NCJ Number
17968
Date Published
Unknown
Length
25 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE MAILED TO ALL JUDICIAL CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT, CIRCUIT, AND COUNTY COURTS IN FLORIDA IN 1972 TO CONSTRUCT A COMPOSITE OF WHO RAN FOR OFFICE AND HOW THEY EVALUATED THE JUDGE SELECTION SYSTEM.
Abstract
THIS EXAMINATION OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS IN THE LOWER COURT STRUCTURE SEEKS TO SHOW WHO RUNS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE TRIAL LEVEL. OUT OF 501 CANDIDATES 159 RESPONDED FOR A 26 PERCENT RETURN RATE. THE NUMBER OF CONTESTED ELECTIONS WAS HEAVIEST AT THE COUNTY COURT LEVEL WHERE 67 PERCENT WERE CONTESTED AS AGAINST 29 PERCENT AT THE CIRCUIT COURT LEVEL. CANDIDATES TENDED TO BE WHITE MALES, SUCCESSFUL IN THE LEGAL CAREER WITH ABOUT TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE. THEY WERE MOSTLY LOCAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE. AS ATTORNEYS THEIR PRACTICES WERE UNSPECIALIZED SINCE MOST OF THEM WERE SOLO PRACTITIONERS. BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES TENDED TO RATE THE JUDICIAL SELECTION SYSTEM UNFAVORABLY. TABLES PRESENT STATISTICS ON RESPONSES REGARDING ORGANIZATION AND TYPE OF LAW PRACTICE, INCOME, EDUCATION, POLITICAL PARTY, MOTIVATION FOR CANDIDACY, AND METHOD OF ELECTION PREFERENCE. INCLUDED IS A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE.