CONSTITUTIONAL LAWCONSTITUTIONAL LAW
This course examines the principles of constitutional law utilizing case law from United States Supreme Court and lower courts. Also, we will examine the federal judicial legal process. Emphasis is on the nature of due process and the rights of the criminal defendant. This course does not deal with the sociological aspects of constitutional law. We will use two methods to study constitutional law. The first is the case law method and the second is the textbook method. The case law method is designed to help you remember the principle of law of the case relating to a factual pattern which occur in the case. The textbook method is the study of the textbook, which is a treatise on constitutional law. The textbook method consists of general rules and conclusions based on court decisions and is therefore the product of inductive reasoning.
Constitutional Law is normally offered in the spring semester, if you have any questions about the course, please contact me.
The textbook required for the course is 
Constitutional
Law for Criminal Justice Professionals, 4th edition,
by Irving J. Klein and Christopher J. Morse.
INSTRUCTOR' S NOTES
The Art of Case Briefing
Some hints:
1. Follow the handout. Also, see the example of the brief handed out in class. Your statement of facts should review the facts of the case. Why did this case come about? The statement of issue(s) must discuss why the court is hearing the case. What question(s) of constitutional law is the court being asked to decide? In the reasoning of the court, what reasons did the court give for its decision-why did the court decide the way they did. In two or three sentences discuss dissenting opinions, why did a justice disagree with the other justices? Your summary of legal principles is nothing more than a review of the Constitutional issue(s). What did the case do or not do? Did it change the way the criminal justice system conducts itself? Do you agree with the court's decision?
2. Read the case once. Read it a second time, highlight the important information.
3. Write out a draft. If you have any questions when your draft is completed, please see me.
4. Type it out. Spell and grammar checking.
5. Practice your brief.