Law 602: American Legal History Seminar

This course will examine the evolving institutional role of the American judge. The basis of the study will be G. Edward White's book, "The American Judicial Tradition," which focuses on exemplary judges and courts -- mostly of the federal appellate sort -- from John Marshall to William Rehnquist. From our readings of White we will branch out into criticisms of and alternatives to his analysis, and into deeper examinations of his exemplars.