The Gatekeepers: Federal District Courts in the Political Process

by Kevin Lyles

Overview

There are more than 600 Federal district judges serving today, and they decide some 230,000 civil cases each year. About 90% of the decisions they reach are final. Lyles argues that these lower court judges not only influence the flow of information to the judicial hierarchy, but they formulate questions that influence how higher courts, including the Supreme Court, respond. As such they are key elements in the formulation and implementation of public policy. To cite a few examples, they desegregate school districts, run mental institutions and prisons, break up monopolies, and reapportion legislatures.

Lyles begins by examining the structure and function of federal courts and detailing the history, operation, and purpose of the district courts. He then turbans to the selection, nomination, and appointment of district judges. Lyles then analyzes the extent to which presidents might advance policy objectives through their judicial appointments to the district courts. After examining how African-American, Latino, and white judges, male and female, view their roles as policy actors, Lyles concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study. Important for students and scholars of contemporary public policy and the court system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275960827
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/28/1997
Series:	Modern Dramatists Research and
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	1720L (what's this?)

About the Author

KEVIN L. LYLES is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: Federal District Courts in the Political Process
The Federal District Courts: Institutional and Functional Perspectives
The Nomination and Appointment of Federal District Court Judges
Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Kennedy Democrats to Nixon Republicans, 1960-1976
Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Carter Democrats to Reagan Republicans, 1976-1988
Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Bush Republicans to Clinton Democrats, 1988-1996
Presidential Expectation and Judicial Performance
Does Race Make a Difference?: Perceptions and Attitudes of African-American, Latino, and White District Court Judges
Does Gender Make a Difference?: Perceptions and Attitudes of Female District Court Judges
The Gatekeepers: Conclusions
Appendix A: The National District Court Judge Survey (NDJS)
Appendix B: The Significant District Court Case Data (SDCC)
Selected Bibliography
Table of Selected Cases
Index

Editorial Reviews

Overviews lower federal trial courts in historical, institutional, and functional contexts, then addresses the extent to which individual presidents have advanced particular policy objectives through their judicial appointments to federal district courts. Analysis of presidential policy preferences and judge recruitment is based on data from a study of five issue areas over the period 1960-1996: abortion rights, affirmative action, religious liberty, school desegregation, and voting rights. Also examines how individual district court judges' views vary along lines of race and gender, based on data from a survey of judges on judicial selection and the role of lower court judges. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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