Sara C. Benesh

Benesh explores the relationship between Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions in confession cases.

Benesh tests the impact of the Supreme Court on decision making in the Courts of Appeals by use of formal models and empirical analysis. She finds that, while the Supreme Court does little to induce Court of Appeals compliance in the confession cases, the lower court nonetheless makes decisions in accordance with Supreme Court policy prescriptions on point. Compliance is not perfect--the ideological predisposition of the judges of the Court of Appeals does matter--but the High Court influences the lower court. In short, the courts are faithful agents and ideological actors, and the law of confessions is greatly influenced by their behavior.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Hierarchy of Justice
3. A Formal Model of the Relationship Between the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court
4. Confession Cases in American Courts--the Data
5. Decision Making in United State Court of Appeals
6. Whenthe Supreme Court Speaks--An Analysis of Lower Court Response Treatment of Supreme Court Decisions
7. Conclusion: Faithful Agents, Ideological Actors

References
Appendix
Index