Question 1

Justices of the peace in Texas may be responsible for

Accepted Answer

Justices of the peace in Texas can act as a small claims court, handling minor civil disputes.

Question 2

The Department of Public Safety is one of only eight state police agencies across the nation empowered to conduct criminal investigations.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. The Department of Public Safety in some states, such as Texas, is empowered to conduct criminal investigations as a state police agency.

Question 3

In Texas,the legislature and agencies of the executive branch commonly seek the advice of ____ regarding the constitutionality of legislative proposals,rules,and procedures.

Accepted Answer

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the state of Texas and is responsible for offering legal advice and opinions to the legislature and executive agencies on matters of state law, including the constitutionality of legislative proposals, rules, and procedures. The State Bar of Texas is a professional organization for lawyers and does not provide official legal opinions, the Texas Supreme Court is a final appellate court and does not offer advisory opinions, the Governor may seek advice from the Attorney General but does not have the expertise to offer legal opinions on his own, and the office of the legislative counsel provides drafting assistance to the legislature but does not offer legal opinions.

Question 4

Midterm vacancies in district courts in Texas are filled by

Accepted Answer

Midterm vacancies in district courts in Texas are filled by gubernatorial appointment. This means that the governor of Texas is responsible for appointing a judge to fill the vacancy until the next election.

Question 5

The most important factor in allowing citizens to predict how judges will decide cases is their political party.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most important factor in allowing citizens...

Question 6

Which judge may serve as a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training?

Accepted Answer

Justice of the peace is the judge who may serve as a coroner to certify the cause of death despite having no medical training, in certain jurisdictions.

Question 7

Based upon 2009 statistics,the crime rate as a whole in Texas has declined since the early 1990s.

Accepted Answer

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the overall crime rate in Texas has decreased since the early 1990s. In 2009, the crime rate in Texas was at its lowest point since 1973.

Question 8

Because Texas requires judicial candidates to finance their election campaigns with private funds,it is not uncommon for contributors to these campaigns to be the very lawyers who will be practicing in these judges' courts if they win office.

Accepted Answer

Texas does indeed require judicial candidates to finance their campaigns with private funds, which often come from lawyers who may end up practicing in the judges' courts if they win office. This has been a subject of criticism and concern for many years.

Question 9

The mythical vision most Americans hold of judges sees them as all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The mythical vision most Americans hold of judges does not see them as prejudiced or biased. Instead, they are seen as impartial, objective, and incorruptible, and nonpolitical.

Question 10

The call to participate on a trial jury is determined by the use of a jury wheel.

Accepted Answer

The use of a jury wheel is a common method for selecting potential jurors for a trial. The names of eligible citizens are randomly selected from the wheel, and those individuals are summoned to report for jury duty.

Question 11

Functions of the judiciary include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Drafting constitutional amendments is not a function of the judiciary. This is a power reserved for the legislative branch of government. The other answer choices are all functions of the judiciary.

Question 12

Through early 2011,Texas led the country in the use of capital punishment,with more than 475 people put to death since the death penalty was reinstated in 1982.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to the given information.

Question 13

The principal trial courts in Texas are the ____ courts.

Accepted Answer

The district courts are the principal trial courts in Texas. They have original jurisdiction in most criminal and civil cases and exist in each of the state's 254 counties. Municipal courts handle minor criminal offenses and traffic violations within city limits. Justice of the peace courts handle minor civil and criminal cases within precincts, while probate courts deal with wills and the distribution of estates. County courts deal with both civil and criminal cases and may include county courts-at-law for more serious offenses.

Question 14

The highest appeals court for criminal matters in Texas is the

Accepted Answer

The highest appeals court for criminal matters in Texas is the Court of Criminal Appeals, as it exclusively handles all criminal appeals in the state, such as death penalty cases, and its decisions are final and cannot be appealed beyond this court. The Supreme Court in Texas hears civil cases, and the Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court. The Court of Grand Appeals and Justice of the Peace do not exist in Texas's legal system.

Question 15

The Texas court with final appellate jurisdiction in civil cases is the

Accepted Answer

The Texas Supreme Court is the court with final appellate jurisdiction in civil cases, meaning it is the highest court in the state for civil matters. The District Court has original jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, the Court of Appeals has intermediate appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, the Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court in the state for criminal matters, and the Justice of the Peace Court is a lower court that handles minor civil and criminal cases.

Question 16

Only Texas and ____ split their highest appellate jurisdiction between two courts.

Accepted Answer

Oklahoma, like Texas, has a bifurcated appellate system with separate courts for civil and criminal cases.

Question 17

Poor and wealthy defendants have an equal chance of being incarcerated or executed.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that poor defendants are more likely to be incarcerated and sentenced to death than wealthy defendants. This is due to factors such as inadequate legal representation, racial bias, and socioeconomic status.

Question 18

The appellate courts in Texas operate without

Accepted Answer

The appellate courts in Texas do not operate with juries. The other options are all incorrect: A) factual evidence is presented in the trial court, not the appellate court; B) political considerations can play a role in the selection of judges but do not impact how the appellate court operates; D) arguments from legal counsel are fundamental to the appeal process; E) written records are used extensively in appellate proceedings.

Question 19

Which of the following courts have no civil jurisdiction and deal mainly with violations of traffic laws?

Accepted Answer

Municipal courts have limited jurisdiction and deal solely with misdemeanors, including traffic offenses, in their respective cities. They have no civil jurisdiction and focus primarily on violations of traffic laws. Justice of the peace courts, county courts at law, constitutional county courts, and district courts can have civil jurisdiction and deal with a wider variety of cases.

Question 20

The most publicized advisory opinion issued in recent years by the Attorney General dealt with

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B: affirmative action. The Attorney General's advisory opinion on affirmative action was highly publicized because it addressed a controversial issue that had been the subject of much debate and litigation.

Quiz 9: The Judiciary