This course addresses the core constitutional issue of equality, looking at race, religion, gender, disability, and sexual oriention, and interweaving doctrinal and topical analysis. The Equal Protection Clause is the major constitutional text, but other constitutional provisions (due process clause, religion clauses) will also be relevant. Doctrinal issues will include the disparate intent/disparate effects argument, rational discrimination, and tiers of scrutiny. Topics will include school desegregation and criminal justice issues (both covered in particular depth, for their own sake and as important constitutional law case studies), same sex marriage, single-sex schools, and deinstitutionalization. Readings will include both cases and (edited) law review materials.