The New Deal and the Supreme Court: Law, Politics and Packing the Court
Brought to you by Odyssey
November 1, 2021 - November 29, 2021 (no class Nov. 15)
Mondays, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET (6 course hours)
This course discusses the dramatic conflict between the Supreme Court and the New Deal. The history of the Supreme Court’s hostility to social and economic reforms, the conflict with the New Deal, and the court packing crisis is also examined.
Syllabus:
Session 1 The development of classical legal thought and the Court’s hostility to social reform, the coming of the Great Depression, and the eve of the New Deal
Session 2 The Supreme Court, its opposition to New Deal reforms, and the election of 1936.
Session 3 The court packing proposal and the campaigns, for and against. This class will include a reenactment of portions of the Congressional testimony on the bill.
Session 4 The Constitutional Revolution of 1937, the switch in time that saved nine, remaking the Supreme Court and aftermath.
Objective: The participants will come away with a greater understanding of a pivotal moment in American political and constitutional history, and sense of the complex interplay between politics, policy and the law.
About the Instructor
Hon. Stephen J. Sfekas, is a Senior Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He received his bachelor's degree in international relations from Georgetown University, an M.A. in history from Yale University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Tuition Remission and Refund Policies
Full-time JHU faculty/staff, their spouses or same-sex domestic partners, JHU retirees and their spouses or same-sex domestic partners are eligible for tuition remission. The tuition remission form is required. All tuition remission forms and details on eligibility can be found here and should be returned to odyssey@jhu.edu.
After registration, tuition remission eligibility will be confirmed by the Odyssey registrar. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, you will be required to pay full tuition for the course. Under the terms of the University’s remission program, Hopkins employees must withdraw in writing at least five working days before the first class to receive a 100% refund. No partial refunds are given to JHU employees and affiliates.
Please visit the registration and policies page for more information.
While participating in on-campus events and meetings, participants must follow all public health guidelines required by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine at the time of the event. If you are not fully vaccinated, we require that you wear a face covering during your visit to campus, even when it is no longer required for those who are vaccinated.
While participating in off-campus events and meetings sponsored by the JHAA/JHM/JHHS participants must follow all public health guidelines mandated by the local jurisdiction and venue at the time of the event, including vaccination and masking and distancing guidance. Johns Hopkins strongly suggests that attendees who join in person be fully vaccinated.