Waubonsee Community College

The judges, a penetrating exploration of American courts and of the new decisions--hard decisions--they must make for a new millennium, Martin Mayer

eng

Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-436) and index

index present

non fiction

The judges

bibliography

70699036

Martin Mayer

a penetrating exploration of American courts and of the new decisions--hard decisions--they must make for a new millennium

Our courts, the third branch of the government, are central in the administration of our democracy. But their operations are shrouded in a mythology--which this book pierces. Many of our 30,000 judges are hard-working and distinguished jurists; most are simply lawyers who knew a politician. It does not help that the job pays poorly. We have no judicial profession: we do not train judges before or after they mount the bench. There is no national court system. Fifty states, a federal government, counties and municipalities all have their own courts, their own rules and their own laws and are deluged with cases filed by a million lawyers. Less than 3% of criminal charges and 4% of civil disputes are resolved in court. This noted author argues that a specialized world demands specialized courts and judges expert in the subjects they must consider.--From publisher description

The monastic bench -- Confronting the myths -- The origin of the species : historical precedents -- In practice : therapy court in Brooklyn -- Decisions, decisions, decisions -- In practice : the tax court -- 30,000 judges, 100 million cases : the scope of the enterprise -- In practice : the Colorado water courts -- Electing and selecting judges -- In practice : at the poverty level in Phoenix -- Teaching judges to judge -- In practice : administrative law -- The politics of supremacy -- The loss of authority -- Opinions