The specific concern in this study is to consider the nature, social significance, and consequences of syntactic variation in the question forms used by judges when taking guilty pleas from criminal defendents. Nine judges from a court of general jurisdiction in Arizona were observed and tape-recorded while presiding over several procedures that…

Current practices in intercollegiate debate encourage inadequate reasoning and the use of short cuts in debate presentations. Poor debate strategies have emerged. For example, the inclusion, by negative teams, of excessively detailed arguments in constructive speeches has caused affirmative rebuttals to be acutely simplistic or has forced…

Federal judge Pratt rejected a request to temporarily keep in effect a court order he dismissed last year, saying that the NAACP failed to prove they were likely to win their appeal, or that Black students would suffer "irreparable harm" because of the dismissal. (MLW)

A court ruling that the University of California must ensure that all federal Hatch Act agricultural research funds go to projects benefiting primarily small family farms is seen as promoting special-interest politics, selective interpretation of federal legislation, and a romanticized view of farmers and may unduly influence research directions.…

This lesson offers strategies for teaching fourth- and fifth-grade students the duties of legislators, police officers, and judges. The lesson is based on ideas taken from the Utah law-related education guide "Elementary Lesson Plan Book." (JDH)

The North Carolina End-of-Grade (NCEOG) Test of Mathematics, Grade 8 was compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)--Grade 8 along three dimensions: technical, content, and cognitive. An expert panel of six judges (mathematics educators) examined the supporting documents, the content frameworks, the items, and actual test…

Analyzes potential benefits of debaters observing the nonverbal behavior of debate judges in obtaining immediate indications of judges' reactions. (CH)

Discusses the ethics of rhetoric in forensics. Analyzes survey results, from three different instruments, on practices in speaking events. Focuses on establishing an ethical framework for evaluating speech contests. (Available from Michael P. Kelley, ed., Communication Studies Dept., Calif. State Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90032; sc. $6.00.) (PD)

Finding the appropriate judicial clerkship begins with identifying the most qualified, personable, and respected judges, at all levels. Resume and letter writing, recommendations, and interviews are also essential elements to be carefully undertaken. (Journal availability: 1155 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637, sc $1.00). (MSE)

Explores the different categories judges use during adjudication in the Choral-Large Group section: (1) tone; (2) intonation; (3) diction; (4) technique; (5) balance; (6) interpretation; (7) musical effect; and (8) other factors such as stage presence. (CMK)

Investigated young people's perception of race, class, and language bias in the court system, surveying youth from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds who were detained at a training school or enrolled in a community program. Minority respondents were more negative in their perceptions of judges and court workers than were nonminority respondents.…

Analyzes the actions and effects of the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. Considers Court decisions written in 1988-1989, commenting on the Court's growing self-confidence and strength. Concludes that the Rehnquist Court could be one of the most lasting legacies of the Reagan era. (LS)

Presents an activity in which secondary students consider what characteristics make a good U.S. Supreme Court justice. Requires students to distinguish between formal and informal qualifications for office. Utilizes student research skills to gain information about Supreme Court justices. Includes two handouts. (LS)

Academic writing seems to have little influence on the development of the law, and law professors seem to be writing for each other. Ways in which academics can improve the impact of their writings on the work of judges are discussed. (MLW)

A hypothetical conversation among legal theorists in the year 4301 explores court judges' different legal philosophies and approaches to judicial interpretation. (MSE)