Fall 2025 Class Descriptions: Electives
Remedies (LWLP570)
Instructor(s): Mary Jo Wiggins
4 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Children's Rights (JD), Civil Litigation (JD), Public Interest Law (JD)
The Remedies course examines legal and equitable remedies under statutes and the common law: what can parties to litigation obtain from the courts? Courts have the power to grant temporary and permanent injunctions, damages calculated in various ways, and restitution. What can and should a party seek from a court in a particular case? What will a court grant, and on what doctrinal and factual basis? This course will particularly look at the public law aspect of remedies: remedies for constitutional violations, "structural" or institutional injunctions, constitutional limits on tort and other remedies, and the nature and limits of equitable remedies.
Note: This is a required course for the Civil Litigation Concentration (JD).
Restorative Justice Principles (formerly Intro to Restorative Justice) (LWCR540)
Instructor(s): Staff
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Concentration(s): Children's Rights (JD), Criminal Litigation (JD), Public Interest Law (JD), Criminal Law (LLMUS), Criminal Law (LLMG), Criminal Law (MSLS)
Values, Principles, and Practice of Restorative Justice
This course introduces the philosophy and varied practices of restorative justice. Restorative justice is a philosophical approach that embraces the reparation of harm and healing of trauma, often in a legal setting. A central practice of restorative justice is a collaborative decision-making process that includes harmed parties, people who have caused harm, and others who are seeking a resolution that includes meaningful accountability, taking responsibility for repairing harm and proactive social support.
Restorative justice is a global movement with applications that include misbehavior in school, misconduct in the workplace, and criminal adjudication. Restorative approaches draw upon a variety of cultural and religious justice traditions that, in many ways, challenge the Western legal tradition of adversarial proceedings and punishment.
In addition to exploring the history and philosophy of restorative justice, students will learn the facilitation skills necessary for hosting restorative processes. We will develop skills for both “restorative circles” and “restorative conferences,” two distinct and commonly used restorative practices. The course is highly experiential with intensive role play and debriefing.
This class starts on Thursday, September 4, 2025 will meet on 12 Thursdays (9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20) and one Friday (10/24) for a total of 13 sessions. It is cross-listed with the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, KROC-594: Values, Principles, and Practice of Resorative Justice.
Note:
The course is being taught through the USD Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies by Dr. David Karp.