This is a one-semester course in federal law's place in criminal justice. We will concentrate on the complex criminal cases that you should expect to encounter only in federal court and that involve resourceful offenders ranging from organized criminal and terrorist groups to commercial leaders and public officials. The primary concentration will be on how substantive crime definitions enable such cases. The course will cover mail fraud and securities fraud; public corruption; money laundering; racketeering and related offenses; anti-terrorism laws; and obstruction of justice. The course should be equally useful to those who might represent clients exposed to criminal liability in the federal system and those working to develop a full understanding of contemporary criminal justice.

Federal criminal law is a unique and sometimes strange legal creature, often differing starkly from the law encountered in the first-year criminal law course. The objective of this course is not so much to master doctrine as to understand the logic that supports (or does not support) various areas of federal criminal law and to learn how to debate federal criminal law’s merits and proper limits. Public policy, theory, critical thinking, and oral advocacy will be emphasized.

Grade is based on mock arguments, the written analysis of a bill, and a 24 hour take-home examination.

Federal criminal law is recommended either for second- or third-year students. It is especially helpful for students who will have a federal judicial clerkship, and those who anticipate a career in litigation. There are no prerequisites.

Sections/Instructors

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2012
E-mail List • Blackboard Site

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2011
E-mail List • Blackboard Site

Samuel W. Buell
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2010
E-mail List • Blackboard Site

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2008
E-mail List • Blackboard Site

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.02
Spring 2007
E-mail List • Blackboard Site
Download: Course Information

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2007
E-mail List • Blackboard Site
Download: Course Information

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2005

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2004

Sara Sun Beale
Federal Criminal Law 330.01
Spring 2003