Adrien K. Wing
Bessie Dutton Murray Professor of Law
adrien-wing@uiowa.edu

A.B.     Princeton University, 1978
M.A.    University of California at Los Angeles, 1979
J.D.      Stanford Law School, 1982




Biographical Information

Courses

Constitutional Law I
This course studies the allocation of governmental powers according to the Constitution and the doctrine of judicial review and the nature of the judicial function in constitutional cases.  In addition, the relationships among the several branches of the national government, the federal system including powers delegated to the national government, powers reserved to the states, and intergovernmental immunities are also examined.

The course introduces students to the role of the judicial process in structuring the limits within which our society operates, and gives them an understanding ot the institutional development of our legal system and the relationship among the several institutions within that system.
Critical Race Theory
This course will examine race relations and racial discrimination through the perspectives of proponents of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement, a collection of legal scholars who challenge both conservative and liveral political orthodoxies.  CRT is part of an evolving critical jurisprudential tradition that originated with Critical Legal Studies (CLS) in the 1970s, and now includes feminism, critical white studies, Queer Theory, Asian Crit, and Lat-Crit Theory as well.  This semester a special emphasis will be placed on critical race feminism, a new offshoot of CRT that focuses on the status of women of color under the law.
Human Rights in the World Community
The course will introduce the student to the established and developing legal rules, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms governing the protection of international human rights.  It will address both liberal western and developing world notions of human rights as well as highlight recent examples of human rights controversies in all the regions of the world.  Special emphasis will be places on the international human rights of women, including examples from a new addition to human rights discourse known as Global Critical Race Feminism.
Law in the Muslim World
This course will be an introduction to selected international and comparative law issues relating to the various coutries in the Muslim world.  The legal cultures, institutions, rules, actors, and processes of a number of jurisdictions will be explored, including but not limited to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Nigegia, Palestine, and Pakistan.  Topics will include:  Islamic "sharia" law as practiced in a range of both Sunni and Shiite countries; the role of church vs. state and fundamentalism vs. secularism as manifested in the legal system; the tension between communitarianism vs. individualism in modern constitutionalism; intertwining of customary and religious legal practices; first, second, and third generations of human rights; and international law on such issues as terrorism and self-determination.  Another major topic will be women's rights, including a discussion of polygamy, divorce, child custody, and inheritance.

Law in the Muslim World  (Two Unit Version)

 

This two unit version of the Law in the Muslim world course will survey a selection of the various types of laws existing in the nearly 60 countries of the Muslim world. The subjects will include: Islamic law; unwritten customary law; civil law including constitutional and criminal law; international human rights law, particularly women's rights, and a case study on the right to self-determination; and public international law relating to terrorism.
Critical Approaches to Human Rights
This course will introduce the student to the established and developing legal rules, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms governing the protection of international human rights.  After a general overview, the course will adopt a regional approach with special emphasis placed on Europe, especially France.  The United States, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East will be included as well.  Interwoven throughout the course will be coverage of woment's rights, including a new addition to human rights discourse known as Global Critical Race Feminism.



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