Draft an Opinion
Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements
EXERCISES:
Required Text: Cooper, Phillip. J., Public Law and Public Administration (Latest Ed.). Thomson/Wadsworth.
Exercise B: IN THE MATTER OF THE SPELUNCEAN EXPLORERS
Read the summary of the “Case of the Speluncean Explorers” in Chapter 3. Assume that you are a judge of the Supreme Court of Newgarth. Draft an opinion for the Court of approximately 4-6 pages (double-spaced, 12 point font) explaining what you would do with the case and why. An opinion is merely an essay in which you: (1) summarize briefly the facts of the case and indicate how it came to your court; (2) set forth the issue or issues to be decided; (3) indicate your decision on those issues and your disposition of the case (affirmed, reversed, etc.); and (4) using academic sources to support your decision, provide the reasoning which supports your decisions on the issues in the case. Use plain language rather than attempting to dress your paper up in legalisms.
In drafting your opinion, consider the questions raised in the text.
When you have completed the opinion for the Court, draft a brief dissenting opinion (1 page). This part of the exercise allows you to demonstrate that you understand both sides of the argument you presented for the Court.
Always cite appropriately using APA.
