Final answer:
Factors affecting the civil justice system's ability to achieve justice include legal process efficiency, judicial independence and competence, and the ability to surpass systemic barriers. The justice gap and political culture, along with the lasting influence of judges with lifetime tenure, significantly impact civil rights outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that affect the ability of the civil justice system to achieve the principle of justice include the efficiency of legal processes, the impartiality and competence of judicial representatives, and the ability to overcome systematic barriers such as socioeconomic or minority status. A prominent concern highlighted is the existence of a justice gap, which is a result of individuals not being able to obtain justice despite having the appropriate institutions in place, as exemplified in countries like India. This gap may be influenced by political culture, the varied political interests and ideologies that affect how government institutions, particularly court systems, operate.
In addition, the lifetime tenure of judges can have a lasting impact on civil rights law, emphasizing the need for ethical and independent judiciary. The location and political environment can create biases in the judicial process, and the mechanism by which judges are selected can influence their decisions. Finally, how the legislative and executive branches interact with the judiciary can also affect civil rights outcomes, as these branches can check or reinforce one another's actions.