1. A Hidden Path to Success? The Impact of Prosecutors Background on Success in Appeals Cases
- Author
-
McGinnis, Bailey Frittz
- Subjects
- Sociology, Law, Demographics, Education, Gender, Prosecutors, Experience, Law School, Employment, Attorney Success
- Abstract
Most people believe a trial is simply a matter of the laws and facts of a case. The general idea is that both sides enter into the courtroom and are given a chance to present their facts to a judge and jury. These facts are then analyzed in relation to federal and state laws that relate to the case. However, there is a lot more to trials than meets the eye. Underneath the laws and regulations, legal jargon, and terminology, as well as the presentation of witnesses and evidence is an even more complicated mind game being played by everyone involved with the trial. While research is being performed to uncover and understand the plethora of factors that influence court proceedings, my research will focus specifically on prosecuting attorneys and whether certain types of background information affect their success in Court of Appeals Cases. This study collects information on the gender, years of legal experience, past job experience, law school tier, and the appointment or election of Ohio’s 88 county prosecutors; then compares this data to the success rate of county prosecutors in Appeals cases utilizing ANOVA tests. Although the results revealed that none of the variables significantly influence a prosecutor’s success, the lack of a significant impact itself is an important finding.
- Published
- 2025