Supreme Court in the American Legal System

"This book examines the American legal system, including a comprehensive treatment of the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite this treatment, the in of the title deserves emphasis, for the authors extensively examine lower courts, providing separate chapters on state courts, the U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The book analyzes these courts from a legal/extralegal framework, drawing different conclusions about the relative influence of each based on institutional structures and empirical evidence. The book is also tied together through its attention to the relationship between lower courts and the Supreme Court. Additionally, Election 2000 litigation provides a common substantive topic linking many of the chapters. Finally, it provides extended coverage of the legal process, with separate chapters on civil procedure, evidence, and criminal procedure."--Jacket.