Background
Smith, Christopher Edward was born on February 19, 1958 in Port Clinton, Ohio, United States. Son of Robert Lee and Carol Elaine (Payne) Smith.
( Written for social scientists who study the judiciary, ...)
Written for social scientists who study the judiciary, legal scholars, judges, and others who are interested in the workings of the federal courts, this volume offers a comprehensive examination of the role of U.S. magistrates--the relatively invisible subordinate judicial officers within the federal district courts. The study is unique in its use of an observation methodology: the author was able to study U.S. magistrates during all of their daily activities and observe their interactions with other actors in the federal judiciary. Particularly valuable are its insights into such functions as pretrial conferences, meetings with litigants, and other situations normally beyond the purview of scholars and the public. The author focuses throughout on both the development of the magistrates' varied roles and their consequences for the federal judicial system. After examining magistrates' roles within several representative courts in detail, the author analyzes the factors which influence the development of these diverse roles and identifies the specific effects--both planned and unplanned--that the subordinate judicial officers have upon the court system. Smith refutes a commonly held view that district judges control the definition of magistrates' roles and concludes that in some cases, especially with regard to the coercion of litigants, the magistrate system's effects cannot be seen to be completely beneficial. In addition, the book contains an in-depth study of the appointment process for magistrates complete with a case history of the merit selection committee process. The author documents the influence of district judges over the merit selection process, adding concrete support to scholarly arguments about the inherently political nature of judicial selection.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0275933962/?tag=2022091-20
( Smith introduces a new concept, critical judicial nomin...)
Smith introduces a new concept, critical judicial nominations, to advance scholars' understanding of the consequences of the federal nomination process for the Supreme Court and the American political system. The study suggests that specific events related to the judicial branch, namely critical judicial nominations, have significant unanticipated consequences for the Supreme Court's role in the political system, as well as for electoral politics. This is demonstrated in illustrative historical examples which, most importantly, include an in-depth case study of the Clarence Thomas nomination and its subsequent ramifications.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0275945677/?tag=2022091-20
(United States Magistrates in the Federal Courts: Subordin...)
United States Magistrates in the Federal Courts: Subordinate Judges United States Magistrates in the Federal Courts: Subordinate Judges by Smith, Christopher E ( Author ) Hardcover Jan- 1990 Hardcover Jan- 19- 1990
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHWPA7U/?tag=2022091-20
legal scholar Political science educator
Smith, Christopher Edward was born on February 19, 1958 in Port Clinton, Ohio, United States. Son of Robert Lee and Carol Elaine (Payne) Smith.
AB, Harvard University, 1980. Master of Science, University Bristol, England, 1981. Juris Doctor, University Tennessee, 1984.
Doctor of Philosophy, University Connecticut, 1988.
Lecturer, U. Connecticut, Hartford, 1985-1987; assistant professor political science, U. Akron, Ohio., 1987-1991; associate professor, U. Akron, Ohio., since 1991.
(This reorganized and updated text provides a comprehensiv...)
(United States Magistrates in the Federal Courts: Subordin...)
( Written for social scientists who study the judiciary, ...)
( Smith introduces a new concept, critical judicial nomin...)
(Professor Smith examines the underlying influences that a...)
(This book represents an effort to synthesize scholars' ar...)
(Book by Smith, Christopher E.)
(Book by Smith, Christopher E.)
Intake volunteer American Civil Liberties Union Massachusetts, Boston, 1978-1979. Instructor Washington State Prison, Monroe, 1982-1983, Connecticut State Prison, Somers, 1986. Member American Political Science Association, Law and Society Association, American Judicature Society, Order of Coif, Phi Kappa Phi.
Married Charlotte Lorraine Jones, August 18, 1984. Children: Alicia Carolyn, Eric Roosevelt.