NCJ Number
125478
Date Published
1990
Length
403 pages
Annotation
The definitions and types of law are discussed to provide a backdrop for an historical examination of the origins and structure of the current legal system in the U.S. Legal education and the practice of law are reviewed to demonstrate the evolution of the practice of law as a profession.
Abstract
A critical examination of the different actors in the legal system is included as well as a discussion of the structure of the judicial branch. Criminal justice procedures including due process guarantees, pretrial procedures, jury selection, trial procedure, sentencing, and appeals are also reviewed. The origins and structure of specialty courts are provided, and the third party adjudicatory system is criticized in light of alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, arbitration, and plea bargaining. Review questions are provided for each section and a glossary; reference section; and case, author, and subject indexes are provided.