Course Details

910: Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They’ve Ever Made

February 1, 2, 4, 5,
9:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Online

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This study group will have a behind-the-scenes look at how judges grapple with and decide some of the hardest cases of their careers. Some cases gained international attention—Terri Schiavo, Elian Gonzalez, Scooter Libby. Other cases are less well-known but equally fascinating as the class will explore the personal, political, and emotional factors that go into making the hard decisions. Class members should plan to read two chapters of Tough Cases before the start of each class. (Approximately 20 pages per chapter.) This study group has a high class size capacity.

 

February 1

Chapter 2, ”Rough Justice” (Judge Canan)

Chapter 1, “Terri’s Judge” (Terri Schiavo case) (Judge Greer)

 

February 2

Chapter 5, “Brave Jenny” (Judge Mize)

Chapter 13, “Elian” (Elian Gonzalez case) (Judge Bailey)

 

February 4

Chapter 7, “The United States v I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby” (Judge Walton)

Chapter 9, “Can an Elected Judge Overrule Nearly a Million Voters and Survive?” (Judge Alsdorf) 

 

February 5

Chapter 11, “Crazy or Cruel: The Trial of an Unexplained Filicide” (Judge Weisberg)

Chapter 10, “Walking with My Ancestors: Tribal Justice for Salmon Running” (Judge Maldonado)

Class Type: Reading and Discussion

Class Format: TBA

Hours of Reading: 1-2 hours/session

Study Group Leader(s):

Russell Canan

Judge Russell F. Canan, co-editor, DC Superior Court; Judge Gregory E. Mize, co-editor, DC Superior Court; Judge Frederick H. Weisberg, co-editor, DC Superior Court; Judge Reggie Walton, contributing author, US District Court; Judge George W. Greer, contributing author, Circuit Court, Pasco and Pinellas counties; Judge Jennifer D. Bailey, contributing author, Circuit Court, Miami-Dade; Judge Robert H. Alsdorf, contributing author, Washington State Superior Court; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

Gregory Mize

Judge Russell F. Canan, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Gregory E. Mize, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Frederick H. Weisberg, co-editor, D.C Superior Court; Judge Reggie Walton, contributing author, U.S. District Court; Judge George W. Greer, contributing author, Circuit Court,  Pasco and Pinellas counties, ret., Judge Jennifer D. Bailey, contributing author, Circuit Court , Miami-Dade, Judge Robert H. Alsdorf, contributing author, Washington State Superior Court, ret.; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Frederick Weisberg

Judge Russell F. Canan, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Gregory E. Mize, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Frederick H. Weisberg, co-editor, D.C Superior Court; Judge Reggie Walton, contributing author, U.S. District Court; Judge George W. Greer, contributing author, Circuit Court, Pasco and Pinellas counties, ret., Judge Jennifer D. Bailey, contributing author, Circuit Court , Miami-Dade, Judge Robert H. Alsdorf, contributing author, Washington State Superior Court, ret.; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Reggie Walton

Judge Russell F. Canan, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Gregory E. Mize, co-editor, D.C. Superior Court; Judge Frederick H. Weisberg, co-editor, D.C Superior Court; Judge Reggie Walton, contributing author, U.S. District Court; Judge George W. Greer, contributing author, Circuit Court,  Pasco and Pinellas counties, ret., Judge Jennifer D. Bailey, contributing author, Circuit Court , Miami-Dade,  Judge Robert H. Alsdorf, contributing author, Washington State Superior Court, ret.; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Reading List:

Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They’ve Ever Made (Canan, Mize, Weisberg, Walton) | 0: | Required