Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foundations of law in the United States -- History and organization of the federal judicial system -- History and organization of state judicial systems -- Jurisdiction and policy-making boundaries -- State judges -- Federal judges -- Policy links between the citizenry, the president, and the federal judiciary -- Lawyers, litigants, and interest groups in the judicial process -- Crime and procedures prior to a criminal trial -- The criminal trial and its aftermath -- The civil court process -- Decision making in collegial courts -- Implementation and impact of judicial policies -- Policymaking by American judges : a synthesis.