Social Science in Law

Professors Alschuler & Epstein

Law 649

Spring 2008

1. An Introduction to Social Science in Law (1.07.08)

Readings:
Monahan & Walker, Chapter 2, with a focus on pp. 48-59.
Sunstein, et al., Ideological Voting on Federal Courts, 90 Virginia Law Review 301 (2004). Focus on the design of their study and their data.

2a. Origins of Social Science in Law (1.14.08)

Reading: Monahan & Walker, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-27)

2b. School Segregation (1.14.08)

Reading: Monahan & Walker, pp. 189-237

[Note: No class on 1/21—MLK day]

3a. Affirmative Action/Diversity (1.28.08)

Reading: Epstein & Walker, pp. 708-733 (key affirmative action cases)

3b. Predicting Dangerousness (1.28.08)

Reading: Monahan & Walker, 382-415

4. Juries (2.04.08)

Reading: Monahan & Walker, pp. 261-312

5. The Death Penalty (2.11.08)

Reading: Monahan & Walker, pp. 313-342

6. Judicial Behavior (2.18.08)

Readings:
Epstein & Knight, Chapter 1
Review Sunstein, et al., Ideological Voting on Federal Courts

[Note: 2.25, 3.3, 3.10, 3.31, 4.7, 4.14, and 4.21.08 are reserved for student presentations.]