Advanced Federal Courts. 3 credits

Catalog description

This class explores the federal judiciary’s place within our system of separated powers. It starts with the Constitution, Federalist 78, Marbury v. Madison, and Lincoln’s First Inaugural. At times we will look at specific legal doctrines, including stare decisis, standing, qualified immunity, nationwide injunctions, political questions, and severability. At other times, we’ll look at more general legal topics like departmentalism, court packing, and the Supreme Court’s emergency docket. The common theme will be the limits of federal courts: What should federal judges have the power to do, what should they not be allowed to do, and why? The course assumes no previous knowledge of the topics, and the standard Federal Courts course is not a prerequisite.Offered by Law. May not be repeated for credit.