Course Information

8210 - Constitutional Litigation

Professor: Christopher J. Walker
Semester: 2012 Autumn

Second Writing Requirement? No
Seminar? No
Professional Responsibility? No
Prerequisites: This course complements Federal Courts and Administrative Law. Students who plan to work in government will benefit from taking both those courses -- though neither is a prerequisite for this course.
Means of Assessment: exam

Course Description

Constitutional Litigation is a course in advanced and applied constitutional law.  It focuses on one of the central ways in which constitutional claims are litigated:  in lawsuits against public officials and local governments.  The bulk of the course looks at litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.  We will consider topics such as what it means to act “under color of state law”; absolute and qualified immunities; government liability for the acts of individual officials; remedies for constitutional violations, including monetary and injunctive relief; structural reform litigation; and the remedial issue nearest and dearest to many lawyers' hearts:  attorney's fees awards.  The course will also connect the substantive law to the practical and strategic choices a civil rights litigator makes before and during litigation.

This course is particularly useful for students who plan to work in government or in government-related public interest organizations as well as those who plan to clerk in federal courts.  Due to its focus on litigation strategy in addition to substantive law, it is also a terrific course for students interested generally in a career in civil litigation.

The course materials listed above are for informational purposes only and should not be considered final. Students must check with the Registrar for a current list of closed courses.