Using updated research from their broad study of the U.S. judicial system, Judicial Process in America, Carp and Stidham narrow their focus to the federal judiciary in a fourth edition of The Federal Courts. In this comprehensive examination of the federal system, Carp and Stidham: explain the organizational structure of the federal courts outline the jurisdiction of the three levels of U.S. courts examine the backgrounds and values of the men and women who wear the black robe consider the decision making process characteristic of all judges, and then the special case of collegial, appellate courts ore the policy impact of federal court decisions and the implementation process Discuss factors that determine whether judges will engage in policymaking and predict the substantive direction of policy decisions.

Tables and Figures
Preface

1. History and Organization of the Federal Judicial System

  The Historical Context
  The U.S. Supreme Court
  The U.S. Courts of Appeals
  U.S. District Courts
  Constitutional Courts and Legislative Courts
  Administrative and Staff Support in the Federal Judiciary
  Federal Court Workload
  Summary


2. Jurisdiction and Policy-Making Boundaries

  Federal Courts
  Jurisdiction and Policy Making of State Courts
  Jurisdiction and Legislative Politics
  Judicial Self-Restraint
  Summary


3. Federal Judges

  Background Characteristics of Federal Judges
  Formal and Informal Qualifications of Federal Judges
  The Federal Selection Process and Its Participants
  Policy Links among the Citizenry, the President, and the Federal Judiciary
  The Judicial Socialization Process
  The Retirement and Removal of Judges
  Summary


4. Decision Making by Trial Court Judges

  The Legal Subculture
  The Democratic Subculture
  Summary


5. Decision Making in Collegial Courts

  Cue Theory
  Small-Group Analysis
  Attitude Theory
  Rational Choice Theory
  Summary


6. Implementation and Impact of Judicial Policies

  The Impact of Higher-Court Decisions on Lower Courts
  Congressional Influences on the Implementation Process
  Executive Branch Influences on the Implementation Process
  Other Implementers
  Summary


7. Policy Making by American Judges: A Synthesis

  The Nature of the Case or Issue
  The Values and Orientations of the Judges
  The Nature of the Judicial Decision-Making Process
  The Impact of Extraneous Influences

Glossary
Subject Index
Case Index

The Federal Courts...is an excellent book for courses dealing with judicial law and politics. [It] provides readers with a broad, yet concise, overview of the workings of the federal courts..."

Robert A. Carp is professor of political science at the University of Houston. He is coauthor of Policymaking and Politics in the Federal Courts; Politics and Judgment in Federal District Courts; the Federal Courts, fourth edition, with Ronald Stidham; and numerous articles on judicial process.

Ronald Stidham is professor of political science/criminal justice at Appalachian State University. He is coauthor with Robert A. Carp of The Federal Courts, Fourth Edition, and has written numerous articles on the federal courts.