Part One: Answer ONE of the following:
- Discuss the Following aspects of the foundations of law and the court system:A. the definition of the law. B. law and justice: why they do not necessarily equate. C. Judicial self-restraint and judicial activism. D. courts and the law the three concentric circles: core institutions, gatekeepers, users.
- Discuss the following aspects of the organization of the judicial system:A. the differences between trial and appellate courts. B. the presumption of innocence in criminal court procedure. C. The organization of the federal courts.
- Discuss the following aspects of judging:A. the work of a trial judge: umpiring a dispute, negotiating a settlement, drafting legal documents, counseling, administrating. B. why do judges so often defer to other courtroom participants.
- Discuss the following aspects of judicial policy making:A. the two basic theories of the law: the internal theory and the social theory. B. Judicial review.
Part Two: Answer ONE of the following:
- Discuss: A. the work of lawyers: litigating, representing/lobbying, negotiating, drafting documents, counseling clients.
- how interest groups employ lawyers to litigate over public policy.
- In regard to the courtroom setting in criminal cases discuss the following: A. police screening. B. the prosecutor. C. the exclusionary rule. D. the funneling effect. E. why case attrition occurs. F. the judicial wedding cake. G. the courtroom work group.
- In regard to the courtroom setting in civil trials discuss the following:A. the disputing pyramid: grievances, claiming, disputing a claim, hiring a lawyer, filing a lawsuit. B. the significant role of the lawyer in civil cases: intermediaries, gatekeepers, framing the case, dealing with clients unrealistic expectations, law talk.
- Discuss the following aspects of judicial decision making:A. the two major factors that influence the decision making of a trial judge: rules and procedures of the legal system, political aspects of the legal environment. B. the four major theories that help explain appellate court decision making.
- Discuss the following aspects of the Supreme Court:A. mobilizing the law to reach the Supreme Court. B. the doctrine of access. C. case selection.