"For the first time in one convenient volume, The Judicial Branch of State Government takes a thorough look at the history of state courts, examining landmark cases, legal decision-making processes, judicial selection, court funding, and reform initiatives. The concluding chapter details the judicial systems of all 50 states. Authoritative yet accessible, this volume offers students, general readers, and legal professionals unprecedented access to information about the courts with the most immediate impact on our lives."--BOOK JACKET.