American Courts: Process and Policy

Note: Chapters 2-9 end with Conclusions, For Further Reading, Internet Resources, and Notes. 1. An Overview of the Courts Courts and Law Understanding Courts as Institutions The Roles of Courts: Functions and Impact Explaining Court Processes and Outcomes Evaluating Courts 2. Court Organization General Principles of Court Organization The Federal Courts The State Court Systems 3. Lawyers The Legal Profession Access to Legal Services The Lawyer-Client Relationship 4. The Selection of Judges General Issues in Judicial Selection The Selection of Federal Judges The Selection of State Judges The Impact of Formal Selection Systems 5. Judges Judges' Backgrounds Judges on the Bench The Quality of Judicial Performance 6. Trial Courts: Criminal Cases An Overview of Criminal Courts Bringing Cases to Court Plea Bargaining Criminal Trials Sentencing Decisions 7. Trial Courts: Civil Cases An Overview of Civil Courts Deciding Whether to Litigate The Litigation Process Winners and Losers 8. Appellate Courts: The Process An Overview of Appellate Courts Appeals Screening Cases Decision Making 9. Appellate Courts: Policy and Impact Appellate Court Decisions as Policies The Impact of Appellate Court Policies

Scholar Lawrence Baum presents thorough descriptions of the courts and their activities with clear, engaging prose to foster student interest. Comprehensive and current, the text offers explanations of what the courts do, how officers of the court perform their duties, and how the judicial branch relates to the rest of the political system.