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Law and Justice

Following this Pathway, participants examine the nature and function of law in society and, in particular, in American society. They explore the ideal of justice, the relationship of law to justice, and the operation of legal institutions.

Concepts and Topics

  • concept of rules
  • principle of rule of law/due process of law
  • resolution of disputes peacefully through legal process v.  vigilante justice/mob rule
  • ideal of justice as motivation for action
  • law as an instrument of social change
  • independence of the judiciary
  • adversarial legal system
  • presumption of innocence in criminal trials

Suggested Cases

Boston Massacre trials, Wyatt Earp trial, Scopes trial, Korematsu v. United States, Nuremberg trials, Gideon v. Wainwright, Boumediene v. Bush

 Resources

Lessons