Course Details

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

February 14-18
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. 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.

 

Session 1

"Rough Justice" (Judge Canan)

"Terri’s Judge" (Terri Schiavo case) (Judge Greer)

 

Session 2

"Tribal Justice for Salmon Running" (Chief Judge Greenleaf Maldonado)

"Uneasy Lies the Head That Wears the Crown" (Judge Davidson)

 

Session 3

"Crazy or Cruel: The Trial of an Unexplained Filicide" (Judge Weisberg)

"United States vs. I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby" (Judge Walton) 

 

Session 4

"Brave Jenny" (Judge Mize)

"Elian" (Judge Bailey)

 

Session 4

"My Life on the Courts" (Judge Kennedy, Jr.)

"Every Case is a Tough Case for a New Judge" (Judge Ahnn)

Class Type: Reading and Discussion

Class Format: Online

Hours of Reading: 1-2 hours/session

Study Group Leader(s):

Frederick Weisberg

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, Florida; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Judge Michelle Ahnn, contributing author, Los Angeles Superior Court; Judge Mark Davidson, contributing author, District Court, Harris County, Texas; Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., author, My Life on the Courts, US District Court, DC (ret.)

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, Florida; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Judge Michelle Ahnn, contributing author, Los Angeles Superior Court; Judge Mark Davidson, contributing author, District Court, Harris County, Texas; Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., author, My Life on the Courts, US District Court, DC (ret.)

Gregory Mize

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, Florida; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Judge Michelle Ahnn, contributing author, Los Angeles Superior Court; Judge Mark Davidson, contributing author, District Court, Harris County, Texas; Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., author, My Life on the Courts, US District Court, DC (ret.)

Reggie Walton

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, Florida; Chief Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, contributing author, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Judge Michelle Ahnn, contributing author, Los Angeles Superior Court; Judge Mark Davidson, contributing author, District Court, Harris County, Texas; Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., author, My Life on the Courts, US District Court, DC (ret.)

Reading List:

Tough Cases: Judges Tell the Stories of Some of the Hardest Decisions They’ve Ever Made (Canan, Mize, Weisberg, Walton) | 2018: | ISBN: 9781620973868 | Required