From learning the basic definition of a law to understanding how a case reaches the Supreme Court, this essential reference tool provides over 500 questions and accessible answers on the complex subject of the U.S. court system.

Whether used by a citizen inquiring about jury duty or a student needing to grasp the intricacies of types of laws, CQ's Desk Reference on American Courts provides the answers on such topics as:

• Explanations of the judicial process and procedures.
• State and federal court institutions.
• Definitions, concepts, and terms.
• Discussions of important cases and interesting firsts.

Patricia G. Barnes is the author of CQ's Desk Reference on American Criminal Justice and CQ's Desk Reference on American Courts (2000). She is the editor of a three-volume series, Domestic Violence: From a Private Mattter to a Federal Offense (1998), and is a frequent contributor to national legal publications. She received her J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law.

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