The Georgetown University School of Law is a prestigious institution located in the heart of our nation's capitol.  And, the faculty are fans of Jack Bauer and 24.  Or, maybe just one faculty member.  Professor Walter Gary Sharp, who also serves as a counsel for the Department of Defense, will be teaching a new class this Fall called “The Law of 24”.  So, yeah, Georgetown Law now has a class solely dedicated to 24's interpretation of the law in regards to terrorist threats. Here's the class description from the Georgetown website:

The award winning Fox Television drama series 24 explores America's fictional response to international terrorism through the eyes of Jack Bauer, a U.S. counter-terrorism agent. Oftentimes without remorse or regard for the law, Agent Bauer is willing to do what has to be done when faced with the threat of kidnappings, assassinations, nuclear detonations, and bioterrorism on U.S. soil – despite traitors in his family, his unit, and the White House; partisan politics; sleeper cells; and hidden agendas. This course provides a detailed understanding of a very wide-range of U.S. domestic and international legal issues concerning counterterrorism in the context of the utilitarian and sometimes desperate responses to terrorism raised by the plot of 24. Course requirements include active classroom discussion and a paper of approximately 25 pages.

Sounds like a pretty sweet class, for law school at least.  Is the class, however, going to be a serious examination of Bauer's repeated need to break the law, or a look at all the things that are wholly unrealistic that take place in the world of 24?  I can't imagine a law school class taking the situations on 24 seriously because most are completely absurd (which is also why they're great). No matter what the class ends up being, you can bet that it will likely be the most coveted law course at Georgetown next semester.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: Slate
(Image Courtesy of FOX)