Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law (PHIL 451-IC/HD) -- Fall 2002
Julie Van Camp, Professor of Philosophy, California State University, Long Beach
11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m. - Wednesday - FCS126

NOTE: This is a "hybrid" course, with in-person meetings on Wednesday and on-line work on Beachboard replacing our Monday meeting.

Course Syllabus Texts:
Ethical Issues in the Courts: A Companion to Philosophical Ethics, Julie Van Camp (Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2000)
Supplemental Readings, University Bookstore

Introduction to the Course
Wednesday, September 4 Issues for the Course (Supp., 7) How to Read a Court Decision (Ethical Issues, 166) Philosophy: A Brief Guide (Supp., 10) Structure of the Court System (Supp., 25)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 9/4 2:00 p.m. - Mon., 9/9 11:00 p.m.: Send e-mail to entire class using Beachboard introducing yourself, major, career goals (2 points)
I. Introduction to the nature of "justice" *Development of working senses of "justice" for use throughout the course,* *with special attention to issues of race, ethnicity, and gender*
Wednesday, September 11 United States v. The Amistad (Supp., 27) Thomas Jefferson on Slavery (Supp., 34)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 9/11-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 9/16-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for On-Line Quiz on Course Plagiarism policy (4 points)
Wednesday, September 18* [Attendance point available] "Justice and Utility," John Stuart Mill (Supp., 40) "The Constitution and the Subgroup Question," Martha Minow (Supp., 45) "Justice and Nature," Thomas Nagel (Supp., 48)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 9/18-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 9/25-11:00 p.m.: Up to 2 points for participation in discussion (threaded Discussion Board): readings for 9/18 Short Paper assignment on Beachboard
II. Making Distinctions by Race, Gender and Ethnicity in the Law How the law historically has identified and distinguished *races, ethnic groups, and gender*
Wednesday, September 25* [Attendance point available] Scott v. Sandford (Supp., 56) Bradwell v. State of Illinois (Supp., 65) Muller v. Oregon (Supp., 71) Geduldig v. Aiello (Supp., 74)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 9/26-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 9/30 11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for On-Line Quiz: readings for 9/25
Wednesday, October 2* [Attendance point available] Korematsu v. United States (Ethical Issues, 113) Short Paper due: Beachboard Dropbox (10:30 am)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/2-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 10/7-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for Brief of Loving V. Virginia case assigned for 10/9
Wednesday, October 9* [Attendance point available] "Racial Formation in the United States," Omi (Supp., 80) "Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity," OMB (Supp., 84) Loving v. Virginia (Ethical Issues, 37)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/9-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 10/14-11:00 p.m.: Up to 2 points for participation in discussion (threaded Discussion Board): readings for 10/9
III. Implementing distinctions by race, ethnicity, and gender *Different ways in which distinctions have been implemented in the law*
Wednesday, October 16* [Attendance point available] Strauder v. West Virginia (Supp., 89) "Democracy in America," de Tocqueville (Supp., 93)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/16-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 10/21-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points forbriefing any one case assigned for 10/23
Wednesday, October 23* [Attendance point available] Michael M. v. Sonoma County (Ethical Issues, 132) U.S. v. Virginia (Ethical Issues, 134) Plyler v. Doe (Ethical Issues, 26)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/23-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 10/28-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for On-Line Quiz: readings for 10/23
Wednesday, October 30 Mid-term Exam: FCS-126 In-class open book essay exam: You may write your exam in a bluebook or on a laptop in our classroom (PC-format: Word or Wordperfect)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/30-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 11/4-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points forbriefing any one case assigned for 11/6
IV. The Meaning of "Equal Protection" *Should distinctions by race, ethnicity, and gender be eradicated?* *Are they ever justified?*
Wednesday, November 6* [Attendance point available] "Reconstruction," Fredrick Douglass (Supp., 101) Civil Rights Cases (Supp., 104) Plessy v. Ferguson (Ethical Issues, 115) Brown v. Board of Education (Ethical Issues, 117)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 10/6-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 11/11-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points forbriefing any one case assigned for 11/13
Wednesday, November 13* [Attendance point available] Minor v. Happersett (Supp., 112) Reed v. Reed (Supp., 118) Frontiero v. Richardson (Supp., 120)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 11/13-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 11/18-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for On-Line Quiz: readings for 11/13
Wednesday, November 20* [Attendance point available] "Feminism, Law, and Bioethics," Rothenberg (Supp., 126) California Federal v. Guerra (Ethical Issues, 128) International Union, UAW v. Johnson Controls (Ethical Issues, 129)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 11/20-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 12/2-11:00 p.m.: Up to 2 points for participation in discussion (threaded Discussion Board): readings for 11/20
Wednesday, November 27 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING WEEK	NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING WEEK
Wednesday, December 4* [Attendance point available] "Reverse Racism," Stanley Fish (Supp., 131) "Affirmative Action," Owen M. Fiss (Supp., 138) Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (Ethical Issues, 118)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 12/4-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 12/9-11:00 p.m.: Up to 4 points for On-Line Quiz: readings for 12/4
Wednesday, December 11* [Attendance point available] Testimony: Judiciary Committee, Linda Chavez (Supp., 141) Hopwood v. Texas (Ethical Issues, 123) The Coalition v. Pete Wilson (Ethical Issues, 126)	Virtual Classroom activity: Wed., 12/11-2:00 p.m. - Mon., 12/16-10:00 a.m.: Study for Final Exam! (No points)
FINAL EXAM: Monday, December 16: 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. This will be an open-book essay exam taken on-line. The question will be available on Beachboard at 10:15. Your word-processing file with your answer will be due no later than 12:15 p.m. 12/16/2002, in the Beachboard Student DropBox. You may take the exam in any campus computer lab or on your own computer with an Internet connection.

*In-class attendance points available for these class meetings in FCS 126
**For more details on the Virtual Classroom activities, please see Course Requirements and Grading.

Last updated: September 2, 2002