Children And The Law

Analysis of the legal relationships among children, families, and the state. Focus on how the law balances the rights and interests of children, their parents and caregivers, and the state under both the federal constitution and state law. Topics include the status, rights, and obligations of parents and children, and abuse and neglect of children, including the termination of parental rights. We will consider important and complex questions, for example, the appropriate balance between family autonomy and state regulation, and the effects of race, class, and gender on the legal rules in this area.