SOCI 20500 - Sociology of Law

Course Credit: 1
(ANTH, SOAN)
SOCIOLOGY OF LAW In this course we read some influential legal cases, but our task will not be the technical application of the law (such as in a law school course). The social science field of law and society is designed to show both the impacts of the broader social context on law-making and judicial decision-making and the impacts of the law and the courts on society. History shows that courts not only provide remedies for injustice but also reinforce injustice. We will also be introduced to some classic law and society research. The topics we cover: Courts and Social Movements; Courts and Economic Interests, Courts and Social Expectations, Courts and Citizenship, Courts and Education, Death Penalty, Law and Culture, The Limits of Justice, and Litigation Crisis. Prerequisite(s): SOCI-10000; or permission of instructor. Alternate Years. [D, HSS, SJ]