Supreme Court Theory and Practice

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the US Supreme Court as an institution, with a focus on research on the Court (both legal and social scientific), and popular writings on the Court. Readings during the first half of the course will explore presidential nominations to the Court; the Justices? deliberative processes; the relationship between the Court and the elected branches of government, and among Justices; the role of the Solicitor General; amici; law clerks; and the phenomenon of ideological drift. The second half of the course will feature an in-depth study of cases pending before the Court, including the opportunity to analyze, argue, and draft opinions in pending cases. Evaluation will be based on class participation, a series of short writing assignments, and performance during the simulation section of the course. There will be no final exam.