POSC 20403 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Voir Dire, General Jurisdiction, Arraignment
Document Summary
Why become a judge: been a prosecutor for almost all of his career, became a judge for professional and personal reasons, gave more flexibility with time (he has kids) Becoming a judge: appointed by the governor, but to initiate that process you must file an application, when there is a vacancy, they choose to interview certain individuals who filed applications as kind of a prescreening process. Interviewed for that by a local screening committee appointed by the governor: they then make favorable or unfavorable recommendations; if favorable, you meet with the governor. Cases handled: 95% of cases are criminal, 5% of cases are civil. Cases in court: all cases originate and come through the district court, there are certain felonies though that they do not have final jurisdiction, and those are spelled out by statute. Initial appearance: the initial appearance is the arraignment, arraignments are held in front of judges.
