Outline
Criminal Law
Reading text: Criminal Law: A Contemporary Approach by Weaver, Burkoff, & Hancock (5th ed.).
Chapters
- Ch. 1—Purposes of Criminal Law — retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation (pp. 1–16)
- Ch. 2—Actus Reus — voluntary act, omissions on legal duty, possession, status (pp. 25–90)
- Ch. 3—Mens Rea — MPC mental states, mistake, intoxication, strict liability (pp. 100–154)
- Ch. 4—Causation — but-for, proximate, intervening causes (pp. 159–88)
- Ch. 5—Accomplice Liability — principals, accessories, aiding & abetting (pp. 193–237)
- Ch. 6—Attempt — substantial step, abandonment, impossibility (pp. 257–91)
- Ch. 7—Conspiracy — agreement, overt act, Wharton's Rule, Pinkerton (pp. 299–365)
- Ch. 8—Homicide — murder degrees, felony murder, manslaughter (pp. 375–439)
- Ch. 12—Defenses — justifications & excuses (pp. 589–704)
Class-by-Class Schedule
| Date | Day | Topic | Reading | Cases / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | TR | Purposes of Criminal Law | pp. 1–16 | Dudley & Stephens; Bergman |
| Jan 23 | F | Actus Reus | pp. 25–33; 40–50 | Martin; Fulcher; Gory; Robinson |
| Jan 28 | W (makeup) | Actus Reus / Mens Rea | pp. 52–56, 62–65; 71–76; 84–90; 100–105 | Jones; Williquette; Faulkner; Ducker; Rehaif |
| Jan 29 | TR | No Class | — | — |
| Jan 30 | F | No Class | — | — |
| Feb 5 | TR | Mens Rea · Actus Reus Quiz | pp. 117–23, 128–32; 137–38 | Atkins; Hopson; Freeman |
| Feb 6 | F | Mens Rea | pp. 139–154 | Breathette; Scarmazzo; DeCastro; Kipp |
| Feb 11 | W (makeup) | Causation | pp. 159–63, 167–73, 186–88 | Stephenson; Acosta; McGee |
| Feb 12 | TR | Accomplice Liability · Mens Rea & Causation Quiz | pp. 193–95, 204–05 (MPC); 208–10, 213–16 | Standefer; Merritt; Soares |
| Feb 13 | F | Accomplice Liability | pp. 216–19, 221–37 | Kaplan; Potts; Twitter |
| Feb 19 | TR | Accomplice Liability | pp. 216–19, 221–37 | Kaplan; Potts; Twitter (cont'd) |
| Feb 20 | F | Attempt · Accomplice Quiz | pp. 257–60, 262–67 | Maestas; Gibson; Peaslee |
| Feb 25 | W (makeup) | Attempt | pp. 269–75 | Rizzo; Jackson |
| Feb 26 | TR | Attempt | pp. 278–80, 284–91 | Workman; Guffey; Curtis; Dlugash |
| Feb 27 | F | Conspiracy · Attempt Quiz · Take-Home Formative Assessment | pp. 299–311, 316–19 | Huff; Mendoza; Palmer; Blankenship |
| Mar 5 | TR | Conspiracy | pp. 329–39, 342–50 | Papillon; Rosado; Garcia; Cottrell |
| Mar 6 | F | Conspiracy | pp. 350–53, 355–65 | Gurwell; Hardison; Pinkerton |
| Mar 11 | W (makeup) | Formative Assessment Review | — | — |
| Mar 12 | TR | Homicide · Conspiracy Quiz | pp. 375–84, 388–96 | Ramirez; Hope; Davis; Hinds |
| Mar 13 | F | Homicide | pp. 406–09, 411–22 | Burley; Blair; Portillo |
| Mar 19 | TR | Spring Break | — | — |
| Mar 20 | F | Spring Break | — | — |
| Mar 25 | W (makeup) | Homicide | pp. 423–27, 432–39 | Noakes; Powell; McCoy |
| Mar 26 | TR | Finish Homicide · Take-Home Formative Assessment | — | — |
| Mar 27 | F | Justification Defenses · Homicide Quiz | pp. 589–94, 598–601, 605–15, 618–24, 631–37 | Brown; Marr; Bechtel; Anderson; Crawford |
| Apr 2 | TR | Excuses | pp. 641–47, 649–52, 696–704 | Contento-Pachon; M'Naughten; In re Devon T. |
| Apr 3 | F | Defenses Quiz (Justifications & Excuses) · Formative Assessment Review | — | — |
| Apr 9 | TR | TBD | — | — |
| Apr 10 | F | TBD | — | — |
| Apr 16 | TR | TBD | — | — |
| Apr 17 | F | TBD | — | — |
Quick Reference
Mens Rea Hierarchy (MPC § 2.02)
- Purposefully — conscious objective to engage in conduct/cause result.
- Knowingly — practically certain.
- Recklessly — consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk.
- Negligently — should have been aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk.
- Greater satisfies the lesser: P→K→R→N (one direction only).
Strategies
- Inchoate offenses: Attempt, Conspiracy — punish dangerous purpose before harm.
- Vicarious liability: Accomplice Liability, Pinkerton Rule (in Ch. 7) — convict for others' acts.
- Defenses: Justifications (act was right) vs. Excuses (actor not blameworthy).
Exam Strategy (IRAC)
- Step 1: Look at the question prompt.
- Step 2: Read facts strategically.
- Step 3: Outline the answer.
- Step 4: Write with IRAC:
- Issue
- Rule
- Application ← longest part; apply the rule to the facts.
- Conclusion
Final Exam
- One-page (8.5"×11") sheet of personal notes/outline allowed (both sides).
- No other materials, books, outlines, or commercial study aids.
- Format: multiple choice.
- Typed on laptop unless otherwise approved.