Justice on Trial: Landmark Cases in Modern U.S. History 3301-KA2536-1ST
The course provides an overview of contemporary legal trials that have significantly shaped American public opinion. Organized chronologically, the syllabus reflects key debates and controversies surrounding political crimes (treason, espionage), violations of civil rights by both authorities and fellow citizens (freedom of speech, defamation, the right to protest, freedom of movement, the right to choose one’s residence, and the right to death), as well as cold-blooded murders and animal rights advocacy.
Situated within the law and society approach, the course places emphasis on how social and historical processes influence the courts’ opinions. It introduces elements of American constitutional and criminal law while offering sociological and media studies perspectives on the public trial. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to capture the dynamics and multidimensional nature of the court cases analyzed. Furthermore, such a perspective enables an examination of how courts—as legal institutions—influence the formation of national identity and, conversely, how public opinion impacts the legal system.
The course draws on original legal documents, including complaints, court opinions, witness testimonies, closing arguments from both defense and prosecution, and journalistic trial reports.
List of Topics:
1. Sacco-Vanzetti Trial
2. Loeb & Leopold Trial
3. The Sweet Trials
4. Osage Murder Trials
5. Scottsboro Boys Trials
6. The Rosenberg Trial
7. “In Cold Blood” Trials
8. The Chicago 7 Trial
9. The Trials of Dr. Jack Kevorkian
10. The Siege of Ruby Ridge and Randy Weaver’s Trial
11. Jerry Falwell sues the Hustler Magazine
12. Animal Rights on Trial
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students will have familiarity with:
K_W01 advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and region studies within the domain of English Studies, in particular with regard to the social, cultural, and legal aspects of famous court trials.
K_W08 concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright
Abilities
Students will be able to:
K_U01 apply advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and region studies within the domain of English Studies, in particular with regard to the social, cultural and legal aspects of famous court trials.
K_U08 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law
Social competences
Students will be ready to:
K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources, in particular with regard to the impact of famous court cases on American society and culture.
K_K02 recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems; consult experts when required
*** Applies to students who began their studies in the year 2022/2023 ***
Knowledge
Students will have familiarity with:
K_W02 key terminology, well established methods and theories of linguistics, literary studies and culture studies within English studies, in particular with regard to the social, cultural, and legal aspects of famous court trials.
K_W03 methodology and recent developments in English literary studies and culture studies, in particular those connected to the law and society perspective
K_W05 the characteristics of English grammar, syntax, phonology, phonetics, morphology and pragmatics on an advanced level
K_W07 principles of designing literary and culture studies, with special focus on selecting appropriate methods and tools in formulating research questions relating to the social, cultural, and legal aspects of famous court trials.
Abilities
Students will be able to:
K_U01 employ the terminology and methodological tools from linguistics, literary studies and culture studies, in particular regarding the impact of famous court cases on American law, society and culture.
K_U02 employ the methodology of literary and culture studies within English studies, respecting the ethical norms and copyright law
K_U04 implement knowledge to describe a problem and identify means to solve it, thereby completing a project in literary studies and in culture and religion studies, especially one relating to the impact of famous court cases on American society and culture
K_U11 design one’s own development
Social competences
Students will be ready to:
K_K02 undertake life-long learning and personal development, applying skills and competences to select subjects and projects optimally suiting one’s personal interests
K_K03 value responsibility for one’s own work and respect the work of others, adhering to the professional and ethical norms in various projects and other activities undertaken at work, voluntary services, etc.
Assessment criteria
-oral contributions and written assignments (verification of outcomes: W, U, K).
- student-led facilitation (verification of outcomes: W, U, K).
- test (verification of outcomes: W, U, K).
-a project portfolio presentation (verification of outcomes: W, U, K).
Bibliography
Archives:
Linder, Douglas O. Famous Trials. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2024, www.famous-trials.com.
Secondary sources:
Baatz, Simon. For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz Age Chicago. Harper Perennial, 2009.
Boyle, Kevin. Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age. Henry Holt and Co., 2004
Ferguson, Robert A. The Trial in American Life. University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Great Trials in American History: Civil War to the Present, National Institute for Citizen Education in Law. West Education Publishing, 1999.
Irons, Peter. A People's History of the Supreme Court: The Cases and Decisions That Have Shaped America. Penguin Books, 2006.
Knappman, Edward W., ed. Great American Trials: 1944 to the Present. Gale Research, 2002.
Vine, Phyllis. One Man's Castle: Clarence Darrow in Defense of the American Dream. Amistad, 2004.
Literary sources:
Mailer, Norman. Miami and the Siege of Chicago An Informal History of the Republican and Democratic Conventions of 1968, New American Library, 1968.
Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. Random House, 1966.
Films:
In Cold Blood, Crime Drama Miniseries, FilmRise True Crime,
Rope, dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1948.
The People vs Larry Flynt, dir. Miloš Forman, 1996
The Perfect Crime, American Experience, PBS,
The Trial of the Chicago 7, dir. Aaron Sorkin, 2020
You Don’t Know Jack, dir. Barry Levinson, 2010.