Transcript title

American Courts

Credits

3

Grading mode

Standard letter grades

Total contact hours

30

Lecture hours

30

Course Description

Presents an in-depth understanding of both the federal and state court systems, exploring their tiered structures and roles within the courtroom work group. Sets forth key responsibilities of courtroom members and the steps involved in a criminal trial, including the appeals process at both the federal and state levels. Covers the United States Supreme Court, emphasizing the analysis of landmark decisions across different court eras.

Course learning outcomes

1. Differentiate federal and state court systems and the tiered system within each one.
2. Identify members of the courtroom work group and their responsibilities.
3. Recognize the procedural steps of criminal trials and appeals within the federal and state court systems.
4. Analyze United States Supreme Court decisions across different historical eras, evaluating their constitutional reasoning and societal impact.

Content outline

1. Introduction to the American Court System
   1. Overview of the US legal system
   2. Structure of federal and state courts
   3. The roles and responsibilities of courtroom participants (e.g., judges, lawyers, defendants)
   4. The tiered court system: Trial courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court
2. The Courtroom Workgroup
   1. The roles of key courtroom participants: judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and juries
   2. The relationship between the workgroup members
   3. How each member contributes to the trial process
3. The Criminal Trial Process
   1. The steps in a criminal trial: Arrest, pretrial motions, trial, verdict, and sentencing
   2. The roles of the prosecutor and defense attorney during trial
   3. The presentation of evidence and witness testimony
   4. Jury selection and the trial process
4. The Appellate Process
   1. Overview of appellate courts and their function
   2. Grounds for appeal and types of appellate decisions
   3. The role of the US Supreme Court in reviewing cases
5. Landmark US Supreme Court Cases
   1. Key historical cases that shaped the American justice system
   2. Analysis of landmark decisions, such as Miranda v. Arizona, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, and others
   3. The social, political, and cultural impact of these decisions
6. Civil vs. Criminal Courts
   1. Differences between civil and criminal cases
   2. Procedures, burdens of proof, and outcomes in each type of court
   3. Examples of both civil and criminal cases
7. Court Systems in Different States
   1. Comparative analysis of court systems across various states
   2. How state laws influence the functioning of state courts
   3. Variations in criminal justice procedures by state
8. Social Issues and the Court
   1. The role of courts in addressing societal issues (e.g., racial discrimination, gender equality, and civil rights)
   2. How legal decisions reflect and influence social change
   3. The courts' impact on public policy and social justice movements
9. The Future of the American Court System
   1. Emerging trends and challenges in the court system (e.g., technology in the courtroom, sentencing reform)
   2. Discussion of current debates regarding court efficiency and fairness
   3. The evolving role of the Supreme Court in modern legal debates

Required materials

Textbook is required.

General education/Related instruction lists

• Social Science