Deck 6: California Law: Politics and the Courts

Question 1

Most criminal and civil cases are decided in the lower courts and never appealed.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

California judges may be removed by

A)the governor or the voters.
B)the Commission on Judicial Performance or the voters.
C)the legislature.
D)the governor and the legislature together.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

As of 2014, all the justices of the California Supreme Court were white males.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

California's "three strikes" law

A)was repealed by the supreme court.
B)applies only to crimes involving serious physical assault.
C)increased the state's prison population and spending on prisons.
D)changed the rules of major league baseball.

Question 5

The Commission on Judicial Appointments routinely rejects about one-third of all judicial nominees.

Question 6

Most California judges first gain their posts through

A)appointment by the governor.
B)appointment by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
C)election.
D)appointment by the California Supreme Court.

Question 7

Pre-trial agreements in criminal cases are known as

A)amicus curiae briefs.
B)defense settlements.
C)plea bargaining.
D)writs of certiorari.

Question 8

In criminal cases, the elected county official who carries out the prosecution is the district attorney.

Question 9

California voters have never rejected a justice of the state supreme court through the electoral process.

Question 10

Women and minorities are underrepresented in the California judiciary.

Question 11

Of the cases tried in the California courts, only a small fraction is appealed to the state supreme court.

Question 12

Public defenders

A)are rarely used in felony cases.
B)are used exclusively in appeals before the supreme court.
C)are used in about half of all felony cases.
D)were eliminated in 2007 because of budget constraints.

Question 13

Plea bargaining involves negotiations between a prosecutor and a defending attorney when a trial concludes with a guilty verdict.

Question 14

When an initiative approved by the voters is challenged in the courts,

A)the courts must follow the will of the voters.
B)the courts may overrule the initiative if they find it unconstitutional.
C)the courts refer such measures to the legislature.
D)the courts usually overturn the initiative.

Question 15

The California Supreme Court automatically reviews

A)all initiative constitutional amendments.
B)all appointments of trial court judges.
C)all movies nominated for Academy Awards.
D)all death penalty cases.

Question 16

Describe the various components of the "judicial ladder." How are these components connected and what are their responsibilities?

Question 17

The California Supreme Court automatically reviews all death penalty cases.

Question 18

How can judges who fail to perform up to public expectations be removed from office? Do these procedures make the judicial system more or less political?

Question 19

In confirmation elections for appellate and supreme court justices, voters

A)choose between two candidates for each position.
B)frequently reject justices.
C)have never yet rejected a judge.
D)almost always approve the governor's appointees.

Question 20

California governors generally appoint justices who are competent attorneys whether or not they are members of the governor's political party.

Question 21

Should judges be elected or approved by the voters? Does this make them too political? Would judges appointed for life terms, like the members of the U.S.Supreme Court be better? How?

Question 22

Should judges have the power to rule decisions by a majority of the voters on initiatives invalid?