Secrecy Controversies (LAW-974-001)
Metcalfe
Meets: 01:00 PM - 02:50 PM (W) - Room 627
Enrolled: 14 / Limit: 14
Notices
There will be a guest speaker on oral advocacy skills during the Wednesday February 1 class: Patricia A. Millett, who holds the record for most Supreme Court arguments by any woman now practicing before the Court.
Description
LAW-974 Seminar: Secrecy Controversies (2 hrs.) Explores many of the most controversial current legal issues under the Freedom of Information Act and related statutes through in-depth analysis of both sides of each issue. This is a professional skills requirement course; students will gain experience in both written issue analysis and oral advocacy. The course will provide students with an extensive understanding of some of the most controversial legal and policy issues currently arising under the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, and the government information law and policy field overall. It begins with background instruction ensuring foundation familiarity with the concepts, policies, and statutory interrelationships involved. It then focuses on an array of significant, cutting-edge issues that currently define the legal and policy contours of this field. The course will examine these most controversial issues through student preparation of appellate briefs (approx. 10-15 pages in length) on either side of an issue, leading to oral advocacy of the opposing position in “moot court” fashion for the benefit and critique of their peers. Thus, the goal of the course is to provide all student participants with both the substantive knowledge of an advanced topics seminar and the advantages of simulated experiential learning in written issue analyses and oral advocacy as well. The written analysis, oral advocacy, two-hour final examination, and class participation will each constitute 25% of the total grade.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
First Class Readings
For the first class, students should read the introductory section (pages 1-7) of the 2009 Department of Justice "Freedom of Information Act Guide" (available at: http://www.justice.gov/oip/foia_guide09/introduction.pdf); read the introductory pages of the 2010 "Privacy Act Overview" (available at: http://www.justice.gov/opcl/1974privacyact-overview.htm, first six bullets); and skim-read Sections I-X of the 2010 "Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide" (available at: http://www.justice.gov/oip/04_3.html).