Jurisdiction, Judgments and the Family Seminar
Prof. Rhonda Wasserman
Course Description
This seminar will explore the intersections between family law, jurisdiction and judgments. We will learn that in a number of different settings, the courts have created special exceptions from standard jurisdictional rules for family law cases. For example, although personal jurisdiction is typically gauged by the minimum contacts test, that test does not apply in divorce cases. Likewise, although federal jurisdiction typically exists in suits between citizens of different states that satisfy the amount requirement, diversity jurisdiction is unavailable in "domestic relations" cases between citizens of different states. We also will learn that the courts have created a variety of exceptions from standard rules regarding the interstate preclusive effect of judgments for judgments rendered in family law cases. The seminar will explore a number of these family law exceptions and attempt to understand why family law cases are treated differently and whether the exceptions should be retained.
Students will be expected to prepare two drafts of a paper, to present the paper to the class, to provide written comments on a draft of another student's paper, and to participate in general classroom discussion. Enrollment limited to 12 students.
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