Law 798:  Women's Rights and the Supreme Court

The course will be conducted in a multi-media approach utilizing news clips, videos, podcasts, cases and articles. Students will examine how the Supreme Court has adjudicated the definition and development of the concept of women’s citizenship.  Additionally, the Dobbs decision will be analyzed as a starting point to understand the Court’s revision of the definition of privacy as it has been enshrined as precedent in Roe for almost fifty years.  The course will delve into the history of Supreme Court cases that have examined women’s rights addressing issues such as education, health, employment, intersectionality, race, religion, sexual orientation and culture. Throughout the course women lawyers who have been and are involved with the Supreme Court as clerks, nominees and candidates will be highlighted.

Sequence and Prerequisites: Constitutional Law is a prerequisite.

Evaluation: Two writing assignments.  Students will select from several topics in consultation with the professor.