This series explores pivotal Supreme Court cases that shaped American history. From Marbury v. Madison to the Nixon Tapes, these cases illustrate the evolving balance of power among the branches of the U.S. government.

"Each session was very interesting and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed attending and look forward to his next series of lectures."- OLLI Patron

LECTURES:

1. Marbury v Madison: This first showdown between Chief Justice John Marshall and incoming President Thomas Jefferson defined the role of the Court in American politics for the next 200 years. Before this case, being a Supreme Court Justice was so unimportant that a man left it to become the treasurer of Maryland. After, they were a co-equal branch in our three-branch system.

2. Lincoln and the Post-War Court: During the Civil War, President Lincoln used executive powers in some questionable constitutional ways to win the war and free the slaves.  Once the war was won and Lincoln was dead, the Court had to decide how much of the power Lincoln grabbed during wartime was constitutionally appropriate.

3. Roosevelt Packs the Court: The conservative Supreme Court of the 1930s knocked down nearly all of FDR’s New Deal legislation, much to the President’s ire.  His solution? To get Congress to raise the number of Justices to 15 and pack the Court with loyal New Dealers. This fight was for the institutional integrity of the Court.

4. Nixon and His Tapes: Of the things President Nixon regretted during his time in office, perhaps his biggest was the decision to have his office wired for sound and recording.  When the special prosecutor subpoenaed the recordings that were made around the time of the Watergate break-ins, the President claimed that he had prosecutorial immunity and didn’t need to give them up.  This fight and decision loomed large recently as another President made a similar legal claim.

Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture. You will have approximately two weeks to view the video.

This series explores pivotal Supreme Court cases that shaped American history. From Marbury v. Madison to the Nixon Tapes, these cases illustrate the evolving balance of power among the branches of the U.S. government.

"Each session was very interesting and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed attending and look forward to his next series of lectures."- OLLI Patron

LECTURES:

1. Marbury v Madison: This first showdown between Chief Justice John Marshall and incoming President Thomas Jefferson defined the role of the Court in American politics for the next 200 years. Before this case, being a Supreme Court Justice was so unimportant that a man left it to become the treasurer of Maryland. After, they were a co-equal branch in our three-branch system.

2. Lincoln and the Post-War Court: During the Civil War, President Lincoln used executive powers in some questionable constitutional ways to win the war and free the slaves.  Once the war was won and Lincoln was dead, the Court had to decide how much of the power Lincoln grabbed during wartime was constitutionally appropriate.

3. Roosevelt Packs the Court: The conservative Supreme Court of the 1930s knocked down nearly all of FDR’s New Deal legislation, much to the President’s ire.  His solution? To get Congress to raise the number of Justices to 15 and pack the Court with loyal New Dealers. This fight was for the institutional integrity of the Court.

4. Nixon and His Tapes: Of the things President Nixon regretted during his time in office, perhaps his biggest was the decision to have his office wired for sound and recording.  When the special prosecutor subpoenaed the recordings that were made around the time of the Watergate break-ins, the President claimed that he had prosecutorial immunity and didn’t need to give them up.  This fight and decision loomed large recently as another President made a similar legal claim.

Live In-Person with Video Catch-up. Available 2-3 business days after the live lecture. You will have approximately two weeks to view the video.