SMNR: Federal Criminal Prosecution, Advanced

Semester: Fall 2014
Course ID: 397S
Credit Hours: 3
Unique: 29965

Course Information

Course Type: Seminar
Grading Method: Pass/Fail Allowed (JD only)

Registration Information

Upperclass-only elective

Meeting Times

Day	Time	Location
TUE	3:45 - 5:35 pm	TNH 3.126

Evaluation Method

Type	Date	Time	Location
Paper

Description

Advanced Federal Criminal Prosecution Seminar (3 credits) Professors Anthony Brown & Susan Klein This three-unit seminar will address the duties of federal criminal prosecutors as they take a case from investigation through habeas. We will detail the initial decision to investigate the matter, how to best utilize a grand jury to obtain documentary evidence, what factors go into making your charging decision, how to draft the indictment, how and whether to charge a corporation as well as an individual defendant, what defense arguments you should anticipate, how to calculate a sentence under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, and what appeal and habeas filings you might expect. The seminar is co-taught by Prof. Susan Klein and Prof. Anthony Brown, who is Chief Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas (Austin Division). The seminar is highly recommended though not required for the four students participating in the U.S.A.O. internship, but any interested students may join us (space permitting). This is a writing seminar, but rather than writing one long law review style piece, each student will draft an indictment, write a proffer and immunity letter, draft a plea and cooperation agreement, argue a pre-trial detention motion, calculate a federal sentence, and argue at a sentencing hearing. Your final grade is based 60% on the writing assignments and 40% on class participation. The only prerequisite to this seminar is first-year criminal law. Many students find it helpful to have taken criminal procedure and federal criminal law as well, though we have had A+ students every year who have not taken those courses. The seminar is limited to between 12 and 16 students, and is not graded on the curve.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

Fed. Crim. Law and Its Enformement *

Abrams, Beale & Klein

West , edition: 5th
ISBN: 978-0-314-20045-7

2012 Supplement to Fed. Crim. Law and Its Enforcement *

Abrams, Beale & Klein

west , edition: 5th

Instructors

Klein, Susan R.

Brown, Anthony W