May It Please the Court: Judicial Processes and Politics in America

373 Pages·2008·11.233 MB·English

by  Porto, Brian L

Second Edition
May It
Judicial Processes and Politics in America
Please the Court
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Second Edition
May It
Judicial Processes and Politics in America
Please the Court
Brian L. Porto

Boca Raton London New York
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© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
For my uncles, John Parlapiano
and Anthony Porto, mentors both

© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Contents
Illustrations xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Author xix
1 Courts and Judges in the Political Process 1
1.1  Law and Politics: Myth and Reality  1
1.2  The Political Context of Judging  4
1.2.1  Courts in the American Political System  4
1.2.2  Links between Law and Politics  7
1.2.3  The Differences between Law and Politics  12
1.3  Reconciling Law and Politics  15
1.4  Conclusion: Law, Politics, and Judicial Decisions  16
1.5  Epilogue: The Law and Politics of Flag Burning  17
2 American Courts—Structures and Procedures 27
2.1  Federalism and the Judiciary  27
2.2  State Court Systems  28
2.2.1  Introduction  28
2.2.2  Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction  28
2.2.3  Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction  33
2.2.4  Intermediate Appellate Courts  36
2.2.5  Courts of Last Resort  38
2.3  The Federal Court System  39
2.3.1  Introduction  39
2.3.2  Specialized Federal Courts  41
2.3.3  U.S. District Courts  42
2.3.4  U.S. Courts of Appeals  45
2.3.5  The U.S. Supreme Court  48
2.4  Federal Court Administration  53
2.5  Relations between State and Federal Courts  54
vii
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
viii Contents
2.6  Conclusion  55
2.7  Epilogue: The Roots of Judicial Federalism  56
3 Lawyers and Lawyering 67
3.1  Introduction  67
3.2  A Brief History of the Legal Profession  68
3.3  The Legal Profession Today  74
3.3.1  Entry  74
3.3.2  Culture  81
3.3.3  Practice  82
3.3.4  Challenges  87
3.4  Conclusion  92
3.5  Epilogue: Client Solicitation and Free Speech  92
4 Judicial Selection and Removal 103
4.1  Law, Politics, and Judicial Nominations  103
4.2  Judicial Selection in the States  105
4.2.1  Introduction  105
4.2.2  Election  105
4.2.3  Appointment  109
4.2.4  Appointment-and-Election  111
4.2.5  Legislative Selection  113
4.2.6  Conclusion  113
4.3  Discipline and Removal of State Judges  114
4.4  Selection of Federal Judges  118
4.4.1  Introduction  118
4.4.2  The Lower Federal Courts  118
4.4.3  The Supreme Court  125

4.5  Discipline and Removal of Federal Judges  131
4.6  Conclusion  132
4.7  Epilogue: Free Speech and Judicial Elections  133
5 Norm Enforcement—The Criminal Justice
Process 145
5.1  Introduction  145
5.2  State v. Johnson: Facts  147
5.3  State v. Johnson: Participants  149
5.3.1  The Defendant  149
5.3.2  The Defense Attorney  150
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Contents ix
5.3.3  The Prosecutor  150
5.3.4  The Judge  151
5.4  State v. Johnson: Process  152
5.4.1  Pretrial  152
5.4.1.1  Arraignment  152
5.4.1.2  Preliminary Hearing  154
5.4.1.3  Indictment  155
5.4.1.4  Plea Bargain  156
5.4.1.5  Motions  157
5.4.2  Trial  159
5.4.2.1  Defendant’s Right to a Speedy Trial  159
5.4.2.2  Jury Selection  160
5.4.2.3  Opening Statements  162
5.4.2.4  Presentation of Evidence  164
5.4.2.5  Closing Arguments  168
5.4.2.6  Jury Instructions  170
5.4.2.7  Verdict  171
5.4.2.8  Sentencing  171
5.5  Conclusion  173
5.6  Epilogue: Dr. Sheppard’s Trial  173
6 Dispute Resolution—The Civil Justice Process 183
6.1  Introduction  183
6.2  Peterson v. Big Pine Mountain Ski Corporation: Facts  186
6.3  Participants  187
6.3.1  The Plaintiff  187
6.3.2  The Plaintiff’s Lawyer  187
6.3.3  The Defendant  188
6.3.4  The Defense Lawyer  188

6.3.5  The Judge  189
6.4  Process  189
6.4.1  Pretrial  189
6.4.1.1  Complaint  189
6.4.1.2  Answer/Motion to Dismiss  190
6.4.1.3  Discovery  191
6.4.1.4  ADR  197
6.4.1.5  Summary Judgment  198
6.4.2  Trial  199
6.4.2.1  The Right to a Jury Trial  199
6.4.2.2  Jury Selection  200
6.4.2.3  Opening Statements  202
6.4.2.4  Presentation of Evidence  204
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
x Contents
6.4.2.5  Closing Arguments  210
6.4.2.6  Jury Instructions  210
6.4.2.7  Verdict  211
6.5  Conclusion  212
6.6  Epilogue: Punishing Deceit  212
7 Policy Making—The Appellate Process 221
7.1  Introduction  221
7.2  State v. Johnson on Appeal  223
7.2.1  Post-Verdict Motions  223
7.2.2  Notice of Appeal  223
7.2.3  Briefs  224
7.2.3.1  Appellant  224
7.2.3.2  Appellee  230
7.2.3.3  Reply  231
7.2.4  Oral Argument  231
7.2.5  Decision Conference  235
7.2.6  Decision  235
7.3  Peterson on Appeal  236
7.3.1  Post-Verdict Motion  236
7.3.2  Notice of Appeal  237
7.3.3  Briefs  238
7.3.3.1  Appellant  238
7.3.3.2  Appellee  240
7.3.3.3  Reply  241
7.3.4  Oral Argument  241
7.3.5  Decision Conference  244
7.3.6  Decision  245
7.4  Conclusion  245

7.5  Epilogue: Open Fields and a “Tumbledown” House  246
7.5.1  Open Fields  246
7.5.2  “A Tumbledown” House  250
8 Legal and Political Influences on Judicial
Decision Making 257
8.1  Introduction  257
8.2  Legal Influences  258
8.2.1  Procedural  259
8.2.2  Substantive  264
8.3  Political Influences  268
© 2009 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC