LAWS 670 - Comparative Seminar on Judges

This seminar will compare the nature and role of judges throughout the world, focusing on judicial ethics and independence and investigating the influence of various methods of selecting judges and holding them accountable. It will cover the American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct, judicial disciplinary procedures, various methods used throughout the United States to select judges and to review judicial performance, as well as constitutional and policy issues arising from the tension between judicial independence and the roles of the executive and legislative branches of government and the electorate in the process of selecting judges and in extending their tenure. Additional insights will be sought from the way these issues are dealt with in other countries.

Prerequisites: Professional Responsibility or Problems in Professional Responsibility

Note: This course satisfies the perspective course requirement. It may be taken for 3 credit hours and satisfaction of the graduation writing requirement with the prior permission of the instructor.

Basis of Grade: Class participation and a seminar paper

Form of Grade: Letter