Civil Rights Litigation

Semester: Spring 2015
Course ID: 348C
Credit Hours: 3
Unique: 28350

Course Information

Grading Method: Pass/Fail Not Allowed

Registration Information

Upperclass-only elective

Meeting Times

Day	Time	Location
MON, WED	2:15 - 3:30 pm	JON 6.206

Evaluation Method

Type	Date	Time	Location
Final exam	May 6, 2015	8:30 am	A-Z in 2.138

Description

The bulk of the course is devoted to the historical and contemporary development of the law permitting enforcement of federal constitutional and statutory rights against state actors under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983. Topics include the cause of action under Section 1983, the scope of rights that are enforceable, qualified and absolute immunity for individual government actors, sovereign immunity, governmental liability, defenses including statutes of limitation, preclusion, and abstention, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys fees. Liability against the federal government and federal officers through Bivens claims will also be discussed. Generally, the course explores "advanced topics" in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, and Federal Courts. The course is particularly useful for students with an interest in constitutional litigation, students who contemplate working as government lawyers (and potentially defending such suits), and students who plan to intern or clerk in the federal courts (where dockets include significant numbers of federal civil rights suits). Students will be evaluated based on class participation, two short writing assignments, and an in-class final exam.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

Civil Rights Actions: Enforcing the Constitution *

Jeffries, Karlan, Low & Rutherglen

Foundation Press , edition: 3d
ISBN: 9781609302757

Instructors

Laurin, Jennifer E.