This seminar explores judicial decision making in the trial and appellate courts on which the judge has served. Drawing on his decisions and other related readings, the class will consider each week the challenges posed by different types of judicial decisions. This approach will allow the class to evaluate and discuss many facets of judicial decision making, including but not limited to the following: * Differences between trial and appellate court decisions * The interactions between trial and appellate court decisions * Why certain issues are particularly difficult for judges * What is explainable and unexplainable about judicial decision making * How judicial philosophy and judicial process affect decision making * What works and does not work in judicial decisions, and * The rationale for concurrences and dissents Through the studies of these and similar issues, the students will hopefully become more informed critics of judicial decision making and more effective advocates in court. NOTES: This seminar does not satisfy the Upper-class Writing Requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option. ** A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.