Constitutional Law
In the list of courses below, Basic Required Courses provide an introduction to basic aspects of constitutional law and are required of all students for Graduation. Advanced Constitutional Law Courses include courses concerning individual rights, the structure and operation of government, and other constitutional topics. Substantive Courses with Constitutional Elements are courses dealing with particular subjects, a significant component of which is constitutional in character. The listed Clinical Courses involve fields of practice or placements that often have constitutional dimensions.
Basic Required Courses
LAW 806, Introduction to Constitutional Law, 4 Credits An introduction to the law of the United States Constitution, including the historical context and evolution of constitutional principles, methods of constitutional interpretation and analysis, and basic doctrine concerning the structure of government and the protection of individual rights. Doctrinal coverage includes separation of powers, federalism, equal protection, due process and freedom of religion.
Advanced Constitutional Law Courses
LAW 878, Criminal Procedure, 2.5-3 Credits An introduction to criminal procedure, including investigation and police practices, pre-trial proceedings, trials, sentencing, and review proceedings. Particular emphasis on the application of the exclusionary rule to arrest, search and seizure, interrogation procedures, and identification procedures.
LAW 886 Civil Rights Actions, 2 Credits A survey of the law governing civil suits against government entities and officials to remedy violations of federal constitutional rights. The focus of the class is litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which creates a civil cause of action for damages and injunctive relief to remedy violations of federal constitutional rights. This area of law is sometimes referred to as "constitutional torts," because it involves civil litigation that is in many ways similar to traditional tort actions. The course covers the elements of a Section 1983 action, the constitutional immunity of states and state officers, defenses to Section 1983 liability, defendants' liability for attorneys fees under 42 U.S. C. § 1988, civil suits against federal defendants, and the relationship between Section 1983 and federal habeas corpus.
LAW 887, Constitutional Topics, 3 Credits Examines the application of constitutional law and principles to selected social issues. Specific topics will be announced; topics may include such subjects as constitutional history, constitutional interpretation, the constitutional law of schools, gender and constitutional issues, or national security law. A writing project typically is required in place of a final examination. Prerequisite or Co requisite: Constitutional Law.
LAW 954 , Legislation, 3 Credits Examines the role of legislation and the legislative process in American law, the formulation of legislative policy, and methods of statutory interpretation. Provides instruction and practice in statutory drafting.
LAW 850, Administrative Law, 3 Credits The separation and delegation of powers. The development of administrative function. Administrative discretion, notice, hearing, jurisdiction, conclusiveness of determination, and judicial control. Examination of current problems in various administrative processes.
LAW 910, Federal Courtsand the Federal System, 3 Credits Role of the federal courts in our constitutional federal system. Areas and sources of federal judicial jurisdiction and its limitations; abstention doctrines; federal court control over state proceedings; appellate and original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; federal common law.
LAW 916, The State and Religion, 2 Credits An analysis of judicial doctrine and method used to resolve conflicts between First Amendment freedoms and other governmental and/or private interests. Focuses on selected First Amendment problems relating to national security, government secrecy, time-manner-place regulations of expression, the administration of the judicial system, regulation of obscenity, offensive speech, defamation, invasion of privacy and commercial speech, access to and regulation of the media, and individual interests in religion, privacy, and academic freedom. Taught on a seminar basis when enrollment permits.
Substantive Courses with Constitutional Elements
LAW 917, Governmental Control of Land Development, 3 Credits A broad review of land use controls on urban development, including zoning, master planning, subdivision regulation, impact fees, regional controls, and other techniques. Also examines constitutional aspects of controls, as well as the public issues and policies that sustain them.
LAW 956, Local Government Law, 3 Credits The structure, functions, and jurisdictions of local governmental units; intergovernmental arrangements and relationships, financing and staffing local government; tort liability of local governments.
LAW 914, Federal Indian Law, 3 Credits Addresses the law and policy of the United States regarding Indian nations and their members. Issues include: the origins and contours of federal plenary power over Indian affairs, the scope of inherent tribal sovereignty, the limits of state power in Indian country, civil and criminal jurisdiction, and gaming.
LAW 932, International Human Rights, 2 Credits A study of the objectives, provisions, and institutions of international human rights law. Among the areas covered will be international, regional, and domestic sources of human rights law, the various domestic and international fora for raising human rights questions, and theoretical questions on the scope and value of international human rights protection.
LAW 958, Media Law, 3 Credits A study of the legal regulation of the media industry and the application of the law to the media and to journalists.
Clinical Courses
LAW 895, Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies, 3 Credits Actual field experience in servicing the legal problems of inmates at the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing, and the Kansas Correctional institution at Lansing. Students interview clients, investigate and marshal facts, and engage in negotiation, preparation of administrative appeals, and drafting of court briefs and other documents. Students must enroll for academic year, for 3 credits per semester. Concurrent enrollment in Law 896 is required.
LAW 933, Judicial Clerkship Clinic, 3 Credits Involves upper-class students in working with state and federal judges as part-time law clerks. Students work with judges on various legal matters currently pending before the court. The students also participate in various workshops and an end-of-semester seminar on various topics relating to judicial administration. Prerequisite: Students must have completed forty law school credit hours prior to enrollment in the clinic.
LAW 959, Media Law Clinic, 3 Credits Practical, in-depth studies of law, policy, regulation, and professional ethics that shape the relationship between the communications media and such institutions as the judiciary, legislature, agencies, business, education, and the professions. Individual students or teams of students, supervised by the clinic director, prepare research reports in response to requests from lawyers, policy-makers, publishers, and others who are concerned with the free flow of accurate, fair, and timely news and information in a democratic society. The clinic is designed to advance students' skills and knowledge in analyzing the rights and responsibilities of the communications media and the individuals and organizations that depend on those media to inform the citizenry.
LAW 976, Public Policy Clinic, 3 Credits The Public Policy Clinic undertakes in-depth, balanced policy studies in response to requests from public officials. Individual students, or teams of students, supervised by the clinic director, prepare the research reports. Designed to give students practical experience in applying analytical policy methods to public policy issues.