CAL NORTHERN SCHOOL OF LAW
SYLLABUS: FALL 2014 - SPRING 2015
COURSE:
COURSE NO:
TIME:
PROFESSOR:
Criminal Law
102 A/B
Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Kory L. Honea, Attorney at Law
Office Hours: Immediately following class and by appointment.
Phone: (530) 538-6759
E-Mail: koryhonea@gmail.com
REQUIRED TEXT & MATERIALS:
Examples & Explanations: Criminal Law, 6th Ed.
By Richard G. Singer and John Q. LaFond
Aspen Publishers (2013)
BarBri First Year Outlines
Criminal Law (2013-2014)
BarBri 1L Lectures – Criminal Law
By Professor Joseph Thai
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Criminal Law is a course which provides the law student with the fundamental knowledge of
criminal law based on the common law and on modern statutory construction. The course will
examine the definitions of crimes and defenses to crimes. The students will learn how to apply
both the common law and the modern majority rule changes to the common law to legal issues.
COURSE GOALS AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Course Goals:
I.
II.
Doctrinal Knowledge
a.
Substantive Law
b.
Underlying policy and jurisprudence
Critical Thinking
a.
Statute & Case Analysis – comprehending and evaluating arguments, comparing
and contrasting cases, and synthesizing law
b.
Problem Analysis – application of law to new factual contexts
c.
Problem Solving – creative thinking, analogizing, recognizing policy objectives
Crim Law Syllabus, Page 1 of 4
III. Communication Skills
a.
Oral/Written Communication – Ability to orally and/or in writing present factual
information and to persuasively argue the law as applied to facts
IV. Professionalism
a.
Ethical obligations, appropriate demeanor, rules of civility
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Specific student learning outcomes shall include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the rules and requirements of
Criminal Law under the both the Common Law and the statutory modifications.
Students will identify and explain underlying public policy concerns as it relates
to the topic.
Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze cases and/or statutes.
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the law to new factual contexts
using the traditional IRAC format.
GRADING: The Midterms (2) will consist of one (1) essay and will count 1/4 of your grade.
The Final will consist of two (2) essays and will count 1/2 of your final grade.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class and submitted
immediately. Regular and punctual attendance is required. The school’s policy for attendance
should be consulted if there are questions.
CLASS:
Class instruction will involve lecture, discussion of assigned reading
materials, case analysis, practical exercises and ongoing assessment of the student’s mastery of
key concepts. Please be prepared to participate in class discussion by having read and/or
completed the assigned course work. Class participation is required in order to achieve Course
Goal and Student Learning Outcomes II and III.
KEY TO SUCCESS:
In 1860, while in the practice of law, Abraham Lincoln was asked what he believed to be the
“the best mode of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the law.” In response, Lincoln said, “the
mode is very simple, though laborious and tedious. It is only to get the books, and read and study
them carefully….work, work, work is the main thing.”
ASSIGNMENT KEY:
1)
2)
3)
Chapter Assignments are found in the Examples & Explanations text book.
Outline Assignments are found in the BarBri Criminal Law Outline
Law School – 1L Lectures are found in the 1L Materials on the BarBri website.
a.
www.Barbri.com
b.
Sign in to the Enrolled Student’s Center
c.
Navigate to “1L Materials”
d.
Find the Criminal Law Lecture – (there are three, one hour segments)
Crim Law Syllabus, Page 2 of 4
FALL SEMESTER 2014
DATE
11/4
11/11
11/18
11/25
12/2
12/9
TOPIC / SUBJECT MATTER
ASSIGNMENT
OBJECTIVES
Introduction to Criminal Law:
Chap.1-Pg. 1-17
Sources & Limitations of Criminal Law Chap.2-Pg. 19-36
Purpose of Punishment
Outline Sec. I
1L Lecture – Hr.1
(00:00 to 26:28)
NO CLASS – VETERANS DAY
Essential Elements of Crime:
Chap.3 – Pg. 37-54
Actus Reas & Mens Rea
Chap.4 – Pg. 55-94
Outline Sec. II
1L Lecture – Hr.1
(26:28 to 53:21)
Strict Liability
Chap.6-Pg.119-138
Accomplice Liability
Chap.14-Pg. 389-414
Outline Sec. III
1L Lecture – Hr. 3
(17:21 to 22:57)
Inchoate Offenses:
Chap.11-Pg.295-307
Solicitation, Attempt and Conspiracy
Chap.12-Pg.309-328
Chap.13-Pg.341-380
Outline Sec IV
1L Lecture – Hr. 3
(00:00 to 17:21)
NO CLASS
I
I,II, III
I,II,III
I,II,III
SPRING SEMESTER 2015
DATE
TOPIC / SUBJECT MATTER
ASSIGNMENT
OBJECTIVES
1/6
Crimes Against Property:
Larceny, Theft, Embezzlement,
Robbery and Extortion
I,II,III
1/13
Crimes Against Habitation (cont.):
Burglary and Arson
Offenses Involving Judicial Procedure
Review and Assessment
MIDTERM #1
Chap.10-Pg.269-290
Outline Sec. IX
1L Lecture – Hr. 2
(45:16 to 1:05:44)
Outline Sec. X
Outline Sec. XI
1/20
I,II,III,IV
II
Crim Law Syllabus, Page 3 of 4
DATE
1/27
2/3
2/10
2/17
TOPIC / SUBJECT MATTER
Crimes Against People:
Sex Offences, Assault, Battery,
Mayhem, False Imprisonment and
Kidnapping
Crimes Against People (cont.):
Causation & Homicide
Murder 1st and 2nd Degree
Crimes Against People (cont.):
Felony Murder & Manslaughter
Review and Assessment
ASSIGNMENT
Chap.9-Pg. 235-260
Outline Sec. VIIA,B,D, E
Outline Sec. VIII
1L Lecture – Hr. 2
(00:00 to 45:16)
Chap.7-Pg.145-163
Chap.8-Pg.177-193
OBJECTIVES
I,II,III
I,II,III
Chap.8-Pg.194-234
I,II,III
Outline Sec. VII-C.
Review Outline
II
In Class Analysis &
Review of Criminal
Law Essays & MBE’s
II
Chap.15-Pg.423-442
I,II,III
Chap.5-Pg.95-113
Outline Sec.VI-C
1L Lecture – Hr. 3
(22:57 to 59:50)
2/24
3/3
MIDTERM #2
Defenses to Criminal Liability:
Mistake, Ignorance, Entrapment,
Consent
3/10
Defenses to Criminal Liability (cont.):
Justification vs. Excuse
Chap.16-Pg. 445-516
Outline Sec. VI-A,B
I,II,III
3/17
3/24
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Defenses to Criminal Liability (cont.):
Insanity
Chap.17-Pg.519-533
Outline Sec. V-A
I,II,III
3/31
Defenses to Criminal Liability (cont.):
Infancy & Intoxication
Chap.17-Pg.533-588
Outline Sec. V-B,C
I,II,III
4/7
Review and Assessment
Review Outline
II
In Class Analysis &
Review of Criminal
Law Essays & MBE’s
I,IV
4/14
4/21
5/2
Prosecutors & Defense Attorneys:
Roles & Ethical Obligations
Butte County Jail Tour
CLASS TO MEET IN OROVILLE
REVIEW – Full Course Review
FINAL EXAMINATION
Review Outline
Review L1 Lectures
(Hours 1-3)
I,II
II
Crim Law Syllabus, Page 4 of 4