Material Information at Hamline

WELCOME STUDENTS!

2007-08-09T10:53:00.000-06:00

The Law Library staff welcomes you!

This library provides you with access to a myriad of resources and services. We invite you to visit our website, http://www.hamline.edu/law/library/, which is your gateway to accessing all of our electronic and physical resources. Our staff will help you identify the information you need, and can show you where and how to access it.

Whether you are a returning student or a 1L, please feel free to ask us for assistance. We are here to help you succeed in law school!

Construction!

2007-07-27T07:26:00.000-06:00

The Kelwall in the library is being replaced! Work will begin July 27 on the east side of the library (third floor study rooms) and will continue to the west side. Work will begin at 7 a.m. each day. The estimated completion date is August 10. There may be some noise during construction, and library users may want to avoid sitting close to the work areas. Please contact Randy Snyder, Frances Singh, or one of the other library staff with any concerns.

Executive Privilege

2007-07-16T11:02:00.000-06:00

A Constitutional showdown looms on the horizon with the Bush administration claiming executive privilege for any number of things that Congress is interested in investigating.

Michel C. Dorf has written A Brief History of Executive Privilege, from George Washington to Dick Cheney. Mr. Dorf is the Isidor & Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia University School of Law. Cass R. Sunstein, a law professor at the University of Chicago, recently wrote an editorial for the Boston Globe on the issue of executive privilege. Read it here.

Presidential Signing Statements

2007-07-05T08:12:00.000-06:00

Senator Arlen Specter (R) Pennsylvania, has issued the following press release:
"Senator Arlen Specter, ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced on Friday legislation to regulate the use of presidential signing statements in the interpretation of an Act of Congress. The Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2007, S. 1747, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee...The bill seeks to protect the constitutional system of checks and balances by, first, preventing the President from issuing a signing statement that alters the meaning of a statute by instructing the courts not to rely on signing statements in interpreting an act; and second, granting Congress the power to participate in any case where the construction or constitutionality of an act of Congress is in question and a signing statement was issued when the act was signed." Read the bill here. An article from the Boston Globe about Presidential Signing Statements, and the controversy surrounding them, can be found here.

"I've Got Friends in High Places....."

2007-07-03T08:17:00.000-06:00

This might be the song I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is singing after the grant of the executive clemency by President Bush, just hours after a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected Libby's petition to remain free while he appealed his conviction. Libby was convicted in March on two counts of perjury, lying to Federal agents, and obstructing a federal investigation of whether members of the Bush administration disclosed the name of CIA employeeValerie Plame in violation of federal law. CBS reported that Bush did not consult the justice department before granting clemency to Libby. Prosecutor Fitzgerald's comments on the grant of clemency can be seen here.

For more information on Executive Clemency, you may want to read the following:
Andrew B. Whitford, The Political Roots of Executive Clemency
U.S. Dept. of Justice, Presidential Clemency Actions by Administration (1945-2001)
U.S. Dept. of Justice, Rules Governing Petitions for Executive Clemency
R.A. Saliterman, Reflections on the Presidential Clemency Power, 38 OKLA. L.Rev. 257 (1985)

Supreme Court Term Reviewed

2007-07-02T10:38:00.000-06:00

The American Constitution Society held a panel discussion about the current term (just ended) of the U.S. Supreme Court. The panel discussed many of the Court’s important decisions and identified trends that are emerging. Streaming Video of the panel discussion is available here.

Innocence Project Celebrates 15 Years

2007-06-08T09:56:00.000-06:00

In 1992, Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld started the Innocence Project in New York. The purpose of their project was to use DNA evidence to exonerate people who had been wrongly convicted. Since then, 201 people who were sent to prison for crimes they did not commit have been exonerated. Read an article about the 15th Anniversary of the Innocence Project here.
Did you know that Minnesota’s Innocence Project is on Hamline’s campus? It is a non-profit legal clinic that only handles cases where post conviction DNA testing of evidence can yield conclusive proof of innocence. As a clinic, students handle the case work while supervised by a team of attorneys and clinic staff.
If you would like to find out more about the Innocence Project and the use of DNA to exonerate innocent individuals, look at The Innocents, KF9756 .S56 2003, and Bloodsworth: the true story of the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA, HV8701.B56 J85 2004 .

Note: This blog will be on hiatus until July 2.

New Chairs!

2007-06-04T07:14:00.001-06:00

You may have noticed that new, more comfortable chairs are beginning to appear in the Law Library. A number of these chairs are here because of the generous donation of the following alumni:
Richard J. Corcoran, Mark J. Heley, Dana Jo Holt, Carol A. White,
Curtis Paul Zaun, John T. Matejcak, Kris Anne Tobin, Andrea R. Anderson.

If you would like to contribute to the fund to buy more library chairs, you may do so by contacting Randy Snyder (x2131) or Frances Singh (x2351).

Human Rights Report-Iraq

2007-05-21T07:42:00.000-06:00

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq has published a report of the state of human rights in that country. The period of time covered in the report is January 1 - March 31, 2007. Read it here: http://www.ohchr.org/english/press/docs/unami_10.pdf.

Congratulations!

2007-05-17T06:53:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to all the graduating seniors! It has been our pleasure to work with you throughout your law school years, and we wish you all the best as you take the next steps in your legal career!

-The Law Library Staff

Extended Hours During Final Exams

2007-05-01T08:36:00.000-06:00

The library will have extended hours during the final exam period. From May 3 – 16, the library will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Once again, the library will provide a coffee cart to help students stay awake during those late night study marathons.

Remember that you can find old exams on the law library web site. Click on Reserves & Exams on the right side bar of the law library home page, and follow the path to find the exams you are looking for. You will need to enter your library bar code in order to view the exams.

Good luck on your exams!

Westlaw and Lexis Summer Access

2007-04-27T07:47:00.000-06:00

Did you know that you can access Westlaw and Lexis over the summer for things such as summer classes, law review, and faculty research assistance? Students are reminded to extend their access to Westlaw and Lexis over the summer by logging in to the system and following the summer extension links.

Spring Cleaning!

2007-04-25T11:08:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year again! If you have lost something in the library, or if you think you might have lost something in the library, be sure to check the lost and found at the Circulation Desk. After finals are over, we will be cleaning out the cabinet and sending all contents to Safety and Security.

Digital Pen Allows Students to By-pass Taking Notes on Laptops

2007-04-23T07:34:00.000-06:00

Professors complain about students taking notes on laptops during class; students say they need to be able to do it. A compromise gadget is the EPOS digital pen, which allows students to use the device as if it were a ballpoint, then plug the device into the USB drive on their computer (EPOS software must be installed on the computer). The "notes" taken with the pen appear on the screen, then the program converts them to computer text. The pen will debut this summer, at an estimated cost of $200.

Thanks to Barclay Blog for this note!

New Website Design for FTC

2007-04-18T11:50:00.000-06:00

FTC has unveiled a new website. See it here.

We Heard You! Now We Need Your Input to Help Find New Chairs for the Law Library!

2007-04-11T08:47:00.000-06:00

We have taken note that the chairs in the law library can be, well, a little uncomfortable for those who sit on them for long periods of time. We are making preparations to replace them (over a period of time) with chairs that will be more comfortable for our users.
We would like you, the law students, to assist us in selecting the chairs that we will eventually buy. On April 13 – 17, vendors will bring in a number of chairs so that our students can “test drive” them. We encourage our students to sit in the various chairs and evaluate them for comfort. The chairs will be located at the long table across from the Circulation Desk, and will be numbered 1-6. While you are there, fill out a ballot ranking the chairs by comfort, and put the ballot in the box provided for that purpose. Instead of providing you with an “I Voted” sticker, we will have treats set out for the test takers.

Congratulations Dispute Resolution Institute!

2007-04-04T07:22:00.001-06:00

The Dispute Resolution Institute at Hamline University School of Law was ranked third in the 2008 U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best graduate schools and programs in the nation. Harvard University was also ranked in third place. Other law schools in the top five include Pepperdine University, Ohio State University, Harvard, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Hamline has been ranked in the top five. Congratulations DRI!

CRS Reports Now Harder to Obtain

2007-03-26T07:34:00.000-06:00

This blog has posted several times about the usefulness of CRS Reports as research documents. Now, according to the CRS Director Daniel Mulhollan, CRS reports cannot be distributed to "non-Congressionals" without prior approval from CRS officials. See Mulhollan's memo here.
In 1998, the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration encouraged the publication of CRS Reports on the Internet, and over the years there has been support for making these reports widely available via the Internet. You can read an article written by Stephen Young for LLRX about CRS Reports here.
Here is a list of sites where you can find CRS reports on various topics:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/index.html
http://fpc.state.gov/c4763.htm
http://www.thememoryhole.org/crs/
http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/

CALI Reminder

2007-03-22T07:42:00.000-06:00

With finals fast approaching, don't forget that CALI lessons are a great way to help you prepare for them! If you're unfamiliar, CALI lessons are interactive, computer- based tutorials provided by the non-profit Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (www.cali.org). There are over 600 CALI lessons available in 32 different legal subject areas. The lessons, written by law faculty/librarians, are available at no charge to all law students at Hamline because our law school is a CALI member.
If you are registering an account at cali.org for the first time, note that you must use our school's authorization code to create a new account on www.cali.org. You can get the CALI authorization code by asking a librarian for a CALI code card, or you can email Barb Kallusky at bkallusky01@hamline.edu.

Minnesota CLE Online Library Now Available!

2007-03-12T08:23:00.000-06:00

The law library now has access to the Minnesota CLE Online Library for law students and faculty. What is this resource? It is an online library that enables users to download most of Minnesota CLE’s course materials. It has coverage back to 2000, and more materials are being added. Search options include searching by seminar, practice area, author, and keyword. Forms are also available through this online program.

Users will set up a password after entering the 2006-2007 discount code.
At the Reserve Desk you will find tutorial DVDs (Z711.O55 2007) that will explain the resource and guide you through the process of setting up access for using it as well as a brochure that explains it. The discount code is printed on the brochure.

Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday March 11!

2007-03-09T13:41:00.000-06:00

As a result of Congress passing and President Bush signing P.L. 109-58, the Energy Act of 2005, daylight savings time will go into effect on Sunday, March 11 this year.

IT departments all over the country are concerned about the effect the new (earlier) start date will have on computers, especially calendar and datebook applications. For anyone who has a microsoft product, you may want to visit their Daylight Savings Time Help and Support Center for more information.

OpenCongress.org

2007-03-05T08:02:00.000-06:00

A new site is available that combines information about legislation before Congress with what media and blogs are saying about legislative activity. Here is what OpenCongress.org has to say about itself:

Sunlight is launching a new project this morning -- OpenCongress.org -- that we are very excited about. This is is joint effort with the amazing team from the Participatory Politics Foundation -- a group based in Worcester, Mass. that builds open-source software and web tools for civic engagement.
Think of this as a user-friendly Thomas, on steriods. We've brought together critically important information about what is happening in Congress --legislation and issue focused -- and combined that with what bloggers and the mainstream media are most talking about. We've added a component of social wisdom tracking what's hot and what's most-viewed on the site itself, along with what others are writing about. There are lots of links to other Sunlight projects like Congresspedia and Sunlight grantees like OpenSecrets.org. We are aiming to to offer a comprehensive, understandable, user-friendly snapshot of every bill and Member of Congress.

Tax Forms Available Online

2007-02-28T09:47:00.000-06:00

If you are starting to think about doing your tax returns (and a snowbound weekend might be the perfect time), federal forms are available from the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/. Minnesota forms are available at http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/current_forms.shtml.

MORE SNOW COMING.....
Mother Nature has given the weather forecasters something to talk about again this week, so as a reminder in case we get another big snowstorm, if there is a weather-related campus closure, a notice will be placed on the University Emergency Notification telephone (651- 523-5555), as well as online at www.hamline.edu. Every effort will be made to post this information at least two hours in advance of classes.

Legislative Histories Available Online

2007-02-26T07:58:00.000-06:00

The Law Librarians' Society of Washington D.C. has put together legislative histories for selected federal laws. The list includes legislative histories for such laws as the Civil Rights Commission Amendments Act of 1994, the USA PATRIOT ACT, Copyright Law: Revision and Recodification, 1976, and many others. Check it out here.

Online Games

2007-02-20T13:46:00.000-06:00

Want to test your knowledge of Constitutional Law? Professor Doug Linder of the University of Missouri Kansas City School of law has created some online games to keep law students amused and on their toes. The games include Constitutional Law Trivia (Jeopardy fans will love this), and for golfers, there's the Bill of Rights Golf game. Click on the links to try them.

WEATHER INFORMATION
If there is a weather-related campus closure, a notice will be placed on the University Emergency Notification telephone (651- 523-5555), as well as online at www.hamline.edu. Every effort will be made to post this information at least two hours in advance of classes. Special note for weekend law classes: In the event of cancellations, the missed classes will run on the "makeup/reading days" weekend of April 27-29.

Tidbits

2007-02-15T12:59:00.000-06:00

Comparing Loislaw and Versuslaw
While law students are sheltered from having to pay for the databases that provide them with the legal sources they need, the reality is that legal research database subscriptions can cost a lot of money. There are lower cost alternatives available, two of which are Loislaw and Versuslaw. The February 2007 edition of The CRIV Sheet (at page 9) provides an article that compares these two lower cost alternatives. Both Loislaw and Versuslaw are available to Hamline students who want to explore these databases in more depth. Access them at the Law Library Website.

Database of Federal Court Filings Now Available
Justia recently launched a database of recently filed Federal District Court civil cases. The database is searchable by jurisdiction, name of party, date range, and type of lawsuit.

Search Engine for Research Guides

2007-02-12T08:22:00.000-06:00

Cornell University Law Library has developed a search engine that allows you to search for legal research guides on any topic. Just type in the subject you are looking for and you get a result page with links to research guides on that subject. Check it out!

Lost and Found

2007-02-08T09:07:00.000-06:00

Lose a mitten? Sunglasses? Your keys? Jump drive? Calendar or dayplanner? Books or notes? Assorted articles of clothing? These are just some of the items that have shown up in the library's lost and found cabinet!If you have lost something, we encourage you to stop by the circulation desk and ask for it. Unclaimed items are collected periodically by Safety and Security, so if you want to save yourself a trip, stop in soon!

CLICnet Problems

2007-02-07T10:55:00.000-06:00

Students using IE may find a problem with the display of the CLICnet catalog. This problem includes flickering screens, pages not loading/displaying, etc. The CLIC staff and our vendor are working on this top priority problem. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon. In the meantime, the problem does not occur when using Mozilla Firefox, so if you have access to that, you can search the CLICnet catalog without problems.

Lost and Found

2007-02-06T14:41:00.000-06:00

Lose a mitten? Sunglasses? Your keys? Jump drive? Calendar or dayplanner? Books or notes? Assorted articles of clothing? These are just some of the items that have shown up in the library's lost and found cabinet!
If you have lost something, we encourage you to stop by the circulation desk and ask for it. Unclaimed items are collected periodically by Safety and Security, so if you want to save yourself a trip, stop in soon!

Appellate Brief Writing Tips

2007-02-05T07:42:00.000-06:00

As first year students start writing their first appellate brief, here are some useful sources that may be helpful:
Books:
Oates, Laurel Currie, JUST BRIEFS - On Reserve
Weiner, Frederick Bernays, EFFECTIVE APPELLATE ADVOCACY - On Reserve
Beazley, Mary Beth, A Practical Guide to Appellate Advocacy - On Reserve
Other books are available in the stacks--check the CLICnet catalog!
Web sites:
How to Write a Good Appellate Brief, by Andrew L. Frey and Roy T. Englert, Jr.
The Ten Commandments of Writing an Effective Appellate Brief, by Sylvia H. Walbolt and D. Matthew Allen

Executive Order Gives President Power Over Rulemaking

2007-02-01T08:22:00.000-06:00

On January 18 President Bush signed Executive Order 13422 which gives the White House more control over federal agencies and the rules and regulations they issue. Each agency will be required to have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee of the White House. This office will oversee the development of rules that apply to regulated industries. While the White House and business groups are touting this order as "good government," consumer and other groups are protesting that this order gives too much power to the White House and will block agencies from rulemaking efforts that protect the public. Read an article from the New York Times about this executive order here.

PBS to Air Series on Supreme Court

2007-01-31T11:33:00.000-06:00

Beginning tonight, January 31 at 8 p.m., TPT Channel 2 will air the first in a four part series on the U. S. Supreme Court. This series examines the history of the court from its earliest days to the present. Read an article about the series here.

Manual for Military Commissions Available Online

2007-01-29T09:42:00.000-06:00

The federal government has published the Manual for Military Commissions. This manual is meant to implement the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (10 U.S.C. Sec. 948a et seq.). It governs aspects of the trial of unlawful enemy combatants who are suspected of "war crimes and certain other offenses."

Laptops Available for Student Use.

2007-01-16T12:08:00.001-06:00

The law library now has 17 laptop computers available for use by Hamline law students. The laptops were purchased to replace the desktop computers that were removed from the library this summer and they are for in-library use only. The laptops are available at the circulation desk on a first come-first serve basis. They may be checked-out for up to four hours with your Hamline ID and by signing a Checkout Agreement. These laptops cannot be used for exams as they are imaged and will lose any files upon reboot. To store or print documents, you must save them to your own storage device. Technical issues related to the laptops, their configuration, etc. should be directed to ITS (x2220).

Reflecting on the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2007-01-14T08:57:00.000-06:00

"I'm convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. ... When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, militarism and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered. A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our present policies. ... True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth with righteous indignation."
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a speech titled
“Why I am Opposed to the War in Vietnam”
April 30, 1967

Laptops Available for Student Use.

2007-01-11T13:43:00.000-06:00

Is Postal Reform Bill Signing Statement an Extension of Warrantless Surveillance?

2007-01-05T12:16:00.000-06:00

On December 20, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. In his signing statement, he asserted that the executive branch will interpret a subsection of the law to mean that it will be able to conduct searches of mail "in exigent circumstances". The ACLU is questioning whether this signing statement means that "warrantless surveillance of telephone calls and Internet communications extends to the U.S. Mail." Read the ACLU concern here. The White House, in a press conference, defended the signing statement.

Law Librarianship as a Career

2006-12-28T09:51:00.000-06:00

There are many opportunities for law graduates that don't involve practicing law. If you are interested in reading about Law Librarianship as a career, there is a list of articles on the AALL Recruitment Committee website that may be of interest to you. Another option is for you to talk to any one of the law librarians in the library. We would be happy to discuss what we do and why we decided on law librarianship as a career!

Whew!

2006-12-21T11:21:00.000-06:00

For most students, finals are quickly drawing to a close. Whew! Another semester out of the way! For those who still have holidays to plan for and/or gifts to buy, the WSJ Online has an artcle listing blogs for shoppers. Arranged by topic, it might help you come up with some ideas in time to go out and shop for them.

The library staff provided coffee and treats for students during exam time. We hope our holiday gift to you helped you get through the stress of studying for exams, and we wish you the best possible outcome for them.

Posts to this blog will resume on a regular basis on December 28.

The Library During Finals

2006-12-05T13:03:00.000-06:00

The SBA has placed a box in the library to collect donations of warm clothes, hats, scarves, blankets, etc. Check it out at the entrance of the library!

December 7 - 20, the library will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. If you are studying in the library during the late night hours, remember that you can call Safety and Security (x2100) for an escort to your vehicle.

You are reminded to not leave your personal belongings unattended at any time.

Be considerate of others during the final exam period. Please, no loud talking anywhere in the library. Turn your cell phones off or to "silent" and if you receive a call, take it outside the library. If you are bothered by noise, the library has a supply of earplugs for student use. You can pick them up at the Circulation Desk.

During the exam period, the library will have a coffee cart set out for students. Help yourselves to coffee and whatever goodies you find on the cart!

Exams Loom on the Horizon

2006-11-30T13:30:00.000-06:00

Students are about to attend the last classes of the semester. Everyone is thinking about finals, and while first year students are in that special hell that is a rite of passage, all law students are feeling the pressure. Panic will not help, but there are resources that can help you through the next few weeks. Here are some tips on preparing for and taking exams:
- Consult the exam archive and use the exams as practice exams. See the blog entry dated November 14 for more information.
- Use CALI to review and test yourself on concepts you’ve learned in class. Go to www.cali.org. If you need to register as a first time user, you can get the CALI authorization code at the Circulation desk or from a librarian.
- Use the study aids, tapes, videos, and nutshells on reserve.
- Consult the Academic Success page on the law school website or speak with Alice Silkey, Academic Success Program Director.
- Look at the Lexis and Westlaw websites for study tips.
- The library has earplugs available at the Circulation desk.
- Be sure to get plenty of sleep, take some time for relaxation, and avail yourself of the coffee and other goodies you will find set out for you in the library!

Got Games?

2006-11-27T07:46:00.000-06:00

As finals approach, students spend a lot of time studying, worrying, studying, worrying....but instead of worrying, why not take a break and give your brain something other than legal theory to chew on? The library has an array of puzzles and games in the area outside the Reference office for your entertainment and relaxation. Feel free to use them there. Yes, you can write in these books!

CALI has a game for you as well--check it out at http://www2.cali.org//lessons/web/game02/index.html.

Thanksgiving Tips

2006-11-21T15:05:00.000-06:00

Many students have already left the library and the lawschool to make their way to their Thanksgiving Day destinations. The library staff wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving--and remember to include some relaxation with the studying you will be doing! Now is the time to re-charge in preparation for exams! Library hours during Thanksgiving Break are:

Wednesday Nov. 22 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday Nov. 23 CLOSED
Friday Nov. 24 9:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 25 9:00 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 26 9:00 a.m. - Midnight

Exam Archive

2006-11-14T13:35:00.000-06:00

When preparing for an exam, it is sometimes helpful for you see in advance what one of your professor’s exams might look like. The law library has a collection of past exams available to students. There are hard copy exams from 1978-2002 on the shelves in the reference section of the library (there’s even a handy index!). The call number is KF 282 .H35 A24. There is also an exam archive available online. Use this link or use the link on the library’s home page to access it. When you access the electronic archive you will be asked to enter the name of the professor whose materials you want to view, then choose the exact material you want. Next, you will be asked to enter your name (use your first and last name, no initials) and your library bar code number. To find your library bar code number, look on the back of your Hamline ID card (the library bar code starts with 20523...). Note: the library's exam archive is limited to exams given to us by the professors.

Preventing Theft in the Law Library

2006-11-07T17:54:00.000-06:00

Nothing can be more stressful than law school exams, unless it is having your laptop or backpack with all your class notes stolen just before exams start! As you do your studying in the library, please remember to be vigilant about your personal belongings. Laptops, book bags, backpacks, cell phones, purses, and other items are easily stolen if left unattended. Don't leave your personal belongings unattended at carrels or tables, even for a few minutes. Theft can occur in a matter of seconds!

Wednesday will be too late!

2006-11-06T13:40:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is election day in Minnesota and around the country. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!After you do, you may want to look at CQ's Election Night website to see the results coming in. Another site to check is the New York Times' 2006 Election Guide.
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on poll watchers who have taken an active interest in maintaining the integrity of the polling places. Many of these people have become active because of the disputes that arose in the 2000 and 2004 elections as a result of the use of electronic voting machines. Read the article here.

Historical Code of Federal Regulations Now Available on HeinOnline

2006-11-03T11:23:00.000-06:00

HeinOnline has announced the availability of historical Code of Federal Regulation material. The range of regulations available in searchable PDF is from 1938 (the inception of CFR) through 1983. Currently, 1938-1949 and 1977-1983 are indexed to the part level. Users can view a video describing the new content at http://www.projectstreamer.com/users/wshein/cfr3/CFR3.html.
The introduction of this database will allow users to bypass using historical CFR material in microfiche format. HeinOnline may be used on-campus or off-campus via the proxy server.

Law School Exams

2006-11-02T11:33:00.000-06:00

Continue to read the blog! Over the next few weeks I will post information about law school exams--how to take them, study aids available in the law library, how to relieve stress associated with them, and other items.

Voices of Jihad Website

2006-11-01T08:30:00.000-06:00

The Rand Corporation has added a new site to its Terrorism and Homeland Security Database. It's the Voices of Jihad site. In it, Rand has compiled speeches, interviews, statements, and publications of "jihadist leaders, foot soldiers, and sympathizers." Most of the material is in English and is searchable by date, author, affiliated group, online source, and keyword. Rand says they hope to "enhance counterterrorism analysis, policymaking, and response" through the publication of this website.

Halloween Happenings in the Law Library

2006-10-27T11:35:00.000-06:00

In the spirit of Halloween, law students who come to the library on Halloween will be treated to some sweets. Pick up yours at the Circulation Desk--tricks are optional!
Witches have long been part of the Halloween scene, but they have a legal history as well. For a look at the Salem Witch Trials, visit the University of Virginia's Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.
Tired of looking at casebooks? Tease your brain with Halloween Hangman, but be warned! The skeleton heckles you as you try to find the letters in the words.
If you like going through creaky old doors and down pitch-dark hallways, finding your way through scary situations that have nothing to do with law school mid-term exams, try a visit to the Haunted Mansion.
The Law Library staff wishes you a Happy Halloween!

Habeas Corpus?

2006-10-25T07:03:00.000-06:00

The DOJ is in the process of notifying courts that they no longer have jurisdiction over pending habeas corpus cases, pursuant to the President's signing of the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Read a copy of the letter sent to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on October 17 (the day the President signed the Military Commissions Act). The Wall Street Journal has an interesting op-ed piece by John Yoo that points out the power struggle between the Congress and the courts that arose out of the Hamden decision, where Yoo asserts that the Supreme Court tried to take control of the terrorism policy of the Bush administration. For another view, see the MSNBC video link on Keith Olbermann's Special Report on Habeas Corpus at MSNBC.com.

The Use of Computer Animation in Court

2006-10-13T07:41:00.000-06:00

The use of computer animation in the courtroom can be powerfully persuasive. Z-Axis Corporation has used this technology for 20 years to help lawyers in court. Now, the company has produced a series of vodcasts that describe the history of the use of computer animation in the courtroom. One of the vodcast examples shows how this technology was used to prove that the collapse of the WTC was actually two events, thus convincing the jury that the insurer, under the terms of the policy, was obligated to pay for each event. View the vodcasts here.

Thanks to Law Librarian Blog for highlighting this information.

Presidential Signing Statements

2006-10-06T08:07:00.000-06:00

Presidential Signing Statements are in the news again. In September, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) wrote a report that asserts that President Bush's continued and frequent use of Presidential Signing Statements that say that the President has the right to interpret as he sees fit the laws passed by Congress are part of an ongoing effort to make the executive branch more powerful than the legislative branch of the U.S. government. An example that supports this claim can be found in the President's Statement on H.R. 5441, the "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007", where the signing statement says such things as "The executive branch shall construe as calling solely for notification the provisions of the Act that purport to require congressional committee approval for the execution of a law" and "To the extent that provisions of the Act, such as section 558, purport to direct or burden the conduct of negotiations by the executive branch with foreign governments or other entities abroad, the executive branch shall construe them as advisory." Read an article by Charlie Savage of the Boston Globe on this issue here.

Real ID Act now a Reality

2006-09-27T08:32:00.000-06:00

Last May, the Real ID Act became the law of the land (P.L. 109-13). The bill, H.R. 418, was appended to an $82 billion military spending bill. The idea is that all Americans will be carrying driver’s licenses and state issued ID cards that will conform to national standards. These federally approved (by the Department of Homeland Security) IDs will be the only ones valid for air travel, opening bank accounts, and using government services. All current driver’s license and ID holders will be required to re-verify their identity with the state, meaning they must bring their documentation (birth certificate, photo ID, SS card, etc.) to a DMV in order to receive a new DL/ID card. The new law requires that the 245 million DL/IDs currently out there be renewed and re-issued according to the new standards within five years. Now, the National Governors Association is protesting that the states will not be able to afford the $11 billion price tag to comply with the federal law. Read the report of the National Governors association here.

Read an article about the effect of the Real ID Act on the average citizen here.

Legal Writing Tips

2006-09-24T12:26:00.000-06:00

Wayne Schiess writes a blog called LegalWriting.net. It is full of information that is useful not only to 1Ls who are struggling with writing that first memo, but to all legal writers. One recent post talked about the "8 best things you can do to improve your legal-writing style." Read it here.

Constitution Day is September 18

2006-09-15T07:04:00.000-06:00

Constitution Day is being held on Monday, September 18 this year. The law school is honoring the signing of the U.S. Constitution with the following events during the week:
Tuesday, September 19 there will be a panel discussion on The Meaning of Judicial Independence and Its Role in Judicial Elections. Panel members will be former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, Evonne Spangler of Huot and Spangler, and Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman. Professor Mary Jane Morrison will moderate. Catch it from 11:30 - 12:45 in the Annette K. Levine Moot Court Room.
Thursday, September 21, Professor Howard Vogel will present a lecture titled The Culture Wars, the Independence of the Judiciary & the Future of the Constitution in the 21st Century: Why Do Americans Fight Over the Constitution & the Supreme Court? This event will be held from 12:00- 1:00 in Room 101.

GPO Access has a list of core documents of the U. S. democracy. The law library just acquired a set of 3 DVDs that discuss some of these core documents. Our Constitution: A Conversation, produced in 2005, features Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer discussing why the nation needs a Constitution, federalism, separation of powers, and the notion of individual rights. Key Constitutional Concepts examines the origins of individual rights and the separation of powers, and Mandate: The President and Public Opinion looks at the relationship between the presidency and public opinion. These DVDs are available at the Circulation Desk.

Legal Writing

2006-09-11T16:15:00.000-06:00

Roy Jacobsen writes a blog called Writing Clear & Simple, which is usually interesting and filled with tips on writing clearly and simply. Back in August, he posted an interview with Joe Kimble, a law professor who advocates the use of plain language in legal writing. Read the interview here.

9/11 Remembered

2006-09-11T06:47:00.000-06:00

September 11, 2001 was one of those days where anyone can tell you where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news that the twin towers of the World Trade Center had been hit by airliners. I remember being stunned at the news, then horrified by the thought that my son had been on his way to Penn Station in New York City that morning, and would have had to pass the WTC on the way. Luckily, he was a survivor of that awful day; many were not. Our nation continues to struggle with the events that were set in motion that morning. Today at noon, the Student Bar Association has planned a moment of reflective silence in the main walkway of the law school.

I have gathered here some links relating to 9/11:

The 9/11 Commission Report
http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf
9-11 News and Legal Resources, Information and Related Services
http://www.llrx.com/newstand/wtc.htm
Wikipedia entry: September 11, 2001 attacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks

Congress Back in Session: FISA "Update" Hearing

2006-09-07T08:33:00.000-06:00

The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is holding hearings to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Bills being considered include H.R. 4976, H.R. 5223, H.R. 5371, H.R. 5825, S. 2453, and S. 2455.

FISA requires the government to obtain a warrant before engaging in domestic surveillance. The Bush administration has come under attack for bypassing the system set up by FISA and allowing the National Security Agency to engage in wiretapping and other surveillance of American citizens in this country. A federal court recently ruled that the NSA domestic surveillance program is unconstitutional.

beSpacific has a comprehensive list of links to articles about the domestic surveillance program.

3L Writes About Socratic Method

2006-09-06T10:01:00.000-06:00

An interesting article from LegalTimes.com on the Socratic method. The article, written by a 3L student at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law, gives a student's perspective on this teaching method.

Hamline Professor Doug McFarland's perspective on the Socratic method can be found on a CALI podcast. Go to www.cali.org, sign in, choose Podcasts/Blogs from the menu, and then click on Cali Podcasts on Legal Education Topics. If you haven't registered at Cali.org yet, contact Barb Kallusky at bkallusky01@hamline.edu or ask any of the librarians for the authorization code.

Federal Government Secrecy Report Card Issued

2006-09-05T11:27:00.000-06:00

beSpacific has alerted us that the Secrecy Report Card 2006 is out. This report is published by OpentheGovernment.org, a coalition of consumer, good government groups, librarians, journalists, and others who are interested in containing government secrecy and promoting openness in government. You can read the report for 2006 here.

Success in Law School

2006-08-25T08:44:00.000-06:00

First year students, take note! If it hasn't already, the fog will soon begin to lift and you will realize that you are on this journey called law school. Even though the first few weeks may make you wonder whether you have been plucked from earth and deposited on some alien planet, remember that at Hamline there are many people who are here to help you succeed, especially your professors and the law library staff!

From the Law School Academic Support Blog comes an article by Professor Rogelio Lasso on The Process of Law School Success. Read the article here.

More Advice for 1L Students

2006-08-17T07:22:00.000-06:00

CALI's Pre-Law Blog is an interesting compilation of advice written by law professors and students. The advice ranges from study techniques to how to manage the stress of law school.

Another place to get information about the 1L experience right here at Hamline is on the Law Library's home page. Look for the link Library Orientation for First-Year Law Students on the right hand side of the page. The library staff has compiled a list of law school terminology, a guide to using the law library, and lists of books that take you beyond the case books and give you survival strategies for law school.

And don't forget about the CALI podcasts--a great way to listen to law lectures during drive time!

How to Read a Judicial Opinion

2006-08-11T11:51:00.000-06:00

An essay by Orin Kerr of George Washington University Law School is being recommended highly by a number of people. The essay, How to Read a Judicial Opinion: A Guide for New Law Students, explains the structure of judicial opinions, gives tips about what to look for in opinions, and also talks about the case method and why law schools use it.

Thanks to Law Dawg Blawg for this tip.

FREE CALI CDs Available to Students

2006-08-11T06:49:00.000-06:00

The 2006-2007 CALI CD has over 625 interactive lessons and tutorials on many of your favorite law school subjects! Over the years countless law school students have used CALI lessons to help them do better in law school.

In addition to the CALI CD, CALI lessons are available online at www.cali.org. Contact Barb Kallusky at bkallusky01@hamline.edu or ask one of the reference librarians for the access code to use the online lessons.

Hamline law students can pick up their FREE CALI CD at the Library circulation desk.

Laurence Tribe Weighs in on Presidential Signing Statement Debate

2006-08-10T08:27:00.000-06:00

Laurence Tribe has posted his views on the presidential signing statement debate on the Balkinization blog. Read it here.

Source: Law Librarian Blog

Net Neutrality. What is it and why should you care?

2006-08-03T08:04:00.000-06:00

The Internet has long been a level playing field in terms of transferring the information it carries. Everyone has equal access to the Internet superhighway. Some (large telecommunications companies for the most part) are now trying to get the Internet regulated so that some information will pass through it unhindered or slowed by all the other information on the Internet superhighway. Think of it as a passing lane for those who can afford to drive on it. A couple of weeks ago, the Law Librarian Blog posted an explanation (made on The Daily Show) of how the Internet might work if the bill passed by the House in May and the one being considered by the Senate becomes law.

Net neutrality has become a major issue as the U.S. Congress considers new telecommunications laws. In May, the U.S. House passed its telecommunications bill, H.R. 5252 without net neutrality protections. The Senate is now considering the issue. On June 28, the Senate Commerce Committee passed its version of the telecom bill, S. 2686. An amendment to the bill that would have protected net neutrality failed on an 11-11 tie vote. This means that the Senate is now gearing up for a major fight about net neutrality.

If you want to learn more about this issue, see where your Senators stand on it, or participate in a grassroots effort to combat what some are calling a challenge to the First Amendment rights of all Americans who use the Internet, see savetheinternet.com.

Presidential Use of Signing Statements-Debate Continues

2006-08-02T07:45:00.000-06:00

The BarclayBlog has alerted us to a post on the Georgetown Law Faculty Blog about presidential signing statements. Eight legal scholars, all of whom have served in the Office of Legal Counsel, have co-written a post about the use of presidental signing statements by the Bush Administration. Anyone who is following this debate, and particularly those who have read the ABA recommendation on this subject that was posted about on July 24 in this blog, will be interested in reading the Georgetown Law Faculty post.

Supreme Court Term Overview

2006-08-01T07:20:00.000-06:00

Georgetown University Law Center has published its overview of the Supreme Court's October 2005 Term. This interesting overview contains information about the term, the justices, how the justices' votes aligned, a digest of decisions, summaries of high profile cases, and a list of cases to watch in 2006. You can read the overview here.

Source: V.U. Lawcity

Moussaoui Trial Exihibits Now Online

2006-08-01T07:06:00.000-06:00

Almost all of the exhibits used in the trial of U.S. v. Moussaoui have been posted online. Some exhibits include images or sound recording that may be disturbing for some people, and come with the warning "Viewer discretion is advised" or "Listener discretion is advised." View the exhibits here.

Source: Law Librarian Blog

CALI Radio Podcasts

2006-07-28T08:16:00.000-06:00

Driving to law school can take a lot of time, especially for weekend students; but everyone is spending more time on the road with highway congestion at all-time record levels. Now, law students can put that drive time to good use by downloading CALI's radio podcasts onto their MP3 or iPod.

Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: The Legalities. Questions and Answers

2006-07-26T07:43:00.000-06:00

Human Rights Watch has an interesting page of Questions and Answers surrounding the legalities of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Congressional Research Service has issued a report on the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah Current Conflict.

Sources: Law Librarian Blog; beSpacific

ABA Speaks on Bush's Use of Signing Statements

2006-07-24T07:54:00.000-06:00

A panel formed by the American Bar Association in June has registered its objections to President Bush's use of signing statements to claim the power to disregard those parts of the laws he's signed that he disagrees with. This action by the ABA is reported on in a New York Times article written by Robert Pear. Next month, at its annual meeting, the association will consider a proposal requiring judicial review of signing statements.

Mideast Crisis Tracking Site

2006-07-24T07:27:00.000-06:00

The Wall Street Journal is offering a free site that updates the ongoing crisis taking place in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Updates are posted hourly or even more frequently.

Source: beSpacific

Foreign Surveillance Wiretap Legislation

2006-07-21T08:08:00.000-06:00

Congress is considering legislation that would "update" FISA, which requires the Executive branch to go through a judicial process to obtain foreign surveillance wiretaps.

Edward Lazarus has written a column about the new legislation.

Source: beSpacific

New Research Tool Available at Hamline Law Library

2006-07-18T08:56:00.000-06:00

The law library has acquired access to The Making of Modern Law, a database of Anglo-American legal treatises written during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The database is full text searchable, which makes it extremely accessible to users. For more information, check out the law library's website homepage. If you need assistance using this resource, one of the reference librarians will be happy to help you.

Howard Dean Comments on Presidential Signing Statements

2006-07-18T08:44:00.000-06:00

Howard Dean has written a column on presidential signing statements and their use by George W. Bush. Dean was Counsel to President Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

RSS Feed Added to Blog

2006-07-07T12:15:00.000-06:00

I have added an RSS Feed to the Blog -- this will make it easier for you to access Material Information at Hamline.

On the right hand side of the blog page, under links, click on MultiRSS. Choose your feed reader from the list (My Yahoo, Google Reader/Homepage, etc.) Click on "continue" at the bottom of the page and follow the prompts. Voila! Material Information At Hamline will now appear on your selected reader!

Presidential Signing Statements

2006-07-05T07:51:00.000-06:00

Signing statements are statements made by the President when signing (or vetoing) a new law passed by Congress. Although signing statements have been issued by presidents since the earliest days of the republic, the use (or overuse, as some allege) of presidential signing statements by the Bush administration has brought these heretofore little thought about documents to the forefront of the U.S. political arena. The Senate Judiciary Committee is now holding hearings into what Chairman Arlen Specter says could amount to abuses of executive power.

Presidential signing statements can be found in a number of places, including the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents at GPO Access.gov. The Hamline community also has access to the presidential signing statements at the HeinOnline library.

Freedom of Information Act Celebrates 40 years

2006-07-05T07:36:00.000-06:00

The Freedom of Information Act has been around for 40 years. Its enactment was controversial; it was signed grudgingly by President Johnson, and his signing of it included a signing statement. You can read the complete legislative history of the FOIA here.

Podcasting What Goes On in the Classroom

2006-06-20T09:30:00.000-06:00

I just returned from the Annual Conference for Law School Computing (2006 CALI Conference). This year's conference examined, among other things, the use of podcasting by law schools. Boiled down, podcasting works like this: professors record either their lectures, or summaries of their lectures, and upload them to the web. Students can then download the material onto their iPod or MP3 player and listen to the material while driving, exercising, or doing whatever. Many of the discussions centered around what faculty thought of this technology, and some focused on the student perspective. Some uses for the technology that everyone agreed on were using podcasts for review prior to exams and being able to hear what went on in class when a student has to miss a class.

One student has created podcasts of the courses he is taking and publishes them on his blog, Life of a Law Student. I listened to this student speak and he has an interesting perspective on fair use issues.

CALI sponsored a Legal Education Podcasting Project this spring and some of the law professors involved in the project shared their perspectives on podcasting and the learning experience, the benefits of podcasting, and what podcasting means for the future of law schools. Listen (and see an accompanying power point presentation) to podcast that was part of the project here.

Fair Use Network

2006-06-20T09:01:00.000-06:00

The Fair Use Network was created to help people navigate the many questions that arise around IP and copyright issues. It is particularly useful for bloggers, artists, and writers, but may be of interest to law students as well. The site includes some basic legal guides covering such areas as fair use, copyright, and trademark law.

Getting the Best Results When Using Google

2006-06-13T08:34:00.000-06:00

Many librarians don’t have a very high opinion of Google, and there are some good reasons for that bias; however, we won’t get into that discussion here. If you are using Google, there are some search methods that will produce more precise results. Read them here.

Changing U.S. Demographics

2006-06-13T06:45:00.000-06:00

CRS has issued a report on the changing demographics of the United States. The country is growing, aging, and becoming more diverse. The report also discusses the impact that these changes will have in the future on social, economic, and policy issues.

Amnesty International 2006 Report on Human Rights

2006-06-13T06:36:00.000-06:00

Amnesty International has published its 2006 report on human rights. The report is searchable by country, region, and topic.

Watching the Watchers

2006-06-07T08:27:00.000-06:00

Business Week Online has an article about NSA snooping into phone records of Americans. It likens the data mining to looking for a needle in a haystack and calls for enhancing privacy safeguards already in existence (FISA). Read the article here.

Source: beSpacific

Same-Sex Marriage

2006-06-07T07:06:00.000-06:00

From Barclay Blog:

Findlaw has compiled a list of online resources on same-sex marriage and related issues. Categories include: articles, documents, legal analysis and commentary.

You can read the Democratic Policy Committee report on the Marriage Amendment here .
On June 5, the Cato Institute held a panel discussion of the Marriage Amendment being debated in the Senate this week. Read the Policy Analysis of one of the panelists, Dale Carpenter, associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Source: beSpacific

American Federalism

2006-06-07T06:55:00.000-06:00

Amber, Golding, and Hofstetter, an Indianapolis law firm, has an interesting web site that includes an area for students. There you can review Cases and Materials on American Federalism, a pathfinder developed for use in American Government and Public Policy courses taught at Purdue University Calumet.

Source: Law Librarian Blog

The 100 Best Products of the Year

2006-06-06T09:18:00.000-06:00

PC World.com has released its list of the 100 best products of the year. See how many of them you have at http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,125706,pg,2,00.asp.

Source: beSpacific

Will Data Mining Phone Records Really Work to Keep America Safe?

2006-06-01T08:25:00.000-06:00

Bruce Schneier wrote in an article published May 31 in the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Bruce Schneier: We're giving up privacy and getting little in return
Better to put people, not computers, in charge of investigating potential plots.

Collecting information about every American's phone calls is an example of data mining. The basic idea is to collect as much information as possible on everyone, sift through it with massive computers, and uncover terrorist plots. It's a compelling idea, and convinces many. But it's wrong. We're not going to find terrorist plots through systems like this, and we're going to waste valuable resources chasing down false alarms. To understand why, we have to look at the economics of the system.
Data mining works best when you're searching for a well-defined profile, a reasonable number of attacks per year, and a low cost of false alarms. Credit-card fraud is one of data mining's success stories: All credit-card companies mine their transaction databases for data for spending patterns that indicate a stolen card.
Many credit-card thieves share a pattern -- purchase expensive luxury goods, purchase things that can be easily fenced, etc. -- and data mining systems can minimize the losses in many cases by shutting down the card. In addition, the cost of false alarms is only a phone call to the cardholder asking him to verify a couple of purchases. The cardholders don't even resent these phone calls -- as long as they're infrequent -- so the cost is just a few minutes of operator time.
Terrorist plots are different; there is no well-defined profile and attacks are very rare. This means that data-mining systems won't uncover any terrorist plots until they are very accurate, and that even very accurate systems will be so flooded with false alarms that they will be useless.
Just in the United States, there are trillions of connections between people and events -- things that the data-mining system will have to "look at" -- and very few plots. This rarity makes even accurate identification systems useless.
Let's look at some numbers. We'll be optimistic -- we'll assume the system has a one in 100 false-positive rate (99 percent accurate), and a one in 1,000 false-negative rate (99.9 percent accurate). Assume 1 trillion possible indicators to sift through: that's about 10 events -- e-mails, phone calls, purchases, Web destinations, whatever -- per person in the United States per day. Also assume that 10 of them actually indicate terrorists plotting.
This unrealistically accurate system will generate 1 billion false alarms for every real terrorist plot it uncovers. Every day, the police will have to investigate 27 million potential plots in order to find the one real terrorist plot per month. Clearly ridiculous.
This isn't anything new. In statistics, it's called the "base rate fallacy," and it applies in other domains as well. And this is exactly the sort of thing we saw with the National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping program: The New York Times reported that the computers spat out thousands of tips per month. Every one of them turned out to be a false alarm, at enormous cost in money and civil liberties.
Finding terrorism plots is not a problem that lends itself to data mining. It's a needle-in-a-haystack problem, and throwing more hay on the pile doesn't make that problem any easier. We'd be far better off putting people in charge of investigating potential plots and letting them direct the computers, instead of putting the computers in charge and letting them decide who should be investigated.
By allowing the NSA to eavesdrop on us all, we're not trading privacy for security. We're giving up privacy without getting any security in return.
Bruce Schneier is the CTO of Counterpane Internet Security and the author of "Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World."

Creating Graphs

2006-05-31T08:21:00.000-06:00

Inter Alia reported on a product called Create A Graph that allows you to easily create graphs. It is put out by the National Center for Education Statistics. Designed for students, it is easy to use and the graphs can be exported to PDF, JPG, and other formats. Which means that if you need to use a graph to illustrate a point in a paper, this might be something to check into.

GlobaLex Research Guide on Terrorism

2006-05-31T08:10:00.000-06:00

GlobaLex has published a research guide on Terrorism. See it here.

GlobaLex is sponsored by Hauser Global Law School Program and New York University School of Law. The web site has a number of research guides for Foreign, International, and Comparative Law research. Check it out at http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/index.html.

Source: Barclay Blog

Medical-Legal Topics

2006-05-25T09:10:00.000-06:00

The AMA has a web site listing "Hot Topics" in Medicine and Law. See it here.

Lost User Manual? No Problem!

2006-05-19T07:23:00.000-06:00

If you've ever lost (or misplaced) a user manual, bookmark this web site. It links you to manuals for products like cell phones, computers, cameras, appliances, etc.

Source: Law Librarian Blog

Professor Tribe Talks About NSA Wiretapping and the Fourth Amendment

2006-05-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Professor Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School wrote an op-ed piece that was published in The Boston Globe on May 16. In his article, Professor Tribe analyzes NSA wiretapping activities in the context of the protections given by the Fourth Amendment. Read the reprinted article here.

Source: Law Librarian Blog

New Meaning Given to "Reach Out and Touch Someone"?

2006-05-12T07:27:00.000-06:00

This week USA Today ran a story on the NSA collecting the phone records of "tens of millions of Americans using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth." This information was given to USA Today by sources who did not want to be identified. If true, this raises more questions about whether the privacy of ordinary Americans is being invaded by a government agency against the law. Read the USA today story here.

Meanwhile, Reps. Jane Harman (D-CA) and John Conyers (D-MI) have introduced the “Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA Act” (The LISTEN Act).

The proposed legislation "makes clear that any attempt to listen in on Americans or collect telephone or e-mail records must be conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), or Title III of the criminal code. In both cases, court warrants based on probable cause are required. The Act states that FISA is the exclusive way to conduct electronic surveillance of U.S. persons on U.S. soil for intelligence purposes. It also states and that the Authorization to Use Military Force, passed by Congress in October 2002, did not constitute authority to engage in electronic surveillance outside of FISA."

Further, "the legislation provides tools to expedite emergency warrant applications, and authorizes funds to incorporate standardization, electronic filing and streamlined review procedures at the NSA and Department of Justice. It requires the President to ensure that resources are adequate to process warrants, and requires the Administration to comply with FISA at all times."

Read Rep. Harman's press release.

Lexis Announces New Databases

2006-05-12T07:19:00.000-06:00

Beginning May 12, we will have access to the following databases in LexisNexis:

Factiva Content

Publication Name:
* Asian Wall Street Journal
* Barron’s
* Dow Jones Business News
* Dow Jones Capital Markets Report
* Dow Jones Corporate Filings Alert
* Dow Jones Emerging Markets Report
* Dow Jones International News
* Dow Jones News Service
* Reuters EU Highlights
* Reuters Health E-Line
* Reuters Washington Daybook Report
* The Wall Street Journal Europe
* The Wall Street Journal Sunday
* The Wall Street Journal
* Reuters News

CRS Reports on Criminal Justice

2006-05-11T07:38:00.000-06:00

The Law Librarian Blog has put together a list of new CRS Reports on Criminal Justice. The list includes:

FEDERAL HABEAS CORPUS: A BRIEF LEGAL OVERVIEW
THE DEATH PENALTY: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LEGISLATION IN THE 109TH CONGRESS
FEDERAL HABEAS CORPUS: AN ABRIDGED SKETCH
THE DEATH PENALTY: AN ABRIDGED LOOK AT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LEGISLATION IN THE 109TH CONGRESS
FEDERAL STATUTES (Child Pornography)
RENDITIONS: CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY LAWS ON TORTURE
GANG PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION LEGISLATION IN THE 109TH CONGRESS: SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF S. 155, H.R. 1279, AND H.R. 4472
FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES
FEDERAL CRIME CONTROL: BACKGROUND, LEGISLATION, AND ISSUES
EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM: LEGISLATIVE AND FUNDING HISTORY

Look here to read the annotated list.

By the way, CRS Reports are excellent sources of information on many issues that are considered by Congress. CRS stands for Congressional Research Service. It is part of the Library of Congress and works for Congress to provide comprehensive, objective analysis and research on all legislative issues. There is an excellent pathfinder for CRS reports at http://www.llrx.com/features/crsreports.htm#Locating.

Health Insurance Coverage Gap

2006-05-11T07:23:00.000-06:00

A study commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and done by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health gives a state-by-state analysis of access to health care by people who have health insurance and those who do not. The study was released to launch Cover the Uninsured week, an effort to raise awareness of the need to cover all Americans with health insurance. Read the study here.

Source: Law Librarian Blog