PLSC 385-1 [21683]
Judicial Process & Behavior
MW 9:30-10:45
419 Pray Harrold
Dr. Henschen
bhenschen@emich.edu
Office: 601Q Pray Harrold
Phone: 734.487.3113;
734.487.1398
Hours: MW 8:30-9:00;
11:00-11:45; 2:00-3:00, and
by appointment
This course will focus on the role that courts play in the American political system. We
will compare federal and state court organization as well as methods of judicial selection.
We will also explore the behavior of lawyers and litigants in the judicial system. After
examining trial court processes in criminal and civil cases, we will turn our attention to
decision making in appellate courts, with special emphasis on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Finally, we will consider the relationships between courts and public opinion, interest
groups, and the media, and we will examine the interaction that occurs between courts
and other governmental actors in the implementation and impact of judicial policy.
Books (required):
Miller, Mark C. 2015. Judicial Politics in the United States. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Phillips, Steven. 1978. No Heroes, No Villains: The Story of a Murder Trial. New York: Vintage
Books/Random House.
In addition to a directed research paper, there will be three exams this semester.
Reading and Exam Schedule
January 5
Courts as Political and Legal Institutions
Functions of Courts
Sources of Law
Miller, chapter 1
January 7-12
Court Organization
Federal and State Court Systems
Miller, chapter 2
January 14-21
Judicial Selection
Miller, chapter 3
The Politics of Federal Judicial Selection
State Judicial Selection Methods
January 26-28
The Last Campaign
DVD
February 2-4
The Legal Profession
Miller, chapter 4
February 9
Exam I
75 points
February 11-27
Read No Heroes, No Villains: The Story of a Murder Trial
February 11-18
Trial Courts: Criminal Cases
Criminal Court Processes
Courtroom Workgroups
February 23-25
Winter Break
March 2-9
Trial Courts: Civil Cases
Litigation Decisions
Civil Case Processes
Miller, chapter 6
March 11
Exam II
125 points
March 16-25
Appellate Court Processes
Miller, chapters 7-8
The Business of Appellate Courts
Screening Cases and Decision Making Processes
Studying Appellate Courts
March 30
Courts and Public Opinion
Courts and Interest Groups
Courts and the Media
Miller, chapter 9
April 1-6
Legislative-Judicial Interaction
Miller, chapter 10
April 8-13
Executive-Judicial Interaction
Courts and Government Agencies
Miller, chapter 11
Miller, chapter 12
April 15
directed research paper due
75 points
April 20
Courts Beyond the United States
Miller, chapter 13
April 27
Exam III
125 points
Grading scale
375-400
359-374
347-358
331-346
319-330
307-318
291-306
279-290
267-278
251-266
239-250
< 239
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
[94-100%]
[90-93]
[87-89]
[83-86]
[80-82]
[77-79]
[73-76]
[70-72]
[67-69]
[63-66]
[60-62]
[<60%]
9:00 to 10:30
Miller, chapter 5
Summary of Graded Exercises:
02/09/15 Exam I (covering the material in Miller, chapters 1-4, and class lectures)
75 pts.
03/11/15 Exam II (covering the material in Miller, chapters 5-6; Phillips, all; and class lectures)
125 points
04/15/15 Paper (information regarding the paper will be distributed separately)
75 points
04/27/15 Exam III (covering material in Miller, chapters 7-13, and class lectures)
125 points
Class attendance, good note taking, and careful reading are essential to doing well in this
course. BE AWARE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY—GO TO
WWW.EMICH.EDU/STUDENTCONDUCT/INDEX.PHP
Additional information regarding classroom matters will be discussed in class.
Check your university e-mail frequently for announcements related to class.
If you need help with your writing, use the services of the writing center.
UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER
115 Halle Library
734-487-0694
http://www.emich.edu/uwc
WINTER 2015 SYLLABUS TEXT
The University Writing Center (115 Halle Library; 487-0694) offers one-to-one writing
consulting for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students can make
appointments or drop in between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through
Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. The UWC opens for the Winter 2015
semester on Monday, January 12 and will close on Monday, April 20.
The UWC also has several satellite locations across campus (in Owen, Marshall, PrayHarrold, Sill, and Mark Jefferson). These satellites provide writing support to students in
various colleges and programs across campus. The Pray-Harrold satellite (rm. 211) is
open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. Other satellite locations and hours can be found on the UWC web site:
http://www.emich.edu/uwc
The Academic Projects Center (116 Halle Library) also offers one-to-one writing
consulting for students, in addition to consulting on research and technology-related
issues. The APC is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays for drop-in
consultations. Additional information about the APC can be found at
http://www.emich.edu/apc.
Students seeking writing support at any location of the University Writing Center should
bring with them a draft of what they are working on and their assignment sheet.
Important Dates Related to Course Registration
Part of Term 1: 1/5/15 - 4/27/15 (15 weeks)
1/9/15
Last date to add courses via the web (a)
3/5/15
Last date to add courses with departmental authorization
1/14/15
Last date for 100% tuition refund (individual or total withdraw from term)
3/23/15
Last date for individual class withdrawal (with W grades) - No Refund
1/30/15 (b) Last date for 50% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
3/5/15 (b) Last date for 25% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
4/20/15 (b) Last date for total withdrawal from term (with W grades) -No Refund
1/14/15
Last date to declare pass/fail grading option or select to audit a course
4/20/15
Last date to remove pass/fail grading option and receive letter grade
Codes
(a) Initial registration occurring on or after the Part of Term start date will incur a onetime $140 late registration fee
(b) Date applicable only if student's classes are ALL within the same Part of Term and/or
a later starting Part of Term
(**) A written request must be faxed to the Office of Records and Registration at
734.487.6808 before midnight