Reference no: EM131677023

Whether at the State or Federal level, the formal powers of judges extend throughout the criminal court process. From arrest to final disposition, the accused face judges whenever decisions affecting their futures are made. Judges set bail and revoke it; they determine whether sufficient probable cause exists to hold defendants or to search premises; they rule on pretrial motions to exclude evidence; they accept pleas of guilty; if a trail does take place, the judge presides over the trail; and finally, if there is a conviction, it is the judge that decides on the punishment. The text, beginning on page 210, discusses the three primary ways that judges are selected in the United States. Please list and explain each of these avenues and when they apply. Which do you think is best?