LY 480N

Trials impose an immense strain on everyone involved: litigants, of course, must directly bear the consequences of a verdict; witnesses, victims, friends, and family members also have a stake in everything; and officials must shoulder responsibility for due process, among other things. Trials also test the strength of institutions designed to serve justice, which is why so many dramas are set in courtrooms. LY 480N concentrates on theatrically staged and cinematic trials that probe the nature of justice, legal institutions, and our collective commitment to legal justice. We’ll read some plays, watch films, and use class time to explore the issues these stories raise.