POLI 245 - Courts, Judges and American Judicial Politics

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This course examines the central issues in Judicial Politics and the principal questions asked within the subfield. Among other topics, students consider the role of the courts in the American political system, the structure of the federal and state judiciaries, the judicial selection process, the nature of decision-making, inter-branch relations and conflict within the judicial hierarchy, public opinion on the institution, and the social impact of courts. In the course, special emphasis is placed on exploring how and why U.S. courts are political institutions and American judges are political actors.

Topic for 2021/22b: This course surveys the system of courts in the United States, with particular attention being paid to contemporary issues related to the judicial branch of government. The issues we cover include: courts as political institutions; organization of the federal and state courts; the function of the judiciary; the roles and impact of the actors working within the judicial system; analysis of criminal, civil, and appellate courts; and, the implications of the judiciary on public policy in the United States. The central focus of this class is on the importance of the judicial process within the overall political system in the United States. Thus, this course should provide students with an appreciation that courts inherently are political institutions, as are the actors (such as judges and lawyers) working within the judicial system. Matthew Reid Krell.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS