Courts and Trials - Annotated by Christopher Smith (Hardcover)

About the Book

A collective overview of contemporary developments affecting court organization and judicial procedures.
America has a long history of sensationalized trials and infamous lawyers and judges, but what is the truth about how our system of jurisprudence really works? Courts and Trials: A Reference Handbook makes the subject accessible by presenting an overview of the organization of courts and procedures used in criminal and civil cases, with special emphasis on contemporary developments.

The book analyzes specific issues: methods of selecting judges, the capacity of citizen-jurors to make appropriate decisions, cameras in the courtroom, "three strikes" laws, and the prosecution of juveniles as adults. The discussions illuminate competing perspectives on controversies that influence new initiatives and reforms affecting courts and their operations.

• Covers key historical people and events throughout U.S. jurisprudence history
• Documents and tables include excerpts from relevant constitutional provisions, statutes, and judicial opinions; tables include statistics on court organization in different states and in other countries

Book Synopsis

A collective overview of contemporary developments affecting court organization and judicial procedures.

America has a long history of sensationalized trials and infamous lawyers and judges, but what is the truth about how our system of jurisprudence really works? Courts and Trials: A Reference Handbook makes the subject accessible by presenting an overview of the organization of courts and procedures used in criminal and civil cases, with special emphasis on contemporary developments.

The book analyzes specific issues: methods of selecting judges, the capacity of citizen-jurors to make appropriate decisions, cameras in the courtroom, "three strikes" laws, and the prosecution of juveniles as adults. The discussions illuminate competing perspectives on controversies that influence new initiatives and reforms affecting courts and their operations.

Review Quotes

"Titles in [the Contemporary World Issues] series offer historical overviews and discussions of controversial issues. . . . Each volume includes primary documents, agencies and organizations, a glossary, an index, print & nonprint resources, a chronology, and biographies. Recommended." --Library Media Connection

"[D]escribes, in an easy, comprehensible style, the courts, jurisdictions, and legal systems of the United States . . . would be valuable for those wishing an introduction and brief history of court systems in the United States. It provides a solid, although not too taxing, overview of the subject for patrons of public and community college libraries, or even advanced high school students." --American Reference Books Annual

"One would be hard-pressed to identify another work of this length that would provide a better overview of courts and trials in the United States." --The Justice System Journal

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