Taking a practical approach, AMERICAN CRIMINAL COURTS covers the entire criminal courts system in a manner which is understandable to students studying criminal justice, government, public administration and other judicially related topics. It includes a descriptive analysis of local, state, federal, and international courts and discusses the jurisdiction, processes and jurisprudence of each court. Law in Action boxes address emerging trends such as political pressure, language barriers, security in the courtroom and special courts. The book also explains the roles played by the judges in each type of court as it pertains to judicial selection, judicial decision making, and judicial review.