This is a web-based course in which all class activities take place online. We will rely on this course outline, e-mail, and other web-based tools to complete this course. In addition to this syllabus, much of the content in this course is included in the cjcampus site designed for this course. We wil NOT be using Blackboard.

• cjcampus

Course Description

A critical analysis of the process and impact of judicial decisions. Includes an examination of judicial selection, political influence, public opinion, and agenda setting. The role of precedent, policy, politics, and a range of extra-legal factors will be considered. The qualifications, selection, and role of jurors are also discussed in this examination of the interaction of law in society.

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define terminology common to the judicial system.
2. Define and explain the concept of political jurisprudence.
3. Describe the forces that affect the U.S. judicial system.
4. Describe the various roles of jurors, judges, and other judicial decisionmakers.
5. Define the range of extra-legal factors active in the judicial process.

Neubauer, D. and Meinhold, S. (2007). Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Wadsworth Publishing.

• Textbook Companion Site
• Publisher website - online version available

At the end of the course, the sum of your journal entries and other classroom activities should document your thoughts about "Judicial Decisionmaking" and related issues covered in this course. A "portfolio" assignment is posted in the "exam week" section of the online classroom. Use this space to enter your final thoughts about this course. These comments and other written assignments completed throughout the course provide documentation of your efforts to learn. I will review journals and other assignments submitted throughout the term in order to view your total contribution, beore entering a portfolio grade.

Don't assume that the portfolio grade will be the same as you are used to earning on your journals, or an average of previous scores. Some of you will have barely met minimum requirements, while others have exceeded these requirements with each assignment. This effort is rewarded, or not, as I enter grades for your final portfolios.

Participation and Engagement: (10%)

This course will be better if you talk more and I talk less. I prefer not to dominate the discussion, so each of you will need to remain active throughout the course. You all have interesting ideas and viewpoints and we learn more by sharing and trying to understand various views. The assumption is that you will participate and remain engaged throughout the class. Daily participation is expected during summer sessions.

Note that this criteria includes participation and engagement. While we may be able to assess participation through a simple count of posts, we are also interested in active engagement throughout the course. Engagement is demonstrated by remaining active each week, submitting assignments on time, joining discussions at the beginning of each week, and helping each other create a vibrant learning environment.

As noted above, several class activities are evaluated by classmates. The rating of these activities is an important component of the class participation score.

Deadlines are not suggestions. All written material will rapidly lose points in the days following the due date. Zero points will be awarded for missed assignments.

ADA

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695. Please see http://www.uncp.edu/dss/ for more information.

Class withdrawal is your responsibility. If you disappear, we will wonder where you are. However, we will not drop you from the class. Withdrawals should follow University procedure. The student is responsible for obtaining all necessary signatures on drop slips.

A very high price can be paid when you are caught cheating. Too high to risk. All written material must be your own composition. Appropriate credit must be given for sources used in developing your ideas and arguments. Provide appropriate citations. It is easy to see when large sections of text have been lifted from other Web pages. This is quite easy to verify as well.

It is not appropriate to submit work that was originally completed for another course.

NOTE: The penalties for engaging in any of these acts of academic misconduct will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but will follow general university guidelines as to severity.

Classroom climate is not solely the Professor's responsibility. We encourage each of you to engage in conversation on any issue. The University is a place for free speech, limited through individual choice. These choices may be altered with awareness of the real or potential reaction of others. However, you should not be intimidated into keeping quiet. We do not condone racist, sexist, homophobic, or other hateful speech. You are all adults, capable of understanding generally accepted rules of conduct and modifying your behavior in an effort to comply with these social or legal expectations. You are responsible for your behavior.

If grades are made available online, be advised that if there is any error the grade you receive from the registrar is your official grade. Grade changes will be made only in cases of data or computation error. Please do not ask, beg, or otherwise attempt to change a properly computed grade.

This course outline is intended to define much of what will happen throughout this course. Changes are possible. Any changes will be clearly presented to the class and will often include class discussion. Changes will apply to all students enrolled in this course, without regard to whether they were involved in the discussion.