appeals and interpret the law, not to regulate attorney conduct. The Attorney General and Governor also do not have the authority to discipline attorneys for unethical behavior.

Question 10

Discuss the selection of judges in Texas and arguments for and against reforming the system.Assess the current prospects of adopting a different method of judicial selection in Texas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the selection of judges in Texas...

Question 11

Indictments are issued in Texas by

Accepted Answer

Indictments in Texas are issued by a grand jury. The grand jury determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, and if so, they issue an indictment. The prosecuting attorney presents evidence to the grand jury but does not issue the indictment themselves.

Question 12

Lower-court trial juries consist of ____ members,whereas district court juries consist of ____ members.

Accepted Answer

Lower-court trial juries consist of 6 members, whereas district court juries consist of 12 members. This is the most common and widely accepted practice in the United States.

Question 13

Discuss the complexity of the judicial system in Texas.Identify the trial courts in Texas and their relative jurisdictions.Explain what is meant by a "two supreme court" system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the complexity of the judicial system...

Question 14

A system where the governor makes appointments from a list submitted by a commission and judges must be reapproved in a referendum at regular intervals is called

Accepted Answer

The system described is called merit selection or the Missouri Plan. It involves a commission presenting a list of qualified candidates to the governor, who makes the appointment. Judges then face a retention election in which voters must approve their continued service at regular intervals.

Question 15

When a grand jury issues an indictment,this means that

Accepted Answer

When a grand jury issues an indictment, it means that there is enough evidence to justify official charges against a defendant. However, it does not indicate guilt or innocence, as that is determined through a trial or plea agreement.

Question 16

Discuss classical notions regarding whether judges should be "politicians in black robes." Explain why,in modern times,these classical notions of judges being "above politics" express an impractical idealism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss classical notions regarding whether judges should...

Question 17

Discuss the factors that account for charges of unequal justice in Texas and give examples.Explain how the state has acted to try to mitigate those problems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the factors that account for charges...

Quiz 9: The Judiciary