LAW 7592

The Military and the Law

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

In the decade since the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11th, our military forces have engaged in two long term wars in foreign countries as well as an ongoing struggle against the terrorist organization involved with those attacks. The legal issues both within the military and surrounding our military actions have risen to the forefront throughout the course of these conflicts. This seminar will explore those issues, taking a historical perspective on the evolution of the law as it intersects with the military while primarily focusing on the legal issues facing our country today. Topics will include a discussion of the military court-martial system as compared to the Article III civilian federal court system and the use of courts-martial to try non-military contractors employed in war environments. We will also examine the use of targeted killings and the detention of individuals in combat, including scrutiny of the developing case law regarding habeas rights for individuals the military has detained and the use of military commissions. This course is designed to elicit discussion from both a policy and legal perspective on these current issues while helping to broaden the students' understanding of how law impacts our military forces and how our military can be used to spread the Rule of Law. The course content will touch upon issues raised in criminal law, international law, national security law and the law of armed conflict. Students will be graded on two papers and their participation in classroom discussion.

When Offered Fall.

Satisfies Requirement Satisfies the writing requirement.

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