Youth and the Law

We will consider the way the law responds to the transition from childhood to adulthood. We will consider the ways numeric age and conceptions of maturity influence responses to a range of legal issues. Topics may include: the rights of youth to familial or state support in obtaining housing and other material goods; the relationship between youth and commercial actors or other third parties ranging from the infancy doctrine to social media platforms; parental authority and responsibilities in healthcare and educational decision-making; the treatment of youth in the criminal legal system; the civic spheres of military service, voting, and jury duty; child labor laws; the consequences of the age of majority; and ages of privilege such as driving and access to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. We will read together for the first portion of the course. To assess reading, students may be asked to make quick presentations about the day's readings individually or on teams, to submit weekly reading responses, and/or to answer quick written questions about the reading at the start of class. As we unpack frameworks underneath youth law, we will consider research projects in light of the frameworks we develop. In the final portion of the course, students will offer oral presentations of their chosen youth-related topic, and submit a ten page paper after their presentation. The presentation and the paper account for half of the grade, while participation, including attendance, discussion, and preparation/reading assessment, account for the other half. For the first two-thirds of the semester, this is a reading intensive course. A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar 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. UPPERCLASS WRITING REQUIREMENT: This class may be used to partially satisfy the requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This seminar does not offer the CR/NC/H option.