Constitutional Litigation

This is a course in advanced and applied constitutional law. It focuses on one of the central ways in which constitutional claims are actually litigated: in lawsuits against public officials and local governments. The bulk of the course looks at litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, but we will also discuss California substantive and procedural law. We will consider topics such as racial profiling; police shootings and excessive force; what it means to act "under color of state law;" absolute and qualified immunities; government liability for the acts of individual officials; and remedies for constitutional and statutory violations. The class will address both legal doctrine and the practicalities of litigating civil rights cases, including impact litigation. This course should be useful for students who want to work in these areas, as well as for those who plan to clerk on federal courts, as much of their dockets involves §1983 litigation. This course complements Federal Courts (Law 2403). Elements used in grading: Participation, Attendance, Exam.