Question 1

The Texas Supreme Court hears criminal cases only.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Accepted Answer

A)   the court of criminal appeals
B)   the supreme court
C)   the district court
D)   the justice of the peace courtE) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 3

Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)   Judicial candidates, by law, are prevented from actively campaigning for office.
B)   Most judicial candidates fill their campaign literature with arcane legal analysis.
C)   Voters are called upon to vote for too many different judicial races in a single election.
D)   Most voters never go to court, so they have little knowledge upon which to base their decisions.E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 4

By 2017, what percentage of appellate judges are Latinos?

Accepted Answer

A)   15
B)   7
C)   47
D)   30E) A) and D)
F) A) and C) A

Question 5

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

Accepted Answer

A)   The governor has the power to permanently appoint all municipal court judges.
B)   The governor has the power to limit the jurisdiction of the appellate courts.
C)   The governor has the power to appoint district and appellate judges to fill any vacancies on the bench for the time period before elections are held, or to fill judgeships on new courts.
D)   The governor has the power to add additional judges to the appellate courts whenever there is a six-month backlog in cases.E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 6

Minority representation across the judicial branch is not representative of the diversity of the U.S. population, and this is particularly true in Texas. Why is minority representation so low? What efforts have been made to remedy this situation? Is there a solution to increasing representation from a variety of Texans?

Accepted Answer

a. Minority representation is low: White...

Question 7

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

At the same time that the Texas Supreme Court become more conservative,

Accepted Answer

A)   the U.S. Supreme Court issued guidelines that states had to follow for tort reform.
B)   Governor Bush signaled his willingness to support legislation such as a "Patient's Bill of Rights" that would make it easier for patients to sue hospitals for medical malpractice.
C)   the legislature was also passing laws that favored businesses, creating a situation where it is becoming more difficult for individuals to successfully sue businesses in civil lawsuits.
D)   the Texas Bar Association announced its support for widespread tort reform.E) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 9

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Accepted Answer

A)   small claims
B)   felonies
C)   violations of federal law
D)   capital murder casesE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 10

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding

Accepted Answer

A)   civil cases.
B)   traffic misdemeanors.
C)   death penalty cases.
D)   marriages.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 11

In a criminal trial, there must be a unanimous verdict for the defendant to be found guilty.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Mediation is popular in civil disputes because the parties to the dispute are NOT forced into a particular decision, as they would be with arbitration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In Texas, approximately how many criminal convictions are the result of plea bargains?

Accepted Answer

A)   97 percent
B)   55 percent
C)   13 percent
D)   33 percentE) B) and C)
F) None of the above A

Question 14

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Accepted Answer

A)   limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor.
B)   compels a judge to recuse himself or herself from any case involving donors who have contributed in excess of $50,000.
C)   restricts judicial advertising to radio and television ads.
D)   forbids law firms or corporations from making donations.E) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 15

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Judicial Campaign Fairness Act?

Accepted Answer

A)   none: Texas is the only one
B)   two: Texas and California
C)   three: Texas, California, and New York
D)   13: the majority of the southeast United States has supported this concept.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 16

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

Accepted Answer

A)   class A misdemeanors that are violations of federal law committed within the city limits.
B)   violations of city ordinances.
C)   traffic violations outside the city.
D)   third-degree felonies committed within the city limits.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 17

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

One reason why there are few minority judges in Texas is that

Accepted Answer

A)   there are few get-out-the-vote drives that focus on the importance of judicial races.
B)   judicial districts are often quite large and dominated by whites who vote against minority judicial candidates.
C)   minority candidates usually run as Republicans, while minority constituents generally vote for Democrats.
D)   minority candidates tend to be outspent by white candidates.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 19

Which court hears appeals from justices of the peace and from municipal courts?

Accepted Answer

A)   statutory county courts at law
B)   probate court
C)   district court
D)   the county commissionerE) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 20

Who can file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct?

Accepted Answer

A)   the public, attorneys, and members of the judiciary
B)   only members of the judiciary
C)   only individuals who are licensed to practice law in Texas
D)   only elected officialsE) B) and C)
F) B) and D)

Exam 9: The Judiciary

The Texas Supreme Court hears criminal cases only.

Correct Answer
verified
False

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Correct Answer
verified

Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?

Correct Answer
verified

By 2017, what percentage of appellate judges are Latinos?

Correct Answer
verified
A

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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a. Minority representation is low: White...
View Answer

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Correct Answer
verified

At the same time that the Texas Supreme Court become more conservative,

Correct Answer
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Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Correct Answer
verified

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding

Correct Answer
verified

In a criminal trial, there must be a unanimous verdict for the defendant to be found guilty.

Correct Answer
verified

Mediation is popular in civil disputes because the parties to the dispute are NOT forced into a particular decision, as they would be with arbitration.

Correct Answer
verified

In Texas, approximately how many criminal convictions are the result of plea bargains?

Correct Answer
verified
A

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Correct Answer
verified

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Judicial Campaign Fairness Act?

Correct Answer
verified

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

Correct Answer
verified

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Correct Answer
verified

One reason why there are few minority judges in Texas is that

Correct Answer
verified

Which court hears appeals from justices of the peace and from municipal courts?

Correct Answer
verified

Who can file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: The Judiciary

The Texas Supreme Court hears criminal cases only.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By 2017, what percentage of appellate judges are Latinos?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answerverifieda. Minority representation is low: White...View AnswerShow Answer

Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At the same time that the Texas Supreme Court become more conservative,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Justice of the peace courts handle which kind of disputes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The majority of the cases that justice of the peace judges hear are those regarding

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a criminal trial, there must be a unanimous verdict for the defendant to be found guilty.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mediation is popular in civil disputes because the parties to the dispute are NOT forced into a particular decision, as they would be with arbitration.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In Texas, approximately how many criminal convictions are the result of plea bargains?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas's Judicial Campaign Fairness Act?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Municipal courts have jurisdiction over

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 1996, the voters of Texas chose to adopt the merit selection of judges.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One reason why there are few minority judges in Texas is that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which court hears appeals from justices of the peace and from municipal courts?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who can file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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False

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A

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a. Minority representation is low: White...
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A

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