Weinberg, SUPREME COURT SEMINAR FALL 2019 (Two hours)
Weinberg, SUPREME COURT SEMINAR (A), FALL 2019 (Two hours) This is the traditional two-hour non-writing Supreme Court Seminar famously originated here by the late Charles Alan Wright. (It is the same course as Supreme Court B -- same teacher, same hour, same comfortable windowed seminar room, same syllabus -- but meeting on Mondays instead of Tuesdays.) Students participate as Justices of the United States Supreme Court, although no actual role playing is involved. In the week before each “judicial conference,” students do their own “clerking,” preparing for discussion of an actual case currently on certiorari before the Supreme Court. At the "judicial conferences," the “Justices” present their individual views of how the case before them should be decided, supporting their positions with arguments based on their researches. They thrash out the issues freely, trying to achieve a majority for decision of the case. The seminar offers an introduction to interesting areas of federal law, exposure to some of the Court's more important current cases, and acquaintance with actual professional materials of national importance, while providing experience in analysis of legal issues through focused lawyerly argument, and training in confident and effective legal argument. Because the seminar presumes completion of the first year of law school, it is open to upperclass students only, and only those who have completed a basic course in Constitutional Law, in Torts, and in Criminal Law. Enrollment is limited by the seating capacity of our seminar room, but the course is otherwise open to all upperclass first comers. There is no pass/fail option. Students eager to participate who find the course closed are advised to try registering for the Tuesday class instead. If that, too, is closed, it can help to get on the Registrar's wait list. In fairness to others seeking entry, please do not double-register or double-wait list. This course MAY be taken repeatedly, because the cases are different each time it is offered, depending as they do on the Supreme Court's docket. Evaluation is by participation, demonstrated depth of research and preparation, and memoranda. Two hours.
Weinberg, Louise L.