Capital Punishment

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
THU 3:45 - 6:15 pm TNH 3.142

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Final exam December 15, 2014 8:30 am A-Z in 2.137

Description

This course will examine some general jurisprudential and moral issues related to the American system of capital punishment. The course will focus primarily on the development of the law governing capital punishment in the United States since 1970. Some of the main themes include: the legal structure of the Supreme Court's post-1970 death penalty jurisprudence, the scope of available appellate and post-conviction review in capital cases (particularly federal habeas review), the ubiquitous problems surrounding the representation afforded indigent capital defendants, proportionality limits on the imposition of the death penalty for various offenders (e.g., juveniles and persons with mental retardation), the role of racial discrimination in the administration of the death penalty, and the likely trajectory of the American death penalty. The course will be graded on a letter-grade basis for all students. The grade will be based on a final exam as well as "reaction papers" that students must submit during the course of the semester.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

DEATH PENALTY STORIES *
Blume & Steiker
Foundation Press , edition: Latest Edition
Sales Office Materials *

Instructors

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