ACADEMYCLOSED

Power, Politics and Justice

Take a deep dive into the judicial system and explore the structure, powers, and processes of the Supreme Court.

Instructor:

1/2

Course Description

The Supreme Court is among the most important and least understood institutions in U.S. politics, with the power to create things like rights to abortion and legal affirmative action, and the same power to take such things away. How does the Supreme Court work? Is it democratic? Anti-democratic? Do the Justices' individual backgrounds and identities — their education, race, gender, class, religion, region, and personality — matter, and if so, how? Are the Justices just "legislators in robes?" Or is the law just caused by "what the judge ate for breakfast," as Judge Jerome Frank famously claimed? We conclude the course with an analysis of whether the Supreme Court is helping or hindering President Donald Trump.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Explain the structure, powers, and processes of the Supreme Court.
Analyze the democratic and anti-democratic dimensions of judicial decision-making.
Evaluate the influence of Justices’ personal backgrounds, identities, and experiences on case outcomes.
Critically assess competing theories of judicial behavior, from legal formalism to judicial pragmatism.
Apply Supreme Court analysis to contemporary political and legal questions, including recent cases and current events.

Tangible Outcomes

Research Project: Students select a Supreme Court case or Justice to analyze, considering both legal doctrine and socio-political context.
Policy Impact Reflection: Evaluate how Supreme Court decisions affect societal issues and individual rights.
Class Discussion Circles: Reflect on questions of democracy, justice, and institutional power in structured peer discussions.

Hands-on Activities

Case Analysis Workshops:

Study landmark cases such as Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, and affirmative action decisions to explore how legal principles are applied and contested.
Debates and Mock Hearings: Take on the roles of Justices, attorneys, or interest groups to experience courtroom strategy and judicial deliberation.
Guest Speaker Sessions: Engage with law professors, practicing attorneys, and judges who provide real-world insights into the Court’s inner workings.
Judicial Biography Studies: Investigate individual Justices’ backgrounds to understand how personal experiences may influence their reasoning.
Media and Current Events Analysis: Examine how recent rulings and political dynamics shape public perception of the Court and its legitimacy.

AT A GLANCE

Power, Politics and Justice

GRADE LEVELGrades 9-12CAMPUSDartmouthFIELD OF STUDYLaw & GovernmentCOURSE TYPEACADEMYDATES6/28/2026 - 7/10/2026 (2 Weeks)COURSE TIMESAll Day

Instructor Bio

Jack O’Toole is a retired Marine and entrepreneur based in Hanover, New Hampshire. A graduate of the Tuck School of Business and an Eagle Scout, he served in Marine Corps special operations and commanded multiple units during deployments across five continents. He was part of the small team that created MARSOC and served as Chief Operating Officer of a Marine Expeditionary Unit, supporting relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Since his military service Jack has focused on building and supporting mission-driven technology companies. He founded FreshAir Sensor, the leading in-room air quality monitoring company in the hospitality industry, and co-founded Lutum, whose PFAS-capture technology was licensed to a Fortune 50 company. He currently leads SDI, a company working to develop a universal, science-based measure of impairment.

Course Syllabus

To view a sample syllabus, please contact your program specialist, or reach us at info@summerdiscovery.com or call +1 (516) 447-4907.

Admissions Criteria

An interest in a future law and government career is the key to success in this program! Additionally, your application criteria include:

Recommended GPA of 3.5 or above in the field of study or related field.
Completed Summer Discovery application, including a thoughtful response to short-answer questions.

Who should attend this course?

An interest in the political process is the key to success in this program! Additionally, your application criteria include:

Recommended GPA of 3.5 or above in the field of study or related field.
Completed Summer Discovery application, including a thoughtful response to short-answer questions.

Benefits of Attending this Course

In addition to a university-level course experience, students will leave this course and the Dartmouth Summer Scholars program with portfolio-building documentation in recognition of their summer achievements, including:

Branded Course Completion Certificate demonstrating your successful completion of the Dartmouth Summer Scholars program.
Letter of Recognition from Summer Discovery recognizing your academic achievement in completing this course.

AT A GLANCE

Power, Politics and Justice

GRADE LEVELGrades 9-12CAMPUSDartmouthFIELD OF STUDYLaw & GovernmentCOURSE TYPEACADEMYDATES6/28/2026 - 7/10/2026 (2 Weeks)COURSE TIMESAll Day

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPUS

Dartmouth

Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion

After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.

*This is a preview, not what you will receive