CRJU (POLS) 4424 Judicial Process Fall 2013 Course Syllabus CRN 89963 or 89964 3 semester credit hours Prerequisite: POLS 1101 This is an entirely online course. It uses Desire2Learn (accessed by SWAN login page) for reading material (aside from the textbook), reading questions, and lesson slideshows, and for the quiz and exams. It uses WebEx (claytonstate.webex.com - login also with your CSU username and password) for the weekly online chats. Instructor Information Professor Sean Mattie, Ph.D. Email: seanmattie@clayton.edu (NOTE: Use only this address to email Dr. Mattie.) Emails will be answered within 48 hours. Course Overview This course is an examination of the definition and application of law in the he structure, function, and operation of courts in the United States, looking at how they do justice by applying law and deciding disputes. The course also seeks to situate the judiciary and judicial process within the broader context of American politics including public opinion, the actions of the legislative and executive branches, and the making of public policy. Textbook and Readings G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, 5 th ed. (Thomson- Wadsworth, 2010) Supplemental documents, lesson slideshows, and reading question sets (located on Desire2Learn see note below in Schedule of Topics and Assignments) Learning Outcomes The course intends for students to identify and describe: the basic categories of law applied by courts in the United States; the structures and participants in the court system; the steps in courts process; the ways that courts make policy in the U.S. Graded Assignments Three examinations, on Desire2Learn. See Schedule of Topics and Assignments (below). [each 100 possible points] Online Chats: Attendance and participation (comments, questions, and reflections on reading and course topics) in the sixteen chat sessions. See Schedule and Topics and Assignments. [each 5 points; 80 possible points total] Quiz on syllabus. See Schedule and Topics and Assignments. [10 points] Course Grade (as Total Points Earned) 390-351 = A; 350-311 = B; 310-271 = C; 270-231 = D; 230 or less: F Mid-Term Progress Report The DUCK with display a student s mid-term grade (based on graded assignments to date) by October 1, prior the October 4 deadline for withdrawing with a W grade. CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 1
SCHEDULE OF S and ASSIGNMENTS NOTE 1: Reading and Other Material beyond Textbook To focus your study of the assigned reading in its ideas and organization, I have posted the following categories of items in modules in the Content section of Desire2Learn. Each item is listed on the schedule below and marked with an asterisk *. Supplemental Documents: news articles and other documents about topics from each chapter Lesson Slideshows, one on each chapter in the textbook. Reading Questions, one set on each week s reading. For the essay portion of Exam 1, questions (one-to-two) will be drawn from the reading question sets listed for Weeks One to Week Five. For the essay portion of Exam 2, questions (one-to-two) will be drawn from the reading question sets listed for Weeks Seven to Week Twelve. For the essay portion of Exam 3, questions (one-to-two) will be drawn rom the reading question sets listed for Weeks Fourteen to Week Sixteen. NOTE 2: Quiz on the Syllabus To affirm that you are actively enrolled in the course and to avoid being reported as a no-show you must complete this quiz (listed on Desire2Learn) by August 20, 5:00 p.m. WEEK ONE (August 12-18) : Courts and Law Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 1 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 1* Reading Question Set 1* Thursday, August 15, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com (login with your CSU username and password) WEEK TWO (August 19-25) Courts and Law Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 1 Sharia Law Explained: Interview with Lord Phillips (2008)* A Tale of Two Criminal Procedures (2011)* Reading Question Set 2* Thursday, August 22, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com Quiz on Syllabus: Due by August 20, 7:00 p.m. on Desire2Learn CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 2
WEEK THREE (August 26 - Sept. 1) The Federal and State Court Systems Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 2 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 2* Comparing Federal and State Courts * (webpage linked to in D2L and here)* Convenience Store Liable for Fatal Drunk-Driving Wreck (2011)* Reading Question Set 3* Thursday, August 29, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK FOUR (Sept. 2-8) Judges Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 3 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 3* Oaths of Office of Georgia and U.S. Judges and Justices* In Iowa, Voters Oust Judges Over Marriage Issue (2010)* Reading Question Set 4* Thursday, September 5, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK FIVE (Sept. 9-15) Lawyers Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 4 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 4* Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia (excerpt)* Reading Question Set 5* Thursday, September 12, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK SIX (Sept. 16-22) Review for Exam 1: Material from Week One - Week Five Thursday, September 19, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com EXAM 1 (multiple choice objective questions and essays): Saturday, September 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Desire2Learn CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 3
WEEK SEVEN (Sept. 23-29) Trials and Appeals Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 5 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 5* Reading Question Set 6* Thursday, September 26, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK EIGHT (Sept. 30 - Oct. 6) Trials and Appeals Adversarial and Inquisitorial Adjudication Compared * Reading Question Set 7* Thursday, October 3, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK NINE (Oct. 7-13) Criminal Justice and the Courts Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 6 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 6* Reading Question Set 7* Thursday, October 10, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK TEN (Oct. 14-20) Criminal Justice and the Courts Transcript of Defendant s Entry of Guilty Plea after Plea Bargaining (1995)* Interview with Assistant District Attorney (2000)* Reading Question Set 8* Thursday, October 17, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 4
WEEK ELEVEN (Oct. 21-27) Civil Justice and the Courts Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 7 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 7* Lawyers Abusing Procedures on Evidence Slow Justice to a Costly Crawl (2011)* Reaching Out to a Third Party (2002)* Reading Question Set 9* Thursday, October 24, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK TWELVE (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3) Judicial Decisionmaking Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 8 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 8* Reading Question Set 10* Thursday, October 31, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK THIRTEEN (Nov. 4-10) Review for Exam 2: Material from Week Seven - Week Twelve Thursday, November 7, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com EXAM 2 (multiple choice objective questions and essays): Saturday, November 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Desire2Learn WEEK FOURTEEN (Nov. 11-17) Judicial Policymaking: An Introduction Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 9 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 9* Reading Question Set 11* Thursday, November 14, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 5
WEEK FIFTEEN (Nov. 18-24) Federal Court Policymaking Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 10 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 10* Reading Question Set 11* Thursday, November 21, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com WEEK SIXTEEN (Nov. 25-31) State Court Policymaking Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking, Chapter 11 Lesson Slideshow on Chapter 11* State High Court Denies Defective-Design Claim in Lead Paint Lawsuit (2009)* Reading Question Set 12* No Online Chat: Thanksgiving Holiday WEEK SEVENTEEN (Dec. 2) Review for Exam 3: Material from Week Fourteen - Week Sixteen (Note: Exam 3 is the last exam in the course but it will not be comprehensive for the course.) **Monday, December 2, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on claytonstate.webex.com EXAM 3 (multiple choice objective questions and essays): Saturday, December 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Desire2Learn End of Semester CRJU 4424 Judicial Process (Fall 2013) 6