Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors Randy Barnett, Susan Bloch, Peter Edelman, Abe Krash, Gary Peller, and Girardeau Spann

J.D. Course 215 (cross-listed) | 4 credit hours

This course focuses primarily on the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments (free speech, due process, and equal protection) and the role of the Supreme Court as ultimate interpreter and guardian of the Bill of Rights.

Professor Cook's course explores the relationship between contemporary progressive politics and constitutional rights. Students will explore key 20th and 21st century social movements focused on reproductive rights, sexuality and sexual orientation, affirmative action, immigrant rights, criminal justice, protest and free speech rights and religious exercise rights. Students will join small collaborative groups focused on a social cause of interest. Across the semester, groups will design and ultimately pitch innovative approaches to their social cause, focusing on some aspect of mission, organization, target audience, strategies & tactics. Students will demonstrate how their approach to the social cause differs from the approaches of competitor organizations and enhances advocacy of the group’s cause.

In addition to studying current doctrines, Professor Barnett's course will also study the evolution of the doctrines from the founding to the present, and will include coverage of the Second and Ninth Amendments. [Note: In Professor Barnett's course, classroom use of laptops or handhelds is not allowed; and all enrolled and waitlisted students must attend the first class to be enrolled.]