Details

In this seminar course we will consider the developing case law of two international regional courts--the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter American Court of Human Rights--and the US Supreme Court, with a particular emphasis on matters of topical interest, such as the critical elements of a democratic society; non discrimination; due process standards for those charged with crime; the duty of government to protect individual rights; freedom of expression and association, the role of religion in the society and the right of privacy, including the right of gays and lesbians to participate fully in the society. We will contrast and compare the regional international law in these areas with the law in the United States and in certain other select jurisdictions. The course will also offer an introduction to an understanding of various European and hemispheric institutions, including the European Court of Justice and the Organization of American States, and how the regional courts fit into those contexts. No exam. All requests for multidraft papers will be approved.