Judicial Process Factors that Affect How Judges Behave Paper

PART A (Short Answer): Answer ONE of the following THREE question (40 points)A1. Do politics play a role in the selection of judges for the federal or state courts? Focus on EITHER the federal OR state courts and defend your answer. Describe/discuss ONE reason why politics might play a role in this process (i.e. what mechanisms drive it?). What evidence do we have to support/reject this view?A2. What factors affect how judges behave? Defend your answer. Describe/discuss ONE way this behavior might come about (i.e. what mechanisms drive it?). What evidence do we have to support/reject this explanation of judicial behavior?A3. Can the Supreme Court bring about social change? Defend your answer. Describe/discuss ONE way such change might come about (i.e. what mechanisms drive it?). What evidence do we have to support/reject this view?PART B (Long Answer): Answer the following question (60 points)B1. Do courts (in particular the US Supreme Court) have an effect on public opinion? What have social scientists taught us about the answer to this question? How might we measure/analyze the ways in which courts might shape public opinion? Are these effects on the public uniform or do they vary? What evidence can you provide to support your answer to these questions? In answering this question, you need to read and incorporate into your answer your understanding of the Bartels & Mutz09-Opinion Leadership article (posted on Blueline). Note that EACH question asks you to provide EVIDENCE in support of your answer. In providing this evidence, I expect you to highlight the social science research we have read that informs your answer—in other words, discuss theory/hypotheses/data/results that inform/support your answer.