LAW 381

Wrongful Convictions

Law School

Recommended for route(s):

[ Litigation ] Criminal Law: International Criminal Law & Immigration Law

General course Description:

Over the course of the past decade there has been increasing recognition that, despite its commitment to the concept of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, our criminal justice system yields a steady stream of wrongful convictions. This experiential course focuses on some causes and potential remedies for this phenomenon, within the context of an individual case study.  During the Fall 2010 Quarter, the primary focus of the course is on the subject of interrogations and false confessions.  Students read and discuss a variety of cases and articles on the subject in a seminar-style format.  Most of the work in the course, however, involves actual representation of a defendant whose conviction was based on a confession he asserts to be false. Working with Professor Marshall, who is representing this client on appeal, direct students are assigned to research and draft various sections of the appellate brief.  

Course Style: An Experiential course is one in which students undertake tasks derived from or akin to those done by practicing lawyers.

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