In celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12. 2009. This course will explore both the public and private Lincoln and his leadership as a lawyer and as president and commander-in-chief in the Civil War. It will examine Lincoln as the “lawyer in the White House” as well as the nature of American democracy. Using significant cases from his law career, Supreme Court decisions during the Civil War, and presidential decisions relating to civil liberties and the conduct of war, we will discuss leadership lessons for today, gleaned from Abraham Lincoln, the leader who spoke the enduring words at Gettysburg that students once memorized, the commander-in-chief who reunited the nation by winning the Civil War, and the chief executive who is continually ranked highest among all American presidents. This course will be taught by Chief Justice Frank J. Williams.

A college student is raped at a frat party.  A woman is abused by her husband for years; three months after she’s left him, he murders her in front of their children. A man is robbed at gunpoint.  A family’s home is invaded and their possessions are ransacked and stolen.  In the best scenario, all of these incidents are reported to police and the State takes over to find, arrest and try the offenders before a court of law.  Victims are called by prosecutors as witnesses during the trial.  The jury returns a verdict; the State is either satisfied or files an appeal. Often, once the crime is reported to police, the only role victims play in the prosecution of the individuals who have turned their lives upside-down is as witnesses.  Is this enough to garner faith that our justice system serves victims?  Through this survey course of victims’ rights, students will gain an understanding of how victims experience, participate in, and venture beyond the criminal justice system.  This area of law is important to anyone who becomes a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney, or a civil tort litigator.

Genocide in the 20th Century: In this course, which meets on Friday and Saturday on two separate weeks, Professor Noone explores the phenomenon of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and the legal instruments available to identify and punish atrocity crimes.

Employment Law Stories will be taught by Paul Stanzler a partner at the law firm of Burns &  Levinson in Boston. This course examines nine cases that have shaped the trajectory of contemporary employment law. The text delves into the history, background, parties and arguments made to the court in creating major doctrinal areas of employment law. Topics covered include employment at will, employee privacy, wrongful discharge and employment contracts.  Requires Honors enrollment.

This class will examine recent developments in trademark law and practice.  The course will explore:  the impact of the Internet; international aspects of trademark usage and law; practical considerations of enforcing a trademark; and how small and large companies seek to gain brand identity.  Lalitha Rao will teach is course.  Requires Honors enrollment.

This seminar looks at high-profile corporate scandals to understand how deep-rooted conflicts of interest can trigger crimes, and examines the role of scandals in prompting corporate reforms and government regulation intended to improve the practice of corporate governance.  We will explore how the response to scandal comprises both market (economic) and non-market (social, political, legal) components.

This course will examine the economic, philosophical and political forces that underpin the law of global capitalism in the 21st century.  From an historical perspective, the course will review the rise of capitalism and the evolution of legal approaches to control it, under the common law, in the United States and beyond.  In the present, the course will compare antitrust and competition law regimes around the world, from the US, to Europe and Japan, through focus on a case study of a global price fixing case and a global merger.  Students will gain familiarity with US, EU and other competition law regimes.  Patricia Sullivan, an antitrust practitioner for over 30 years, will teach this course.

This class will look at the allocation of sovereignty between the United States, Indian tribes and the states.  The course will take a particular look at that allocation in Rhode Island and will discuss the sovereignty issues raised by Carcieri v. Salazar, a controversial Rhode Island case recently decided by the United States Supreme Court.  Readings will be selected by Claire Richards, former Special Counsel to Governor Carcieri.