The University of Texas at Austin   School of Law

This course will meet for six sessions of two-hours each over the spring semester.  The first session(s) will consider some of the philosophical controversies surrounding the issue of tortures:  Is it ever legitimate or is always prohibited in any sound philosophy? We will then turn to looking at some of the legal issues involving torture, including both domestic and foreign (and international) law.  In particular, how is torture defined? Finally, we we will look at the particular role(s) played by lawyers with regard to the issue.  Are there norms of "professional responsibility" attached, say, to being a lawyer in the Office of Legal Counsel, the Department of Defense, the JAG corps, etc.  Readings will be taken largely from collections of materials edited by myself, Torture:  A Collection (Oxford, pb.  ed 2006) and Karen Greenberg, ed., The Debate About Torture (Cambridge U.  Press, pb.  ed.  2006).  There will be no examination or substantial writing expected, but participants will be expected to submit short papers that can serve as the basis of our discussions.  Grades will be pass-fail.