Student justice

Supreme Court class allows student to try actual cases by playing lawyers, justices

By: Anne-Caroline Sieffert

Posted: 11/9/07

Now students can decide the next big Supreme Court case.

In political science Professor Thomas Keck's PSC 316: Supreme Court and American Politics, students participate in mock trials, fulfilling the roles of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., lawyers and the media. The class lets students resolve the next Marbury v. Madison. But don't forget to follow "stare decisis."

These simulations are part of a whole semester assignment.

"It's very valuable for undergraduates," Keck said.

Students come into class and have the opportunity to play the role of Chief Justice Roberts, or to argue in front of their peers on a case like legitimate lawyers - as seriously as if they were in front of the real Supreme Court.

Keck said his class offers a way to balance both academic learning and personal development.

Keck started teaching the class in 2003 and was met with wide support from faculty. The other professors agreed the Supreme Court class is not only practical experience for the students, but it helps them understand and focus on the role of the Supreme Court, Keck said.

The course consists of all real cases that are still on-going, and every student in the class is assigned a role of one part of the legal system - whether it is a counselor, a judge, a clerk or a defendant. Even the media is represented, as they provide reporting and commentary on the cases.

"The class is hard because you have to enter the role you're assigned," said Jessica Miller, a senior television, radio and film major. "You have to put aside your political views to be someone else."

Despite the difficult work embodying different legal roles, Keck said the students seem to like trying the cases and enjoy the whole process.

"It's not easy when you feel like the decisions and your way of thinking of the person you are playing are opposed to yours," said senior Luciana Amodeo.

Both Amodeo's and Miller's enthusiasm showed with their involvement in the class, as well as other students such as Scott Covit.

Covit is currently playing Counsel of Record for the Petitioner, Miller is Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy and Amodeo has the crowning role of Chief Justice Roberts.

"Students seem to be very involved in this, and they want to do well because of the 'public' hearings we have," Keck said.

Miller added even though she has completed her policy studies major, she still decided to take this class.

"It's a very challenging and interesting class, and I was very excited for the opportunity," Miller said.

Teaching assistant Vince Stark said he thinks the students' enthusiasm and willingness is the reason for why class runs so smoothly.

"The media is acting like the media, the justices are acting like the justices and all of them are taking this very seriously," Stark said.

And as for the academic value of this assignment, Keck says it helps students learn how the United States' justice system functions and gives them invaluable insights into the Supreme Court's role and acts.

Miller and Covit, who both want to be lawyers, said this class is very helpful for their future careers as well as learning basics and intricacies about the U.S. justice system - as Amodeo and Keck both said the experience is very valuable to them.

In addition to the mock trials, students have more traditional academic work to do, such as writing legal briefs and reports.

Part of the media's job is to report on all of the oral discussions. The students playing members of the press created a radio talk-show about the class called "The 316," as well as an entire Web site dedicated to the class under the name of "Syracuse News Network," which is available at http://sunn.wordpress.com.

All of the students show a great deal of interest both in and out of the classroom, and it shows in the way they interact with each other, teaching assistant Stark said.

Amodeo said the class is hard work, but it's also a great experience that will be helpful in pursuing her career goal to work in national security.

"This class allowed me to be both personally invested as well as get an academic point of view," Amodeo said.

Amodeo, Miller and Covit all agreed that this class was the best way to study the Supreme Court since it is extremely hands-on but also academic. Even other Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs professors have adopted the interactive formula, Keck said.

"They all receive the same positive answer from their students who are very serious about the work and also very much like it," Keck said.