This seminar-like course revives the traditional non-writing two-credit Supreme Court Seminar originated at this Law School by the late Charles Alan Wright. At our "Judicial Conferences," participants as "Justices" debate actual undecided cases currently before the Supreme Court on certiorari. Each Justice’s effort is to obtain a majority, by persuasive argument, to decide the issues as he or she sees them, and to agree on a preferred disposition. The Seminar offers exposure to live professional materials of national importance, training in lawyerly debate, discipline in profession-level research under deadline, an introduction to areas of federal substantive law, and the interest of comparing our decisions with the Court’s as its actual decisions are handed down. Performance evaluation. In the tradition created by Wright, there is no exam and no paper in this two-credit seminar-like course. Evaluation of participants is serious, however, and is based on consistent performance at the judicial conferences, exhibiting depth of research, persuasiveness of argument, force of articulation, and leadership in debate. Options, prerequisites and limits. This course may be taken repeatedly because the cases are new and different every semester. It may not be taken in satisfaction of the 3-credit writing seminar requirement for graduation. Open to upperclass students only. There is no pass/fail option. There is no no-grade option. Within enrollment limits, the Supreme Court seminar is open to all upperclass first comers. Two hours.
Weinberg, Louise L. 