Exam 25: The Texas Judiciary

A) the court of criminal appeals
B) the supreme court
C) the district court
D) the justice of the peace court
E) the court of civil appeals

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A

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The death penalty is a highly controversial issue in Texas for several reasons. One of the main reasons is the potential for wrongful convictions and the irreversible nature of the death penalty. There have been cases where individuals have been exonerated after being sentenced to death, raising concerns about the reliability of the justice system in determining guilt. Additionally, there are concerns about the fairness of the death penalty, particularly in regards to race. Studies have shown that race plays a significant role in who receives the death penalty, with African American defendants being more likely to be sentenced to death than white defendants for similar crimes. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals plays a significant role in the controversy surrounding the death penalty. As the highest court for criminal cases in Texas, it is responsible for reviewing death penalty cases and ensuring that the legal process has been followed. However, there have been criticisms of the court for its handling of death penalty cases, with concerns about inadequate legal representation for defendants and potential biases in the judicial system. In Texas, the process for clemency involves the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which reviews clemency applications and makes recommendations to the governor. The governor then has the authority to grant clemency, which can take the form of a commutation of the death sentence to life in prison or a pardon. The clemency process has also been a source of controversy, with concerns about the fairness and transparency of the decision-making process. Overall, the death penalty remains a contentious issue in Texas due to concerns about wrongful convictions, racial disparities, and the fairness of the legal process. The role of the court of criminal appeals and the clemency process also contribute to the ongoing controversy surrounding the death penalty in Texas.

A) It is overly partisan.
B) The need to raise campaign contributions compromises the independence of the judges.
C) Too often voters know nothing about the judicial candidates for whom they are voting.
D) In many cases ballots can be overloaded with judicial elections, making them complicated.
E) The governor has too much power in judicial selection.

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A) The Texas Supreme Court has grown more liberal in its tort-law decisions.
B) Texas has moved toward a more conservative approach to torts.
C) The Texas Supreme Court has taken a more pro-business direction.
D) The Texas Supreme Court is moving toward a more common-law approach to tort reform.
E) The Texas Supreme Court is choosing to hear fewer tort-law cases.

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A) the false drug arrests in Tulia
B) the gypsum scandal in Dallas
C) the Houston Crime Lab scandal
D) the Dallas DNA exonerations
E) the University of Texas corruption scandal

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In addition to the method of judicial se...

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A) family law.
B) traffic and parking violations.
C) civil cases, especially torts.
D) felony crimes.
E) city ordinances.

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A) The Texas legislature has placed a strict cap on the spending for the criminal appeals court election campaigns.
B) There are few interest groups that contribute money to criminal appeals court candidates' campaigns, which keeps the costs of the election down.
C) Judges running for the criminal appeals court do not have to be elected in a statewide election.
D) Fewer people are interested in the court of criminal appeals.
E) There are more positions available on the criminal appeals court, so the seats are not as coveted.

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A) county courts.
B) courts of appeals.
C) district courts.
D) municipal courts.
E) justice of the peace courts.

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C

A) party affiliation
B) professional and personal qualifications
C) name recognition with the voters
D) rating by the American Bar Association
E) campaign financing

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A) impeachment of public officials
B) tort laws
C) prison reform
D) death penalty cases
E) bankruptcy cases

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A) tort claim.
B) civil fee.
C) hypothetical bill.
D) contingent fee.
E) pro bono claim.

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A) That was the year judicial elections shifted from nonpartisan to partisan.
B) That was the first year the Texas constitution permitted candidates to announce their party affiliations.
C) Up until that time, Texas was essentially a one-party state.
D) Even though they could, candidates typically ran without using party labels up until 1978.
E) It was the first year a third-party candidate won a seat in a Texas judicial election.

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