These Estimable Courts: Understanding Public Perceptions of State Judicial Institutions and Legal Policy-Making

Synopsis

[this Book] Explores How Citizens Feel About The Government Institutions At The Front Lines Of Jurisprudential Policy-making In America - Our Nation's State And Local Courts. The Book's Central Focus Concerns A Primary Question Of Governance: Why Do People Support And Find Legitimate The Institutions That Govern Their Lives? [the Authors] Evaluate The Factors That Drive Citizens' Support For Their State And Local Courts And That Influence Peoples' Perceptions Of The Proper Role Of These Courts In Our Society, As Well As How Judicial Policy-making Should Be Made. A Viable Democracy Depends Upon Citizen Belief In The Legitimacy Of Government Institutions. Nowhere Is This More Evident Than In Judicial Institutions. Courts Depend Heavily On A Reservoir Of Public Good Will And Institutional Legitimacy To Get Their Decrees Obeyed By The Public And Implemented By Other Policy Actors. It Enables Courts To Weather The Storm Of Counter-majoritarian Decisions And Remain Effective Governing Bodies Whose Edicts Are Respected And Followed. [this Book] Takes Advantage Of New Original Survey Data To Evaluate Citizens' Beliefs About The Legitimacy Of State Courts As Well As A Number Of Important Related Concerns. These Include Peoples' Views Concerning How Judges Decide Cases, The Role Of Judges And Courts In Policy-making, The Manner In Which We Select Judges, And Finally, The Dynamics Of Citizens' Views Regarding Compliance With The Law And Legal Institutions. -- Book Jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Courts We Can Believe In -- 3. These Estimable Courts: How State Court Legitimacy Is Perceived By Citizens -- 4. People In Robes Making Law: Citizens On The Bases Of Judicial Decision-making -- 5.the Role Of The Robe: Considering Courts As Policymakers -- 6. Who Gets Teh Gaval? Citizens' Views On The Selection Of Judges -- 7. The Better Angels Of Our Nature: On Court Legitimacy And Obeying The Law -- 8. Conclusion. Damon M. Cann And Jeff Yates. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.