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Pretrial Federal Criminal Practice
Prof. Bernadette Feeley,
2 credits day; 2 credits evening. Pre-trial Federal Criminal Practice is a combination of lectures
and participatory simulations. Students are graded on a combination of written legal memoranda,
class oral advocacy exercises, and class participation. Class participation counts for 10% of the
grade. Areas of focus for the class are pretrial federal practice in general, with specific class
exercises involving detention hearings, grand jury presentations, and suppression motions.
This course focuses on procedural rules, oral advocacy skills and writing skills for the pretrial
phase of criminal litigation. The primary focus will be on pretrial criminal practice in federal
courts and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure dealing with preliminary proceedings,
indictment, arraignment and preparation for trial. Students will argue on behalf of the
government or defense at several pretrial stages including arraignment, detention, and pretrial
motions. Students will draft several documents related to these stages and write and argue one
substantive pretrial suppression motion. Students may not receive credit for both this course and
Pretrial Criminal Litigation. Grades are based upon preparation and performance on assigned
oral exercises and written submissions.
Enrollment is limited: 14
Elective Course
Meets Skills Menu Requirement
Meets Civil Litigation Concentration Requirements