Law and Courts

Catalog description

An introductory examination of the structure of the judicial branch of government; what we mean when we talk about the "law"; how our understanding of what is law has developed and changed throughout our history; how our state and federal courts are administered and structured; the nature of legal education; the work of the Supreme Court, judges, and lawyers; how the criminal justice system chooses juries, tries defendants, negotiates justice through plea bargaining, and depends on its judiciary; and the role of the legal system in resolving private disputes. Thematic Thread(s): Citizenship & Social Problems, Institutions & Human Innovations, Transfer Thread Completion Course