Syllabus for PSCI 2481:
A Day-by-Day Course Outline.
Class Days
| M | Tu | W | Th | F | |
| Week 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Week 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Week 3 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Many files accessible from class web pages are PDF files. To read them you may need to download a copy of Adobe Acrobat READER. This free program works on both Apple and Wintel machines and is available on-line from Adobe. To download, go to the Adobe web site: Abode Acrobat READER
WEEK 1
Day 1 - American Legal History
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapter 1
Supplemental Materials:
Day 2 - Structure of the Legal System (Courts, Legislatures, Agencies) POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapters 2, 3 & 4
Supplemental Materials
Day 3 - Lawyers POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapter 8
Supplemental Materials:
Q: Are lawyers criticized unfairly?
Andrew Cohen: “Taking the Fall” (Rocky Mountain News, November 30, 2002)
Criticism Unending: Overlawyered.Com
Steven Moore: “Trial Lawyers on Trial” (Cato Institute, May 10, 2003)
Douglas Bandow: “Buying Plaintiffs Justice” (Cato Institute, May 10, 2003)
Kenneth Howie: “Lawyers Under Fire” (International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1991)
Aaron Podhurst: “The Status of the Lawyer and the Justice System” (International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1987)
Q: What are the expectations for lawyer behavior?
Model Rules of Professional Conduct (ABA, 2003 edition)
Day 4 - Judges POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapter 5-7
Q: What are the expectations for judicial behavior?
Model Code of JUdicial Conduct (ABA, 2004 edition)
Canons of Judicial Ethics (1924)
Day 5 - Lower Court Process POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapter 11
Frank (1950) "The Fight Theory vs the Truth Theory" from Courts on Trial. Princeton University Press.
Supplemental Materials:
Tort Refom 2005: Class Action Fairness Act
Also see Nolo.com for additional information about lower court process.
Planning a Term Paper - Due Next Friday!
WEEK 2
Lower Court Processes - Criminal Variations POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapter 9-10
****************************************
************ MIDTERM EXAM ************
**************** May 21st ****************
****************************************
Day 7 - Appellate Court Procedure POWERPOINT and Judicial Decision Making POWERPOINT
Carp, Stidham & Manning, Chapters 12-13
Llewellyn (1930) The Bramble Bush New York: Oceana, pp. 70-76 (excerpts).
Pronouncing "Certiorari" aka Tomayto/Tomahto
Martin Luther King: Letter from the Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963)
Day 8 - Legal Reasoning POWERPOINT
Cases:
State v. Pendergrass (19 NC 365, 1837)
Joyner v. Joyner (59 NC 322, 1862)
State v. Black (60 NC 266, 1864)
State v. Rhodes (61 NC 453, 1868)
State v. Mabrey (64 NC 592, 1870)
State v. Oliver (70 NC 60, 1874)
Impact of the Courts on the Political/Legal System POWERPOINT
Carp & Stidham, Chapter 12 & 13
Cases:
Marbury v. Madison 5 U.S. 137 (1803)
Brown v. Board of Education (347 US 483)
Gideon v. Wainwright (372 US 335)
White v. Texas (310 US 530)
The Public and the Legal System (Litigants/Witnesses/Juries)
The Jury System
Q: How should juries be selected?
Kevin Sack: “Research Guided Jury Selection in Church Bombing Trial” (New York Times, May 3, 2001)
Q: Should juries be active or passive?
Karen Abbott: “State's High Court Looks at Idea of Permitting Jurors to Quiz Witnesses” (Rocky Mountain News, February 13, 2003)
Paul Grant: “Point: Questioning in Question” (Rocky Mountain News, March 15, 2003)
Carrie Lynn Thompson: Counterpoint: Questioning in Question” (Rocky Mountain News, March 15, 2003)
Mark Curriden: “Power of 12” (ABA Journal, August 2001)
Q: Should jury deliberations be televised?
Adam Liptak: “Inviting TV Into Jury Room in a Capital Case” (New York Times, November 26, 2002)
Editorial: “The 13th Juror” (New York Times, November 27, 2002)
Joanne Ostrow: “Jury of Our Peering-In May Be Next” (Denver Post, December 01, 2002)
Q: How do we protect jurors?
Adam Liptak: “Nameless Juries Are on the Rise in Crime” (New York Times, November 18, 2002)
Alternative Dispute Mechanisms (Arbitration, Mediation, Community)
Also see Nolo.com for additional information about dispute resolution processes, esp., mediation
********************************** Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
Crime and Criminal Law POWERPOINT
Carp & Stidham, Chapter 6 (again)
Supplemental Readings:
Q: Is the cost of justice too high?
Maria Bondes: “Hill facing felony” (Colorado Daily, April 25, 2003)
Q: What should we do about government/prosecutorial discretion? When does discretion become misbehavior?
John Gibeaut: “Capital Punishment - Deadly Choices” (ABA Journal, May 2001)
John Solomon: “McVeigh Witness Might Have Testified Falsely” (Boulder Daily Camera May 1, 2003)
Q: How useful is DNA evidence? Is it “foolproof”?
Tracey A. Reeves: “DNA Frees Suspect in Md. Slaying” (Washington Post, June 23, 2000)
Alex Dominguez: “ABCs 20-20 DNA Tests Frees Man” (Rocky Mountain News, January 16, 2002)
Adam Liptak: “You Think DNA Evidence Is Foolproof? Try Again” (New York Times, March 16, 2003)
Jim Yardley: “Inquiry Focuses on Scientist Used by Prosecutors” (New York Times, May 2, 2001)
********** PAPERS DUE ************
******** Friday, May 25th **********
**********************************
WEEK 3
Day 11 - Policing America POWERPOINT
Policing - Discretionary Authority I POWERPOINT
Crime File: "Search & Seizure"
Reich (1966) "Police Questioning of Ordinary Citizens" Yale Law Journal 75: 1161-1172
Wilson & Kelling (1982) "Broken Windows" Atlantic Monthly (March) 29-38.
Policing - External Controls/Judicial Intervention I
The US Supreme Court & Search & Seizure Law POWERPOINT
Brown v. Texas (1979)
Supplemental Readings:
Q: How do we balance anti-terrorism efforts with opposition to (racial) profiling?
Editorial: “The New Airport Profiling” (New York Times, March 11, 2003)
Julia Martinez: “Ex-Cop Arnold Blasts Profiling Bill” (Denver Post, March 30, 2001)
Chris Barge: “No Racial Profiling Found” (Boulder Daily Camera, April 14, 2001)
Reggie Rivers: "Profiling the Profilers" (Denver Post, August 29, 2003)
Denver PD: First Annual Report on Contacts (October 2002)
Policing - Discretionary Authority II
The Use of (Deadly) Force POWERPOINT and Racial Profiling POWERPOINT
Crime File: "Deadly Force"
Q: Is police use of deadly force the appropriate use of force?
FBI/Uniform Crime Reports: Police Officers Killed and Assaulted
Police Views of Abuse of Authority
Adams, et al. (1999) The Police Use of Deadly Force Washington DC: National Institute of Justice
Chapter 4 "Measuring the Amount of Force Used by and Against Police..."
Chapter 5 "The Force Factor: Measuring and Assessing Police Use of Force..."
Eric J. Ross: “Death By Cop” (Boulder Weekly)
Fox Butterfield: “When the Police Shoot, Who's Counting?” (New York Times, April 29, 2001)
David Migoya: “Lawbreaking Cops Still On Job” (Denver Post, December 30, 2001)
Policing - External Controls/Judicial Intervention II
Use of Force
Tennessee v. Garner (1985)
Katz v. US (2000)
Policing - Internal Controls/Supervision, Training, IAD
Houston PD Training Bulletin: Use of Firearms
Houston PD Training Bulletin: Fresh Pursuit
Ft. Lauderdale PD Policy: Treatment of the Homeless
Punishment/Death Penalty POWERPOINT
The Queen v. Dudley & Stephens
Crime File: "Death Penalty"
“Text of Gov. George Ryan's Speech (commuting the Illinois death penalty)” (Rocky Mountain News. January 11, 2003)
Brian Crecente: “Owens Blasts Death Row Move On TV” (Rocky Mountain News, January 14, 2003)
"Massachusetts Governor Urges Death Penalty" New York Times (April 29, 2005)
Supplemental Materials:
Executions 1977 - 2000 (Nov 17)
Robert Blecker: “Among Killers, Searching For the Worst of the Worst” (Washington Post, December 3, 2000)
Robert Blecker: “When Do Killers Deserve to Die?” (Washington Post, December 10, 2000)
Q: Do we want a public death penalty?
Sara Rimer: “Sounds of the Georgia Death Chamber Will Be Heard on Public Radio” (New York Times, May 2, 2001)
Ray Suarez (Host) The Execution Tapes
Q: Should governors grant clemency? (Additional Comments)
Jodi Wilgoren: “Leaving Death Row Is Blessing and Curse” New York Times, January 17, 2003)
Scott Turow: “Clemency Without Clarity” (New York Times, January 17, 2003)
David Firestone: “Absolutely, Positively for Capital Punishment” (New York Times, January 19, 2003)
Paul Campos: “Ryan Went Too Far” (Rocky Mountain News, January 21, 2003)
The Public Debate:
Amnesty International - Letter to President Clinton
Amnesty International - TX to execute mentally disabled
American Bar Association - The Death Penalty: A Scholarly Forum
ABA Journal - Capital Punishment: Deadly Choices
Freeman - Does America Need a Death Penalty?
Sharp - Pro Death Penalty arguments
Bedau - Anti Death Penalty arguments
Willings - Federal Death Penalty Policies Examined
Martha W. Barnett: “President’s Message: Call to Action on Executions” (ABA Journal October 2000)
Bob Grant: “Capital Punishment A Valid Option” (Denver Post, March 18, 2001)
David Lane: “Stop Murder Sanctioned By The State” (Denver Post, March 18, 2001)
Bob Herbert: “Pull the Plug” (New York Times, April 24, 2003)
Day 14 - Rehabilitation/Decriminalization
Crime File: "Inside Prisons"
Supplemental Materials: