COURSE NUMBER & NAME: 322 Civil Rights

CREDIT HOURS: Three (3) REQUIRED: no ELECTIVE: yes

PREREQUISITES (Required): Constitutional Law.

PREREQUISITES (Advised): Criminal Procedure 

WHEN OFFERED: Fall Semester.

SUBSTANTIVE COVERAGE AND OBJECTIVES OF COURSE:

This course covers § 1983 litigation and aims to make students familiar with issues that arise in prosecuting or defending a § 1983 action. TOPICS: Action under color of state law, statutory claims, Fourth Amendment, Eighth Amendment, Due Process, Immunities, Municipal Liability, Eleventh Amendment, Recovery (including attorney's fees), Jurisdictional issues.

RELATION TO OTHER OFFERINGS IN CURRICULUM:

Close ties with Federal Courts and Fair Employment Practices.

RELATION TO BAR EXAM SUBJECTS:

Some of this material is on the Multistate bar examination (Constitutional Law).

RELATION TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

Section 1983 comes up everywhere -- including land use and tax. Primarily, this material is crucial for those going into government and municipal law (defense angle) or for those wishing to pursue a "civil rights" practice - prosecuting police abuse, jail abuse, etc.