PubPol 750: Courts as Policy-Makers

Case Studies in Education Reform and Marriage Equality Winter 2016

Visiting Lecturer, Kary L. Moss, J.D.

karymoss@umich.edu

Class Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4:00. Class Location: 1110 Weill

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 3236 Weill at 11am and by appointment Phone: 734-417-8757

This course focuses, broadly, on the role of the courts in making and influencing public policy affecting important social justice issues. It is an interdisciplinary class, combining law, social science, and political science. 

 Learning Objectives:

• Learn to read legal opinions and analyze the framing of social justice questions;

• Recognize the difference and significance between the state and federal judicial systems, sources of law used, and relationship to interest groups;

• Think critically about how the legal arena shapes policy issues in the legislative and executive arenas as well as in the realm of public opinion and community-based activism;

• Write concise and effective policy

To help me gear class discussions as effectively as possible, please tell me a little about you by completing a short survey before the first day of class.

Required Books: There are no required books. Articles will be available on Canvas.