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The University of Texas at Austin School of Law

Capital Punishment

  • Semester: Spring 2009
  • Course ID: 278R
  • Credit Hours: 2
  • Unique: 28270

Course Information

Registration Information

  • 1L and upperclass elective

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
THU 3:30 - 5:20 pm TNH 3.142

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Final exam May 14, 2009 8:30 am A-Z in 2.138

Description

This small course will examine a variety of legal, moral, and cultural issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The legal issues will include the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970 (including the basic structure of Eighth Amendment capital sentencing doctrine, the process of appellate and post-conviction review, the assistance of counsel in capital cases, and the persistent influence of racial discrimination). We will also consider some of the conventional justifications for criminal punishment in the Western political/philosophical tradition (e.g., retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation) and how they relate to the death penalty as it has been employed in America. Readings will include, in addition to appellate court decisions, primary source materials (documents from actual capital cases) and articles from the popular media. The course will have a maximum of 25 students, 10-12 of whom will participate in the Capital Punishment Clinic. The course will be graded on the standard letter-grade scale for all students. The course grade will be based on an in-class, closed-book written final examination, with some room for minor modification based on class participation.

Instructors

Headshot of Owen, Robert C. Owen, Robert C.
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