Weekly Syllabus

Week of Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24

This week we will enter the final stretch of the term.  Our cases will begin to touch on some politically sensitive topics relating to the question of the constitutional basis for a right to privacy.  Expect to read several more cases and plan to fill out brief forms for each of them.

Monday, October 20, 2014 (45 min)

Topic:  Debrief the second simulation.  Update on the upcoming weeks. Intro to the next topic.

Homework: Read Griswold v. Connecticut. You should do your best to try to get through ALL of the case materials.  The only really long one is the dissent by Justice Black which (spoiler alert!) has to do with his dislike of substantive due process.

Syllabus | Majority Opinion by Justice Douglas | Concurrence by Justice Harlan | Concurrence by Justice Goldberg | Concurrence by Justice White | Dissent by Justice Stewart | Dissent by Justice Black

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 (50 min)

Topic: Discussion of the case. By the time the class is over you should be able to fill out a case brief form.  You won't need to submit it, but you should hang on to it for future reference.

Homework: Read Loving v. Virginia and fill out a case brief to turn in for tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 (45 min)

Topic: Discussion of the case.

Homework: Read the syllabus and majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014 (50 min)

Topic: Video presentation and background on the status of abortions in America prior to the 1970s.

Homework:Read the concurrence and dissent in Roe v. Wade.  Come to class tomorrow having filled out a brief form to hand in for this case.

Friday, October 24, 2014 (40 min)

Topic: Discussion of Roe.

Homework: TBA.