Spring 2013
    Law No.: LAW9184
    Sched. No.: 113219295

Federal Judicial Process*
Section 1
X
Cope, Kevin



Administrative Information:
During SIS enrollment, check on SIS for real-time enrollment numbers
Days, Times (Room):T, 1600-1800 (SL278)
Credits:3Type:Seminar
Capacity:17 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**
Current Enrollment:14 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**
Syllabus: View Syllabus (requires LawWeb account)



Course Description:

This seminar focuses on practical aspects of adjudication in the federal appellate and district courts, with emphasis on how judges think, the mechanics of judging, and the role of law clerks. The course examines the evolution of a court opinion, including judges’ and clerks’ processes for developing bench memos and dispositions. It explores internal court and chambers politics, including the strategies that appellate judges use to win panel consensus and those that clerks use to secure judges’ approval of their recommendations. The course also touches on relevant doctrinal issues relevant to judges and law clerks, such as theories of constitutional/statutory/regulatory interpretation and the role of stare decisis.

As much of the material is designed to familiarize students with the inner workings of judges’ chambers, the course is ideal for students considering a post-graduate judicial clerkship or in-school summer internship. The course is also pertinent to any student interested in federal litigation or the federal courts. One or more federal judges will likely appear as guest speakers.

COURSE REQUIREMENT: A substantial research paper

This course is on the approved upper-level writing requirement course list.