The Gatekeepers

Federal District Courts in the Political Process

Kevin Lyles

• Publisher: Praeger
• Year: 1997
• Print ISBN: 9780275960827
• eBook ISBN: 9780313025372
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Law
• Subtopic: Public Law
• Index: Law

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 turns 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.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction: Federal District Courts in the Political Process
• 2. The Federal District Courts: Institutional and Functional Perspectives
• 3. The Nomination and Appointment of Federal District Court Judges
• 4. Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Kennedy Democrats to Nixon Republicans, 1960–1976
• 5. Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Carter Democrats to Reagan Republicans, 1976–1988
• 6. Presidential Agendas and Judicial Appointments: From Bush Republicans to Clinton Democrats, 1988–1996
• 7. Presidential Expectation and Judicial Performance
• 8. Does Race Make a Difference?: Perceptions and Attitudes of African-American, Latino, and White District Court Judges
• 9. Does Gender Make a Difference?: Perceptions and Attitudes of Female District Court Judges
• 10. 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