Alpha Geek
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Multiple Choice Questions
1. Before non-personnel enter public buildings in the State of Setonia, security officers
routinely
require them to walk through a metal detector. In addition, all bags, including women=s
purses, are subject to an external scan designed to detect the presence of weapons.
Concerned that the scan is not sufficiently sensitive to detect a well-hidden weapon,
security officers in many buildings have taken to removing the contests of all bags as part
of the screening process. After numerous complaints from women objecting to the public
exposure of private items in their purses, the Setonia legislature enacted a law permitting
an invasive search of bags only where the initial scan suggested the presence of a
weapon.
The month after the law went into effect, Alice went to the state courthouse in the hope of
watching a high-profile trial taking place that day. When she entered, security officers
scanned her purse and, after doing so, required her to empty its contents for further
inspection. AWhy?@ Alice asked. ADid you see something suspicious on the scan?@
ANo,@ the guard replied. AWe just thought you looked kinda shifty.@ ANo problem,@
Alice replied. APeople look through my purse all the time. I do not care. There is nothing
personal in there. Knock yourself out.@ The guards then searched the purse thoroughly,
finding a razor blade in a side pocket. They seized it, and charged Alice with attempting
to carry a concealed weapon into a public building. If Alice claims that the search of her
purse violated her Fourth Amendment rights, she will likely:
A. Prevail, because the guard did not believe that the purse contained a weapon.
B. Prevail, because the legislature has recognized women=s privacy rights in their purses.
C. Fail, because the guard found a razor blade inside the purse.
D. Fail, because Alice did not care if the guards search her purse.
Questions 2-3 are based on the following fact situation.
Pursuant to a valid arrest warrant, Defendant was arrested in a public place for the murder
of his wife. Before putting him in the police car, the police searched Defendant=s entire
person and found one ounce of heroin, which he had concealed in a flat plastic envelope
under his belt.
2. At Defendant=s motion to suppress the heroin, the court should rule that:
A. The search was invalid, since the police did not have a search warrant.
B. The search was invalid, since incident to a lawful arrest, the police may only search a
suspect=s person for weapons or evidence of the crime.
C. The search was valid, since Defendant=s arrest was proper.
D. The search was valid, because evidence of a crime was, in fact, discovered.
E. None of the above.
3. Assume that, in the above situation, the police arrested Defendant without a warrant,
although they had (1) time to obtain one, and (2) probable cause to believe Defendant
was his wife=s murderer. In challenging the validity of his arrest and the heroin found on
his person.
Defendant will:
A. Succeed, because an arrest without a warrant is an unreasonable seizure under the
Fourth Amendment.
B. Succeed, because the police must always obtain a warrant if there is sufficient time to
do so.
C. Fail, because the police had probable cause to make the arrest.
D. Fail, because even without probable cause, the subsequent disco very of heroin would
have been sufficient justification for the arrest.
4 Mark carefully plots a course of action to embezzle $100,000.00 from his employer,
Sue.
He is fired before he ever gets a chance to put the plan in action. In cleaning out his desk,
Sue finds his plans. Mark is:
A. Guilty of a crime because he intended to carry it out.
B. Guilty of a crime because he had a Aguilty mind@.
C. Not guilty because he did not act on his plan.
D. Not guilty because he is no longer employed by Sue.
5. Which of the following is correct with respect to a grand jury?
A. The grand jury decides guilt or innocence of the defendant.
B. The grand jury always hears testimony from the defendant.
C. The grand jury can issue an indictment it if finds sufficient evidence to justify a trial
on the charges alleged.
D. None of the above.
6. Detective received information from informant, who had given reliable information
many
times in the past. Specifically, Informant said that, two days before, he had visited
Harry=s apartment with Bill and saw Harry sell Bill some heroin. Detective knew that
Informant, Harry, and Bill were friends. Thereafter, Detective put this information into
affidavit form, appeared before a magistrate, and secured a search warrant for Harry=s
apartment. The search turned up a supply of heroin. Harry=s motion to suppress
introduction of the heroin into evidence probably will be:
A. Granted, because a search warrant cannot validly be issued solely on the basis of an
informant=s information.
B. Granted, because the information supplied to Detective concerned an occurrence too
remote in time to justify a finding of probable cause.
C. Denied, because there was reasonable cause to believe a crime had been committed.
D. Denied, because there was probable cause to issue the warrant.
E. None of the above.
Questions 7 - 11 are based on the following fact situation.
The police received an anonymous telephone call that Paul was engaged in illegal
gambling operations consisting of betting on professional sporting events. The informant
did not say how he knew any of this information. Officers Laverne and Shirley went to
Paul=s place of business (Joe=s Restaurant, where Paul worked as a waiter) and were
given permission to speak to him. They advised Paul that they had full knowledge of his
involvement in illegal gambling operations, and that he would probably be sent to jail as
a consequence of these activities.
When Paul responded, AI=ve got nothing to say to you gals,@ he was told that he should
consider himself under arrest. Before Paul was advised of his Miranda rights, Officer
Shirley told Paul, AConfession is good for the soul,@ and asked Paul if he would like to
make a statement about his illegal activities. Paul hesitated, but then informed the officers
that he did Atake@ bets on sporting events. He then voluntarily led the officers back to
the garage adjacent to his home, where he showed them notebooks in which were written
names of bettors, the amounts of money they had wagered, and the corresponding events.
The police also searched Paul=s person, and found a pocket notebook which revealed
bets that had been placed with Paul that day. The police then advised Paul that they were
too busy to him to the station house for booking then, but that they were confiscating the
notebook as evidence. Paul did not protest this action. About two weeks later, Paul was
subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating illegal gambling. He appeared
with an attorney whom he had retained, but was advised that he was not entitled to have
counsel present. In a rage, Paul walked out. He has refused to return until his lawyer is
allowed to be with him, even though he has been warned that he could be cited for
contempt.
7. In the grand jury proceedings, Paul=s confession as to his involvement in illegal
gambling is:
I. Admissible, because a Miranda rights violation does not result in suppression.
II. Inadmissible, because it was given after Paul was improperly arrested.
III. Inadmissible, because it was obtained in violation of Paul=s Miranda rights.
A. I only.
B. II only.
C. III only.
D. II and III.
8. Can Paul be compelled to appear as a witness at the grand jury proceedings?
A. No, because the police initially lacked probable cause to arrest him.
B. No, because he was not given Miranda warnings.
C. Yes, despite the lack of Miranda warnings.
D. Yes, but only if the grand jury has reason to believe that Paul was involved in
gambling operations, without reference to Paul=s confession.
9. Which of the following statements is correct:
A. Paul had an absolute right to have counsel present at the grand jury proceedings.
B. There is no right to have counsel present at grand jury proceedings.
C. Paul had no right to have counsel present at the grand jury proceedings if evidence
obtained from his was inadmissible in a criminal case.
D. Paul had a right to have counsel present because he was arrested in connection with
the purpose of the grand jury proceedings
10. As a consequence of Paul=s refusal to answer any questions, which of the following
is
correct?
I. Paul could be convicted of perjury.
II. Paul could be convicted of contempt.
III. Paul cannot be convicted of any crime because the evidence obtained from his is
inadmissible in a criminal case.
A. I only
B. II only.
C. III only
D. None of the above.
11. In the subsequent trial of Paul for the crime of participating in an illegal gambling
operation, which of the following items of evidence obtained by the police officers would
be admissible?
A. Paul=s confession, but nothing else.
B. The regular size notebooks, but noting else.
C. The pocket notebook, but nothing else.
D. None of the evidence.
12. Alan, the president of Beta Investments, Inc., and Colin, Beta=s accountant, are
charged
with a crime, after the police search Beta=s offices. Under the exclusionary rule
A. Certain Beta records are excluded from subpoena by the government.
B. Certain parties to a criminal action may be excluded from a trial.
C. Illegally obtained evidence must be excluded from a trial.
D. Persons who have biases that would prevent them from fairly deciding the case may
be excluded from the jury.
Questions 13 - 14 are based on the following fact situation.
Willy was validly arrested on a charge of drunken driving. Over Willy=s objection, the
police took Willy=s car to a lot which was owned by the police department and
inventoried the contents of the car. Under the front passenger seat, the police found a
plastic bag containing heroin. On the rear seat, there was a suitcase which was sealed by a
zipper. The police unzipped the suitcase, opened it, and found two illegal machine guns.
In the locked trunk of the car (which the police broke into), the police discovered a dead
body.
13. The police impoundment of Willy=s car was:
A. Lawful, because Willy was lawfully arrested.
B. Lawful, because Willy impliedly consented to this action.
C. Lawful, if done pursuant to standardized police procledures.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.
14. Is the heroin admissible against Willy in a criminal prosecution for unlawful
possession
of that substance?
A. No, because the vehicle was not searched at the time Willy was arrested.
B. Yes, if the impoundment was lawful.
C. No, because the police did not have probable cause to search the interior of the
vehicle.
D. No, because while probable cause existed to search the car, no warrant was ever
obtained by the police.
15. Defendant was arrested and charged with distributing controlled substances. As part
of its case, the prosecution wanted to show that a huge quantity of illegal drugs had been
seized at a summer cabin owned by Defendant. However, at a suppression hearing which
preceded the trial, the evidence discovered at the cabin was excluded because no search
warrant had been obtained.
At trial, Defendant took the stand and testified that, while his brother was heavily
involved in the drug trade, he was completely innocent of the charges against him. When
Defendant was asked on cross-examination if he ever had drugs in his possession, on
advice of counsel, he claimed that he was privileged to refuse to answer since it might
Atend to incriminate him.@ Although the judge ordered Defendant to answer the
prosecution=s question, Defendant still refused. The prosecution was then permitted to
introduce into evidence the drugs which had been illegally seized at Defendant=s summer
home.
The prosecution=s use of the illegally seized evidence was:
A. Proper, because it was used to impeach Defendant.
B. Proper, because Defendant improperly refused to answer the prosecution=s question.
C. Improper, because the evidence had been suppressed at a pre-trial hearing.
D. Improper, because Defendant=s refusal to answer the prosecution=s question was on
the instructions of his attorney.
16. The authority of a particular court to adjudicate a controversy of a particular kind is
called:
A. Exclusive federal jurisdiction.
B. In rem jurisdiction.
C. Personal jurisdiction.
D. Subject jurisdiction.
E. None of the above.
17. The pleadings in a lawsuit include:
A. The complaint.
B. The answer.
C. Written interrogatories.
D. (A) and (B) above.
E. None of the above.
18. The legal principle that deals with the location where a lawsuit should be brought is:
A. Venue.
B. In personam jurisdiction.
C. Subject matter jurisdiction.
D. Stare decisis.ï€
19. When a trial is conducted with a jury, the judge determines issue of______________
and
the jury determines questions of_______________.
A. Evidence, Law
B. Law, Evidence
C. Law, Fact
D. Fact, Law
E. None of the above.
20. The term Aminimum contacts@ includes within its definition:
A. That a defendant=s contacts with the forum state must be such that maintenance of the
suit offends traditional notions of fair play and justice.
B. Doing business by selling goods or shipping them from a point within the forum state.
C. A corporation=s use of a portion of interstate highway that passes through the forum
state to transport its goods.
D. (A) and (B) only.
21. The procedural stage of a lawsuit after the pleadings but before trial is:
A. The peremptory challenge stage.
B. The pretrial stage, including discovery.
C. The special verdict stage.
D. The offer of proof stage.
22. Arthus wrote a defamatory letter regarding Bill, but which he mailed to Bill, but
which he
did not show to anyone else.
A. Arthur committed the tort of slander.
B. Arthur committed the tort of libel.
C. Arthur has committed neither libel nor slander, because there has been no publication
of the letter.
D. Arthur has committed the tort of false light.
E. None of the above.
23. Claudia=s baby daughter Carolyn is snatched from her arms at the grocery store. The
kidnapper threatens to drop the baby if the store does not hand over the contents of the
vault. Claudia may:
A. Trip the kidnapper, because she is limited to non-life threatening force.
B. Shoot the kidnapper, since she can protect the baby in the same way she can protect
herself.
C. Not seriously harm the kidnapper since she, personally, is not in danger.
D. Only call the police, since she cannot take the law into her own hands.
24. Damages that are awarded to make the victim of the breach of a contact Awhole@ in
the economic sense, are called:
A. Compensatory.
B. Consequential.
C. Punitive.
D. Specific.
Questions 25 - 28 are based on the following fact situation.
Badluck called FBI Agent Hoover and told him that he had (1) participated in a bank
robbery the previous day with Eddie Fingers, and (2) since seen in Eddie=s living room
closet both the gun that Eddie used in the bank robbery and the stolen money. The bills
were marked. Badluck described Eddie=s home as a one-story frame house located at
823 Howard Street. Badluck also told Hoover that he had heard a rumor that Fingers had
given his brother-in-law, Donald Doyle, some of the proceeds of the robbery to repay a
debt, and that Doyle had joked about the money feeling Akinda hot to the touch@.
Later the same day, Hoover saw Doyle standing outside a massage parlor downtown.
Hoover approached Doyle, identified himself, and told Doyle that he was a suspect, and
to raise his hands. Doyle complied. Hoover then Afrisked@ Doyle, feeling what Hoover
thought to be a wallet, and Doyle handed it over. After, Hoover found in the wallet a map
of the bank which had been robbed, he arrested Doyle. As he was leading Doyle to his
(Hoover=s) car, Hoover passed Doyle=s car and noticed that it matched the description
and bore the license plate of the robbery getaway car. Peering through a rear window,
Hoover saw pants and a shirt on the floor. These items matched the description of those
worn by one of the robbers. Hoover opened the closed (but unlocked) back door and
seized the clothes.
After depositing Doyle at the federal jail, Hoover obtained a search warrant for the living
room of Fingers= home. The Aprobable cause@ affidavit detailed the information given
to him earlier I the day by Badluck. A warrant was issued, but is mistakenly described
Fingers= address ads 823 Harold Street. Hoover went to Fingers= home at 823 Howard
Street without noticing the mistake in the warrant regarding the street name. He knocked
on the door. When Fingers asked who it was, Hoover replied, AFuller Brush.@ Fingers
opened the door. Hoover then stated that he was really an FBI agent with a search
warrant. Fingers told him to come in and was promptly arrested by Hoover. Following
Fingers= arrest, Hoover search the hall closet and found money on the floor, which had
been taken from the bank. He seized the money and then opened the living room closed,
where he found the gun described in the warrant. On the floor on his way out of the
house, Hoover saw an unopened envelope addressed to Fingers from Doyle. Hoover
opened the envelope and found a letter to Fingers from Doyle, thanking Fingers for the
bank robbery opportunity.
Fingers asked to be allowed to go to his bedroom, and put on shoes and socks. Hoover
agreed, and accompanied Fingers to the bedroom. While Fingers was seated on the side
of the bed lacing his shoes, Hoover noticed and seized a wig which protruded from
underneath the pillow. The wig matched the description of one worn by one of the
robbers.
25. Hoover=s arrest of Fingers was:
A. Proper, as incident to the execution of the search warrant.
B. Improper, because Hoover had sufficient time to obtain an arrest warrant and failed to
do so.
C. Proper, because Hoover had probable cause to arrest Fingers.
D. Proper, because Hoover did not need an arrest warrant.
26. The entry of Hoover into Fingers= home was:
A. Invalid, because he obtained entry by ruse.
B. Valid, because he error in the address would not make the warrant invalid.
C. Valid, because the presence of the gun in the house constituted exigent circumstances.
D. Invalid, because the street address was incorrect.
27. Assuming Fingers moved to suppress the contents of the envelope, Hoover=s seizure
and search of the envelope was:
A. Invalid, because only items described in a search warrant may be seized by police
B. Valid, because it was in Aplain view.@
C. Valid, as incident to Fingers= arrest.
D. Invalid, because Hoover had no probable cause to believe that the envelope contained
evidence of a crime.
28. The seizure of the wig was:
A. Invalid, because it resulted from a search incident to an invalid arrest.
B. Invalid, because it was outside the scope of the warrant.
C. Invalid, because the warrant was defective.
D. Valid, if the wig was within Finger=s control.
29. A grand jury was investigating a murder. The only information known to the
prosecutor was a rumor that Suspect might have been involved. The grand jury
subpoenaed Suspect. Without specifying why, Suspect refused to answer questions about
the murder. Suspect was found in contempt and has appealed this determination. The
finding of contempt will be:
A. Affirmed, because a subpoenaed grand jury witness must answer all questions
B. Affirmed, because Suspect did not specifically invoke the Fifth Amendment
C. Reversed, because grand jury witnesses are not legally obliged to answer questions
D. Reversed, if Suspect=s answer might have implicated him in a crime
E. None of the above.
30. Over the years, Mark and his neighbor Phil have come to despise each other. Most
recently, Phil has neglected to return a power saw borrowed from Mark. Mark has asked
Phil to return the item many times. But each time, Phil merely replies, ANo problem@
and then fails to return the saw. Mark has become so angry, he decides to kill Phil. He
makes a list called ASix ways to do away with Phil.@ One entry on the list is ABuy new
hammer to bash Phil=s skull in.@ Mark finally decides he=s had enough and buys the
hammer.
The next day, Mark sees Phil lounging in his backyard hot. Mark shoves the A6-Ways
List@ into his picket, grabs his new hammer, and creeps up behind Phil as the latter sits
in the hot tub. Yelling AYou lazy bum,@ Mark strikes Phil in the skull with the hammer
several times, killing hi . Betty Phil=s wife hears Mark=s yell and rushes out to find Phil
dead. She calls the police and tells them (1) that Phil and Mark hated each other, (2) that
she heard Mark=s yell and saw him near the body. The police then arrest Mark for
murder. When Mark is booked at the police station, his clothes are searched and the A6Ways List@ is found in his pocket.
If the A6-Ways List@ is introduced into evidence by the prosecution at trial, it is most
likely that:
A. It is admissible, if Mark was validly arrested.
B. It is admissible, if Mark had waived his Miranda Rights
C. It is inadmissible, because a valid search warrant had not be obtained.
D. It is inadmissible, if Mark=s prior consent to the search had not be obtained
31. Which burden of proof in a civil case is harder to prove?
A. Preponderance of the evidence.
B. Clear and convincing evidence.
C. Beyond a reasonable doubt.
D. Without a doubt.
E. None of the above.
32. The improper taking of another=s property by one in lawful possession of it, that
violates a trust is:
A. Robbery.
B. Theft.
C. Larceny.
D. Embezzlement
E. None of the above.
33. Self-defense will not protect a person from criminal prosecution of she:
A. Shoots a man who is about to stab her with a knife.
B. Hits a man who is pushing her off the bus while it is still moving.
C. Shoots a man who is holding a realistic-looking cap pistol at her head.
D. Shoots a man who has shoplifted a rare, expensive diamond necklace from her store.
E. None of the above.
34. The doctrine of stare decisis means that:
A. The common law has not been able to evolve in a stable and predictable manner
B. Decisions cannot be overruled.
C. Courts adhere to and rely on rules of law that they; of superior courts announced and
applied in prior similar decisions.
D. Courts are allowed to correct erroneous decisions or choose among conflicting
precedents.
35. Patricia Plaintiff, a resident of California, has a valid judgment against David
Defendant,
a resident of Nevada, which she now wishes to execute. David owns thousands of acres
of beachfront property in California. Patricia may execute her judgment in California
based on what type of jurisdiction?
A. Subject matter jurisdiction.
B. Concurrent federal jurisdiction.
C. Quasi in rem jurisdiction.
D. Diversity of citizenship jurisdiction.
E. None of the above.
36. Able and Baker are both residents of Iowa, but they have a dispute regarding some
land
located in Kansas. Able files a lawsuit regarding the land in Kansas, and Baker objects,
claiming the Kansas courts have no jurisdiction in the case.
A. Only the Iowa courts can hear the case.
B. The Iowa federal district court can hear the case based on diversity of citizenship
C. The Kansas courts have in rem jurisdiction to adjudicate the claim regarding the
property.
D. The Kansas federal district court can hear the case upon diversity of citizenship
37. Maria is driving at night in a very heavy rain. She is driving under the speed limit, but
accidently leaves the road and drives across Mike=s lawn leaving long deep tread marks.
A. Maria has committed a civil trespass and will be liable for compensatory damages
B. Maria has committed a civil trespass and will be liable for both compensatory
damages and punitive damages.
C. Maria has committed both a civil and criminal trespass and will be liable for
compensatory damages and may suffer criminal penalties.
D. The darkness and rain along with Maria=s lack of intent frees her from all liability.
E. None of the above.
38. Jimmy is annoyed because his neighbor=s dog is constantly barking. He intentionally
walks up to the dog in his neighbor=s year and viciously kicks it. Jimmy has committed:
A. Civil battery.
B. Civil assault.
C. Both civil battery and civil assault.
D. None of the above.
39. Having obtained an arrest warrant for Ben for securities fraud, Officer Don arrested
the
suspect at his place of work. At the time of the arrest, Ben is seated at his desk. Don asks
him to stand, whereupon the officer searches Ben=s person, finding a small packet of
cocaine inside his wallet. Opening the bottom drawer of Ben=s desk. Don finds a packet
of marijuana. Believing there might be more drugs in the office, Don opens a filing
cabinet on the other side of the room, inside of which he finds a crack cocaine. If Ben
challenges the searches by Don, which of the following is his best argument?
A. All three searches are unconstitutional, because Ben was not likely to be armed or to
be in possession of evidence that could be readily destroyed.
B. Only the search of the wallet is unconstitutional, because Don had no authority to open
it.
C. Only the search of the desk drawer is unconstitutional, because it was closed.
D. Only the search of the filing cabinet is unconstitutional, because it was outside Ben=s
reach.
E. None of the above.
40. Officer Jameel had probable cause to believe that Chester was storing stolen laptop
computers in a number of garbage cans placed in his backyard. When he entered
Chester=s backyard to execute the warrant, Jameel found six covered garbage cans lined
up next to each other. There were no barriers separating any of the cans. Inside a plastic
bag in one of the cans, Jameel found four pipes with what he recognized to be marijuana
residue on them. Because the property line between Chester=s property and that of his
neighbor, Reggie, was unmarked, Jameel did not realize that the can with the pipes
belonged to Reggie. If that can is found to be within the common curtilage of both
homes, will Reggie succeed in a motion to suppress the pipes?
A. No, because Jameel reasonably believed the garbage can was on Chester=s property.
B. No, because there is no protected privacy interest in garbage.
C. No, because Reggie failed to lock the garbage cans.
D. Yes.