JM 745 - Equal Access to the Courts

(3 units)

Equal access to the courts is a bedrock of U.S. democracy not always realized in practice. People with different racial and other identities, cultures, languages, and economic backgrounds, and those living with impairments, face barriers that prevent them from experiencing full and fair hearings in impartial courts. This course surveys historical and current barriers to equal access, and outlines tools for developing and evaluating barrier-reducing programs and practices.

Maximum units a student may earn: 3

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Spring - Even Years

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. identify common barriers people experience when attempting to access the courts.
2. demonstrate understanding of the relationship between access barriers and the functioning of democracy in the United States.
3. describe an access barrier faced by a U.S. court.
4. propose a solution for reducing an access barrier.
5. demonstrate understanding of different methods for evaluating potential solutions.

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