This seminar will study how judges (and courts) make decisions and the factors that help shape the content of judge-made law. Questions for study may include: To what extent are judges constrained by law, and how? When judges have discretion, what factors influence how they exercise it? What role does precedent and stare decisis (both horizontal and vertical) play? Who helps set the judicial agenda? How can judges affect which cases they hear and when? How does judging change on multi-member courts? To what extent does public opinion matter?
For details on class times, days of the week, instructors, and grading and exam details, please view the Michigan Law Class Schedule.