MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

A Walker Hearing is defined as which of the following?

1. Court Hearing to decide the prisoner's bond and trial date

2. Court hearing to decide if a confession is admissible based on totality of circumstances

3. Court hearing to prove or disprove the prisoner's innocence

4. Court hearing to determine sentencing guidelines

The correct answer is: Court hearing to decide if a confession is admissible based on totality of circumstances

A Walker Hearing is specifically related to the admissibility of confessions in criminal cases. It is focused on whether a confession was made voluntarily and can be admitted into evidence, based on an analysis of the totality of circumstances surrounding that confession. This includes considering factors such as the conditions under which the confession was obtained and the mental and physical state of the individual at the time. In the context of the other options, the first option pertains to bond and trial date determinations, which are typically handled in pre-trial proceedings rather than specifically assessing confessions. The option related to proving or disproving innocence is more aligned with the trial phase itself, where evidence is presented. Lastly, the option concerning sentencing guidelines is related to the post-conviction phase where the severity of penalties is discussed, quite separate from the issues of confession admissibility. Thus, the definition of a Walker Hearing as the one determining the admissibility of confessions fits perfectly with the context and legal interpretation surrounding such hearings.