In this course, Judge Florence Y. Pan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will draw on over sixteen years of experience on the bench to consider what it means to be a judge and how to do the job well. Having served as a judge at both the trial and appellate levels and within the state and federal court systems, Judge Pan will provide unique insights into the judicial decision-making process. Students will not only engage with myriad legal issues -- such as sentencing, procedural fairness, and constitutional law -- but also with the various practical concerns of being a judge, including running a courtroom and chambers, recruiting and working with law clerks, and managing heavy dockets. The course will consider these issues from a diversity of perspectives, including those of guest co-teachers, such as Judge Casey Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the D.C. Circuit. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS Registrar website https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
1 units · Law Mandatory P/R/F
In this course, Judge Florence Y. Pan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will draw on over sixteen years of experience on the bench to consider what it means to be a judge and how to do the job well. Having served as a judge at both the trial and appellate levels and within the state and federal court systems, Judge Pan will provide unique insights into the judicial decision-making process. Students will not only engage with myriad legal issues -- such as sentencing, procedural fairness, and constitutional law -- but also with the various practical concerns of being a judge, including running a courtroom and chambers, recruiting and working with law clerks, and managing heavy dockets. The course will consider these issues from a diversity of perspectives, including those of guest co-teachers, such as Judge Casey Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the D.C. Circuit. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS Registrar website https://registrar.law.stanford.edu/. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.