Advanced Criminal Law: Cops as Defendants (6047)

Through an in-depth study of the Derek Chauvin case, plus other recent cases of Minnesota police officers charged for crimes in the line of duty, this course analyzes the intricacies of attempting to punish cops who break the law rather than enforce it. This course covers the elements of homicide charges under Minnesota law; the rules on self-defense; trial techniques with assessments of the quality of actual direct and cross-examinations; the rules of evidence concerning the prior conduct of police officers and their victims; the role of forensics and expert witnesses; the effects of racial bias and stereotypes on jury selection and elsewhere; and the factors that influence federal prosecutors in bringing federal civil rights charges to accompany state charges.

Students will review legal briefs, trial transcripts, and video coverage form the Chauvin case. Class discussions will include critiques of the prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judge in the Chauvin case. There will also be debate about how accurately the media have presented the case. Guest speakers will supplement the presentations from the instructors.
Each week students will write short assessments of selected topics from the Chauvin case.

Besides primary sources from the trial and appeals, secondary materials will be drawn from newspaper, magazine, blog, and radio/television coverage of the Chauvin trial. Further, the instructors will assign materials (treatises and law reviews) that cover relevant aspects of Minnesota criminal law.