Explain the three main methods of judicial selection.

What will be an ideal response?


There are three main methods of judicial selection-executive or legislative appointment, judicial election, and merit selection. Executive appointments entail the appointment of judges by the President or by state governors, while legislative appointments entail the selection of judges by state legislators. All federal judges are appointed by the President of the United States. At the state level, however, very few states select judges by appointment. Judges may also be selected via partisan or nonpartisan elections in states. Elections are used in many states. The third method of selection at the state level is the merit system, which is also known as the Missouri Bar Plan. It is a hybrid system that incorporates elements of the other methods of selection. With merit selection, a nominating commission made up of lawyers and laypersons suggests a list of qualified nominees (usually three), from which the governor selects a judge. This person is put on the bench and, after a short period of time in office, will be considered for retention. A retention ballot is brought before the public to determine whether or not the judge should be retained.

Criminal Justice

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CODIS is a national system of:

a. Computers to track the movement of sex offenders released from prison. b. Shared databases of DNA typing information from convicted felons and crime scene evidence. c. Vastly enhanced 911 emergency systems. d. Crime laboratory directors.

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When a mother is incarcerated, her children are most likely to live with their father.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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In a preliminary hearing, a judge must determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that the accused committed a crime and should be tried. What is another way that probable cause may be determined prior to a trial?

A. through an appellate decision B. through prosecutorial discretion C. through a bench trial D. through a grand jury

Criminal Justice

In 1969, the United States Supreme Court limited the scope of a search when it ruled in ________ that a warrantless search of the defendant's entire house, following his lawful arrest in the house on a burglary charge, was unreasonable.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Criminal Justice