LAW 7260

Federal Appellate Practice

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2020-2021.

This skills-based course will explore federal appellate practice in the Supreme Court of the United States and the federal courts of appeal from the perspective of a litigator with insights from the bench. The focus of the course will primarily be on procedural and substantive constitutional issues pending before the Supreme Court of the United States, but issues percolating in the federal courts of appeal may be addressed as well. Students will each argue two cases (one as petitioner – one as respondent) currently pending on the Supreme Court's docket, and will write one or two pleadings in either a pending Supreme Court or court of appeals case. The final round of arguments will be held in New York City at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Students will also be assigned roles as co-counsel and possibly as judges, with the faculty, in some cases and also, on occasion, be required to make a brief argument on short notice on issues raised in class.

When Offered Fall.

Satisfies Requirement This course can be used to satisfy the writing requirement or the skills requirement, but not both.

Comments Attendance mandatory at first class.

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