Courses

Explores the development of "Our Federalism", the relationship between federal and state governments, from the founding period of the US Supreme Court's recent New Federalism jurisprudence. Studies historical material, commentary, and case law, and addresses how federalism is defined; the values that federalism serves; the role of federalism in our interconnected, global society; the Supreme Court's boundaries of federalism; the direction of New Federalism.

Addresses past and continuing debates involving potential tensions between antidiscrimination principles and free speech, free exercise, and establishment clause values. Examines constitutional protections under the First Amendment and the equal protection clause, together with an array of existing and proposed federal and state antidiscrimination laws regulating employment,housing, and public accommodations, among other areas.

Examines legal structures and concepts typically found in constitutions, including judicial review, distinction between legislative and executive authority, federalism and the principle of subsidiarity, the relationship between church andstate, free speech and press, and social welfare rights. Examines differences between constitutional law and other domestic law, role of comparative constitutional law in domestic constitutional law adjudication. Emphasizes American and Swedish perspectives.

Examines how the institutions, practices, and the very identity of law are in part affected by the media through which law is apprehended and communicated. Hence the general question posed in this seminar: To what extent and how are the forms and methods of the new media having an effect on the perception, role, and identity of law? This is a year-long seminar.

Focuses on issues of race reform law, in particular the group of issues dealing with Black Americans. (Students of all hues and persuasions are welcome.)Offers an interpretive or critical dimension, rather than a litigation-oriented one. Helps students understand how race reform law works and how attitudes and historical forces have shaped that body of law.

Explores how theories of social freedom and self-governance developed in the United States. Analyzes the most controversial socio-legal issues as they relate to privacy, equal protection and other questions of substantive due process. Discusses recent trends in national security and information privacy to evaluate their overall relevance to civil liberties and nascent influence on the fundamental rights debate in the US and abroad.

Business law scholars from CU and around the country present research papers at this weekly colloquium. Topics may include contracts, corporate law, securities regulation, tax, intellectual property, venture capital and private equity, and the legal profession. No prior knowledge of law and economics is expected, although some knowledge of business organizations will be useful. Prereq., LAWS 6211 or 6201. Prerequisites: Restricted to Law students only.

Explores the ethics of mediators and other alternative dispute resolvers and facilitators, of attorneys representing clients in alternative dispute resolution processes, and of judges serving in alternative roles. Issues include confidentiality, providing appropriate notice to those concerned, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.

Explores dynamics that play out in the relationship between cities, suburbs, exurbs and other patterns of urban development. Explores the nature of local power, relations between local jurisdictions, and metropolitan and regional approaches to governance. Includes fiscal disparities, ethnic and racial segregation, sprawl and growth controls, affordable housing, transportation, and the urban/rural divide.

Examines and critiques law, legal institutions and traditions of the country of focus and the U.S. as they affect children, families and work. Enhances research and writing skills, including field and international research. Contributes to the host country through scholarship and service. Increases cultural competence through active engagement with peers and with social justice issues in another country. Includes required field study component and service learning project over spring break. Prerequisites: Restricted to Law students only.

Provides in-depth study and analysis of current problems in natural resources law, using historical, literary, and scientific materials. Includes field-trip, and requires additional field trip expenses. LAWS 6112 is strongly recommended as a prerequisite, however students must have taken or be concurrently enrolled in any three of the following: LAWS 6002, 6112, 6302 or 7725. May be repeated up to 5 total credit hours.

Explores legal responses to child abuse by examining the constitutional framework for legal proceedings, effective strategies for preventing child abuse and punishing offenders, alternatives to the current system, and cultural aspects of child abuse and the legal response to it. Examines physical abuse and neglect, and focuses on sexual abuse.

Deals with legal and policy issues surrounding mineral development and its environmental impacts. Emphasizes the problems associated with hard rock minerals and coal development, with some treatment of oil and gas leasing and development issues. Focuses on western public lands with some discussion of international and private lands issues.

Examines issues that have been raised under the United States Constitution with respect to state regulation of families. Topics include questions of family and individual privacy, the status of children, procreation, marriage and divorce, the definition of family relationships, and problems of federalism and the role of the Supreme Court in the regulation of families.

Same as LAWS 7128.

Explores the social and legal problems that develop at the intersection of work and family, and considers legal/non-legal solutions that have been and could be used to accommodate both women and men in their efforts to deal with these problems.

Considers how Anglo-American law operates rhetorically, how it persuades, builds character, offers proof, approximates the truth, establishes legitimacy, and makes things happen. It will also explore the ethics of rhetoric and note the relationship of rhetoric to other bodies of legal scholarship (e.g., law and literature, legal pragmatism, law and culture). It will hone student advocacy skills, prepare students to anticipate and defend against the rhetorical stratagems of different legal actors, and enrich students' sense of professional identity. Restricted to LAWS students. Prerequisites: Restricted to Law students only.

Discusses public control of private land uses through planning, zoning, and regulation of land development, including consideration of constitutional and statutory limitations on legislatively created techniques. Offered in alternate years.

Examines issues of environmental justice, including the disparate impacts of pollution and land use controls on certain communities and ethnic groups. Topics may include concentration of waste facilities in neighborhoods occupied by poor and minority populations, adequate protection of migrant farmworkers from the impacts of pesticide hazards, and environmental controls that inhibit economic growth and development sought by Indian tribes.

Explores cutting-edge debates in election law. Studies different perspectives on the current controversies in the field, in addition to select opportunities to engage scholars directly about their work. Develops students' understanding of the law of democracy, exposing students to some of the best scholarship, and improving students' ability to evaluate and critique legal scholarship. Recommended prereq., LAWS 7325. Same as PSI 7171. Prerequisites: Restricted to Law students only.

Studies discrete topics in Jewish law such as family law, commercial law, criminal law, etc., using the text Jewish Law: Cases and Materials, and other sources such as guest lectures. The collection of books that we received from the Touro Law Center will provide a valuable resource for student research.

Focuses on the translation of environmental policies and purposes into environmental law and practice. Investigates policy issues on prevention of significant deterioration of air quality (PSD), the particulate matter national ambient air quality standard (PM NAAQS), and global climate changes. Emphasizes legal structure issues, including the role of national, state, and local governments in implementing environmental law and policy as well as counterpart global structures and mechanisms for responding to global or transboundary environmental problems. Prereq., LAWS 7202.

Investigates the changing philosophical underpinnings of U.S. environmental law and policy and how philosophy and legal institutions interact.

Explores current issues in corporate and securities law, including developments in fiduciary duties of officers and directors, corporate governance, executive compensation, revisions to the model business corporation act, and state and federal litigation reform.

Teaches the substantive constitutional law governing public education. Students will teach constitutional materials to high school students in the local Denver Metro area high schools. Interested students must apply, and requires a commitment to a full-year curriculum. Encourages individual development as teachers, writers, and critical thinkers, and provides an opportunity to grow as colleagues and teammates. Requires exatra time outside of class. Recommended prereq., LAWS 7055. Prerequisites: Restricted to Law students only.