PLAP 3820

Tough, but funny guy.

O'Brien is funny, and smart. You learn a lot n this class if you do the reading and pay attention. There really isn't much work to do except you need to study a lot for the midterm and final as there is a lot of information to know and you will be pressed for time on the tests. Moot court paper, 10 page. Not too bad.

Good class, lectures covered necessary material really well and Davis was a very good TA

Great class if you are interested in politics but make sure to stay with the readings- if you go to class, you will have no problem.

This is a worthwhile, but difficult class to take. What makes this course hard is the sheer amount of information you have to remember in order to succeed. Every class you are supposed to have read Supreme Court opinions on various civil liberties/rights cases throughout the years. It can be a lot, but if you power through it what you read is pretty interesting, especially if you have an interest in politics. Because your grade consists of a midterm, final and a moot court paper (essentially roleplaying as a SCOTUS justice at the end of the semester) it is very easy to slack off and not read/do any work. I would definitely advise against falling into this trap. It is much more manageable to just do the readings. Oyez.com will be your friend when it comes time to study for the midterm/final. Overall, I would suggest this class because it was very informative. The biggest negative, I felt, wasn't the class but the material. By the end of the course you'll find that SCOTUS is very inconsistent in its logic - not just from era to era but almost from case to case.

Good class, enthusiastic professor, not too difficult. The reading is almost completely unnecessary except for maybe the introductory essays.

Really excellent class if you're at all interested in constitutional law or just American law in general. Professor O'Brian is passionate about the subject and incredibly fun (always has a sense of humor and willingness to laugh). The class is small which makes class discussion a major plus. The Supreme Court cases are analyzed, criticized, and discussed from all points of view, and the course really helped me understand how the U.S. law system works (as well as helping me form better opinions about the judicial system and its effects). Yes, it's a LOT of reading (if you read every court case for every class), but if you want to fully participate in the class and understand each case and law nuance, you really need to read -- it will definitely help with the exams and with a general comprehension during lecture. Strongly recommend the class if you're a government major or at all interested in law!!

This is an excellent class for anyone interested in SCOTUS or Constitutional law. O'Brien is incredibly knowledgeable about the material and all the readings are Court opinions. It is, however, very hard to do well on the exams. There are 3 exams, with the second one being optional if you score well on the first, but each covers a significant number of cases and broad themes O'Brien pulls out of the Court's evolution. I really enjoyed the course and think it's one that, if you're interested, is worth getting a B just for the experience.

AMAZING class. A must-take for anyone interested in government or SCOTUS. I had no background or interest in constitutional law before this class, but left loving the subject. There is a lot of reading, but you can get away with reading just the introductory essays if you attend class regularly. The tests are fair and straightforward if you put the work into studying. Oyez.org will be your best friend. There are three exams, with the second being optional if you are satisfied with your first exam grade. 10% is participation/attendance which is easily earned if you show up and go to office hours. Professor O'Brien is extremely knowledgable and makes the class fun and enjoyable. I had never before taken a 75 minute class that didn't feel painfully slow. Professor O'Brien has quickly become my favorite professor at UVa.

O'Brien is remarkably knowledgeable about the subject matter as he has been studying the Supreme Court for a long time and knows, to some degree at least, many of the justices. The lecture can occasionally get a little dry, but he really does love what he's teaching and can get fired up about it sometimes, more so towards the end of the course. If you're interested in the Supreme Court or constitutional law at all you should take this class, regardless of major.