The Bench and the Bar MCQs
The Bench and the Bar MCQs
Our team has conducted extensive research to compile a set of The Bench and the Bar MCQs. We encourage you to test your The Bench and the Bar knowledge by answering these 20+ multiple-choice questions provided below.
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1: _____ is a necessity for “good judging,” which means that judges must recognize that what they think they know may be incorrect.
A. Getting out of the courtroom
B. Restraint
C. Intellectual humility
D. Dignity
2: Which of the following statements is true for new judges?
A. They are assigned more experienced judges as mentors and trainers.
B. They attend orientation and training in addition to continuing education.
C. They are not typically given any formal training.
D. They are provided policies and procedures for courtroom operations.
3: The primary responsibility of the ______ is to ensure the defendant’s rights are preserved.
A. Judge
B. Prosecutor
C. Court clerk
D. Defense attorney
4: The ______ is responsible for organizing and categorizing paperwork, manages exhibits introduced into evidence, and administers the oath to witnesses before they take the stand to testify.
A. Clerk of court
B. Judge
C. Prosecutor
D. Bailiff
5: In 2016, a man named Denver Fenton Allen, who had been charged with murder, made obscene remarks to Georgia Superior Court Judge Bryant Durham Jr. In the vulgar 11-min exchange, Judge Durham initially tried to discipline Allen, but eventually responded with highly inappropriate and vulgar remarks of his own. Which of the following concepts describe Judge Durham’s behavior?
A. Lack of intellectual humility
B. Judicial misconduct
C. Impartiality
D. Political partisanship
6: Individuals in the courtroom work group are more likely to be cooperative rather than adversarial because they ______.
A. Work within a trail court system that was designed to promote cooperation
B. Work together to manage a heavy caseload, ensuring the right to a speedy trial
C. All share similar duties in the courtroom
D. Will all benefit from additional compensation for effectively managing court cases
7: Why is the prosecutor considered the most powerful person in the courtroom work group?
A. The prosecutor represents victims as well as the state.
B. The prosecutor does not face election, unlike judges.
C. The prosecutor makes a larger salary than other members of the work group.
D. The prosecutor has the power to decide who will stand trial and enjoy extensive discretion.
8: Why are some concerned about judicial elections?
A. These may compromise judicial impartiality.
B. These require a lot of time away from the bench.
C. They require a new wardrobe for the judge.
D. They reflect negatively on the courtroom work group.
9: Respect paid by the actors in the courtroom work group and their level of professional courtesy to each other are related to which concept?
A. Courtroom civility
B. Workplace violence
C. Hostile work environment
D. Professional ethics
10: In the ______ system for providing legal representation to indigent defendants, the defense attorneys are not private workers, but rather are employees of the government.
A. Assigned counsel
B. Contract
C. Public defenders
D. Prosecutors
11: What is an example of psychological discomfort commonly experienced by new judges?
A. Dealing with drug or alcohol addiction
B. Dealing with discomfort over the way they’re treated by others due to their highly respected status
C. Being unable to sleep properly
D. Being concerned that they did not levy a right or fair sentence
12: In which method of judicial selection do voters cast ballots for judicial candidates in the same way they would for other political candidates?
A. Gubernatorial appointment
B. Legislative appointment
C. Commission-based appointment
D. Partisan election
13: The primary responsibility of a prosecuting attorney is to win criminal cases.
A. True
B. False
14: Which of the following duties generally takes up a majority of a judge’s time?
A. Presiding over trials
B. Reviewing and signing petitions
C. Managing administrative tasks
D. Researching and reviewing cases
15: Which of the following is true of the methods of judicial selection?
A. The method of selection that is most likely to be merit based is the nonpartisan election.
B. All methods of judicial selection involve elections.
C. No two states use exactly the same selection method.
D. The manner in which judges are selected has a limited impact on public perception, but a large impact on the court system.
16: _____ is defined as the response to a criminal charge in which the defendant admits to committing the act charged but argues that for some mitigating reason he or she should not be held criminally responsible under the law.
A. Affirmative Defense
B. Motion to suppress evidence
C. Motion for a change of venue
D. All of these
17: _____ is known as the criminal justice professionals who work together to move cases through the court system.
A. Courtroom Work Group
B. Bifurcated Trials
C. Bench Trials
D. All of these
18: Is defense the response by a defendant to a criminal charge, to include denial of the criminal allegations in an attempt to negate or overcome the charges?
A. True
B. False
19: _____ is one whose responsibility it is to see that the rights of the accused are upheld prior to, during, and after trial; the Sixth Amendment provides for “effective” counsel, among other constitutionally enumerated rights that defense attorneys must see are upheld.
A. Defense Attorney
B. To change criminals into law-abiding citizens
C. To punish criminals in a manner that reflects their crime
D. None of these
20: _____ is defined as the prosecution of an accused person twice for the same offense; prohibited by the Fifth Amendment except under certain circumstances.
A. Double Jeopardy
B. Driving under the influence
C. All of these
D. None of these
21: _____ is known as police tactics that unduly encourage or induce an individual to commit a crime he or she typically would not commit.
A. Entrapment
B. Idea that one may act unethically for the greatest good for greatest number of people
C. Study of one’s duty to act
D. All of these
22: Is judicial Misconduct inappropriate behavior by a judge?
A. True
B. False
23: _____ is means by which judges are selected for the bench, to include election, a nominating commission, or a hybrid of these methods.
A. Judicial Selection (Methods Of)
B. U.S. district courts
C. Limited jurisdiction trial courts
D. None of these
24: _____ is defined as a means of selecting judges whereby names of interested candidates are considered by a committee and recommendations are then made to the governor, who then makes the appointment; known also as the Missouri Plan.
A. Merit Selection
B. Deadlocked jury
C. Death jury
D. None of these
25: _____ is known as One who brings prosecutions, representing the people of the jurisdiction.
A. Prosecuting Attorney
B. Black
C. Gray
D. All of these
26: Is public Defender an attorney whose full-time job is to represent indigent defendants?
A. True
B. False
27: _____ is the test of legal insanity, asking whether the defendant understood the nature and quality of his or her act and, if so, if he or she understood it was wrong.
A. Right-Wrong Test
B. Deceit
C. All of these
D. None of these
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The Bench and the Bar MCQs
