tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217189112012-01-31T11:05:19.727-05:00Legal information and research resources brought to you by the Michael E. Moritz Law Library at The Ohio State University.M. Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07269702853607179864noreply@blogger.comBlogger11691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-91697302989389922382012-01-31T11:05:00.001-05:002012-01-31T11:05:19.777-05:00

Last week, the 10th Circuit held that the Stolen Valor Act, 18 U.S.C. 704(b), did not violate the First Amendment.  United States v. Strandlof The Supreme Court will also decide a case regarding the Stolen Valor Act this term.  You can read the briefs and the opinion of the 9th Circuit here.  Oral argument is scheduled for February 22. News and commentary: The Denver Post The Volokh

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-9053682911606724392012-01-30T14:05:00.003-05:002012-01-30T14:05:00.994-05:00

As we wrote last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on the police's GPS tracking of a suspect's vehicle (United States v. Jones). A similar case is pending in the Ohio Supreme Court. While Jones involved the 28-day warrantless tracking of a vehicle registered to a suspect's wife, the Ohio case involves the warrantless tracking of a suspect's rental car for a 6-day period. In light of

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-3058439558979286702012-01-27T14:15:00.005-05:002012-01-27T14:17:24.184-05:00

Barco 2.0 provides an interesting post on "Super Wi-Fi," which takes advantage of unused spectrum between TV stations called "white spaces." Apparently this allows wi-fi service to pass through trees and thick foliage. See explanatory articles in the Wilmington (NC) Star-News, Gizmodo.com, and ars technica.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-73054702979241849342012-01-26T14:19:00.000-05:002012-01-26T14:19:00.925-05:00

The "Jessica Logan Act," regarding public schools' rules against bullying and cyber-bullying, went to the House, which approved changes made by the Senate.  It now requires the governor's signature. H.B. 116 Zanesville Times Recorder The News-Herald Sandusky Register

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-5588326808926462172012-01-25T09:13:00.001-05:002012-01-25T09:13:00.737-05:00

The Washington Post reports that the oldest federal judge in the U.S. has passed away at the age of 104. In 1962, President Kennedy appointed Wesley Brown to serve on the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas. Brown, who was on senior status, continued working until about a month before his death. An April 2011 AP article attributed the following quote to him: "As a federal judge, I was

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-40033300149946446022012-01-24T10:17:00.000-05:002012-01-24T10:17:01.591-05:00

We have previously discussed the case of the GPS tracking of a suspected drug dealer's car here and here. Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in United States v. Jones.  At SCOTUSblog, Tom Goldstein explains the ruling this way: I think that the correct way to understand the case is to read it as having two separate majority opinions.  ... Here is the upshot.  Five Justices join

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-45557659141533278492012-01-20T15:59:00.003-05:002012-01-20T15:59:19.929-05:00

Earlier this month, we wrote about the oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the boundaries of Texas legislative districts. Today the Court issued its ruling, rejecting the maps drawn by a three-judge District Court panel and remanding the case for consideration under a different standard. See analysis from SCOTUSblog and the 11-page, unsigned opinion (with separate concurrence by

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-15899123622879965322012-01-19T11:36:00.000-05:002012-01-19T11:36:28.599-05:00

Yesterday, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the 11th Circuit in Maples v. Thomas, ruling that a capital defendant had shown cause to excuse his procedural default when he had been "abandoned by counsel...[and] left unrepresented at a critical time for his state postconviction proceeding..."  It was uncontested that Maples was blameless for the default. Justice Ginsburg authored the

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-54212886952474118032012-01-18T09:31:00.002-05:002012-01-18T09:31:01.207-05:00

Stanford Law School recently launched its China Guiding Cases Project, a website translating and providing commentary on "guiding cases" issued by China's People's Supreme Court. The project "aims to advance knowledge and understanding of Chinese law and to enable judges and legal experts both inside and outside of China to contribute to the evolution of Chinese case law through ongoing dialogue

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-65466052863380951942012-01-17T17:31:00.001-05:002012-01-17T17:31:00.787-05:00

If you plan on looking up a term on Wikipedia tomorrow, it looks like you will be out of luck (unless you read a foreign language). The English-language Wikipedia site is planning a blackout in protest of anti-piracy legislation currently under consideration in Congress. See Wikipedia's official statement and a related article in the Washington Post. See also information from THOMAS about the

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-17293107061811827312012-01-16T13:38:00.001-05:002012-01-16T13:38:53.376-05:00

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  I Have A Dream speech Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service MLK Day of Service at OSU

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-11181538183526319232012-01-15T15:22:00.002-05:002012-01-15T15:27:23.104-05:00

As the Cincinnati Enquirer reports, State Representative Ron Maag has submitted a bill to raise speed limits on Ohio’s highways by five miles per hour. The bill, HB 395, awaits committee assignment. The Enquirer summarizes the current debate and notes that a similar bill appeared in the Ohio Assembly in 2009. The Assembly’s web site offers that bill, HB 162, along with analyses and fiscal

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-91554040442575903832012-01-13T14:42:00.001-05:002012-01-13T14:42:00.452-05:00

In contemplation of a run for the presidency, Stephen Colbert has officially handed over control of his super PAC to colleague Jon Stewart. The super PAC's official name: “The Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC.” See the Washington Post for more details on which presidency he seeks.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-9517408767506485912012-01-12T10:59:00.000-05:002012-01-12T10:59:41.856-05:00

U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost has halted the execution of Charles Lorraine, who was scheduled to be executed next Wednesday for the 1986 murders of an elderly couple.  Judge Frost wrote that the state of Ohio has not followed its own execution policies. Sentencing Law and Policy Blog Columbus Dispatch ABC News State officials said they would appeal the ruling.

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-46995740865990738472012-01-10T14:45:00.000-05:002012-01-10T14:45:09.025-05:00

This new article in the Dayton Business Journal details some of the difficulties facing pro bono work in the current economy. You can learn more about pro bono in Ohio here and here.

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-14904995373624999592012-01-09T11:15:00.001-05:002012-01-09T11:38:50.860-05:00

The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral argument this afternoon on two related Texas redistricting cases. At issue are congressional and state legislative district maps, redrawn by Texas state legislators in light of a substantial population increase. See previews by SCOTUSblog and the Washington Post. The Post article notes that Texas' population grew by four million people in the last decade,

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-10760091530720879682012-01-06T16:27:00.002-05:002012-01-06T16:30:16.157-05:00

Supreme Court watchers, among them Barry Friedman and Dahlia Lithwick, have noted this term’s focus on federalism, the division of power between the federal government and state governments.Recent actions in Ohio have similarly drawn attention to the intrastate distribution of power. As the Plain Dealer describes, an Ohio municipality filed suit against the State over a trans fat ordinance. Last

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-71593760068485619712012-01-05T11:17:00.001-05:002012-01-05T11:17:19.104-05:00

We finally have (a very little bit of) snow in central Ohio, so this forthcoming article by Susan S. Silbey at M.I.T. seems apropos: J. Locke, Op. Cit.: Invocations of Law on Snowy Streets (at SSRN) Hat tip: Legal Theory Blog

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-11336431485805171192012-01-04T14:33:00.002-05:002012-01-04T14:37:37.634-05:00

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has been igniting controversy for some time. Here is a basic description of the process. In part because of issues raised by fracking, the National Council of State Legislators lists natural gas as one of the top 12 tough issues of 2012.Recent Ohio events are in keeping with this prediction. Last weekend, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources shut down an

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-35400361786253664082012-01-03T10:47:00.006-05:002012-01-03T10:47:56.416-05:00

On January 1st, the Ohio minimum wage rose by 30 cents, making it $7.70 per hour.  Ohio is one of eight states to see an increase in the minimum wage for the beginning of 2012.  Among these states is Washington, which is now the first state to have a minimum wage higher than $9.00 per hour. Ohio's minimum wage law, Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4111 News: Youngstown Business Journal MSN Money

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-78877128281189932042011-12-30T11:48:00.001-05:002011-12-30T11:48:00.526-05:00

We've written recently about lawsuits against the National Football League related to its handling of player concussions. An article in today's New York Times discusses the "more than a dozen suits" filed by numerous retired players and their wives, and includes commentary by several sports law experts.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-85232384976451273142011-12-29T16:08:00.001-05:002011-12-29T16:08:11.427-05:00

Interesting cases this month about jurors and jury duty: The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a new trial for a death row inmate due to the behavior of jurors.  During Erickson Dimas-Martinez's trial for capital murder and armed robbery, one juror fell asleep and another was tweeting about the case (and the quality of the courthouse coffee), even after being questioned by the trial judge. Opinion

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-26380961741497968452011-12-28T14:46:00.001-05:002011-12-28T15:15:31.860-05:00

The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed a district court decision granting summary judgment to Kobe Bryant in a case brought on behalf of a spectator at a 2005 Lakers-Grizzlies game. Bryant allegedly pushed his forearm into the spectator's chest and glared at him as Bryant returned to the court after falling out of bounds. The court affirmed the district court's

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-56338711141606160182011-12-23T14:21:00.002-05:002011-12-23T14:21:00.234-05:00

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's recent statements critical of the federal judiciary have produced some interesting responses. See recent articles by conservative columnist George Will, University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner, and Slate senior legal correspondent Dahlia Lithwick. See also the position paper posted on Gingrich's website.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-54184065707961767162011-12-22T11:22:00.001-05:002011-12-22T11:22:42.083-05:00

Back in October, we discussed the new PACER app.  Here are several new reviews of the app: Wall Street Journal Law Blog iPhone J.D. Here is the app, which is free for a limited time during the holidays.

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-62008691404857284802011-12-21T11:56:00.001-05:002011-12-21T11:56:01.426-05:00

On Monday, we wrote that the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled 5 1/2 hours of oral argument for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases. In a brief video, Professor Jerry Goldman of Chicago-Kent College of Law's Oyez Project puts this argument length in historical perspective. According to Oyez Project records, it's the longest scheduled argument since the 1970s. Brown v. Board of

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-53989479874056935182011-12-20T15:54:00.001-05:002011-12-20T15:54:32.302-05:00

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the "underwear bomber" of December 2009, has requested a new standby lawyer before his sentencing in January. Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to federal charges including conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.  He was representing himself, and made the decision to plead against the advice

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-69482453436550424972011-12-19T16:14:00.000-05:002011-12-19T16:14:00.987-05:00

The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled 5 1/2 hours of oral argument over three days for the three Affordable Care Act challenge cases. The court will hear argument on March 26, 27, and 28, 2012, approximately two years after President Obama signed the bill into law. See the court's March calendar and CNN for more details. There's no word on whether the court ever responded to C-SPAN CEO Brian

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-65362797922450184952011-12-16T14:46:00.003-05:002011-12-16T14:46:01.547-05:00

Ohio Supreme Court Justice and Moritz alum Paul Pfeifer testified at a legislative hearing earlier this week in favor of repealing Ohio's death penalty law, which he helped create as a legislator in the early 1980s. See coverage from the Columbus Dispatch and the Toledo Blade. The Dispatch article includes a quote from Moritz emeritus professor of criminal law Larry Herman, who also testified.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-88539194880349799262011-12-15T14:20:00.000-05:002011-12-15T14:20:22.449-05:00

As the holiday season approaches, more and more people will be driving to the homes of family and friends.  The Department of Transportation's website on "distracted driving" provides a state-by-state map with the laws pertaining to calling and texting while driving. Currently, the state of Ohio has no laws banning texting while driving.  As we posted in July, House Bill 99, which would ban

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-55092480212719898212011-12-14T11:18:00.003-05:002011-12-14T11:23:45.905-05:00

Fatou Bensouda of Gambia was recently chosen to be the next chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. Bensouda, currently deputy prosecutor at the court, will become the second chief prosecutor in the court's brief history, replacing Luis Moreno-Ocampo of Argentina whose nine-year term expires next year. The BBC provides extensive coverage. See also the New York Times and JURIST.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-72501336010663393902011-12-13T14:41:00.002-05:002011-12-13T14:41:47.477-05:00

Law books no longer in use are finding new lives.  Reporters, digests, and other books have been repurposed as bags, furniture, and even floors. Hat tip: Legal Blog Watch

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-32384837657420917852011-12-08T14:56:00.001-05:002011-12-08T15:27:57.147-05:00

Hearings began this week on House Bill 125, which would prohibit abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.  News: Dayton Daily News New York Times ABA Journal

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-68388993563035825802011-12-07T17:12:00.002-05:002011-12-07T17:13:34.093-05:00

A group of former National Football League players recently filed another concussion-related lawsuit against the league. The complaint includes allegations that teams routinely administered a blood-thinning drug making it more difficult for players to recognize concussion symptoms. See the complaint at Justia and related article from the New York Times.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-25199847385479758712011-12-06T08:43:00.001-05:002011-12-06T09:20:28.062-05:00

This week, Canada's highest court will hear multiple cases dealing with copyright of music, video games, and printed materials.  You can listen to live webcasts of Supreme Court cases here. Vancouver Sun Toronto Star

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-46938570348304330082011-12-05T15:59:00.000-05:002011-12-05T15:59:00.138-05:00

Harvard Professor of Law/Computer Science Jonathan Zittrain thinks so. See his recent article in Technology Review.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-49803656439669262912011-12-01T15:26:00.001-05:002011-12-01T15:41:23.818-05:00

Today, a San Francisco ordinance takes effect, banning the inclusion of toys with fast food meals aimed at children, unless those meals meet certain nutritional standards.  McDonald's, however, has found a loophole--instead of including toys with Happy Meals, the toys can be added for a 10-cent charge.  The ten cents is then donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. San Francisco Chronicle

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-20079714510425928182011-11-30T17:21:00.002-05:002011-11-30T17:21:00.146-05:00

The British Library recently announced the launch of a massive historical newspaper archive providing access to over four million pages of UK and Ireland newspapers. The collection covers mainly 19th century issues, but also includes issues from the 18th century. The collection is available without fee. See the library's announcement for more information. Credit goes to Barco 2.0 for the initial

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-12903435810303389552011-11-29T15:06:00.001-05:002011-11-29T15:32:22.255-05:00

Jesse Dimmick is currently serving a prison sentence for kidnapping, attempting to elude the police, and theft.  He is now suing the couple he kidnapped while he attempted to elude the police. Dimmick claims that in the home of Jared and Lindsay Rowley, the three entered into a binding oral contract wherein the Rowleys would hide him from the police in exchange for an unspecified amount of money

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-41438664210832128522011-11-28T10:13:00.000-05:002011-11-28T10:13:00.953-05:00

This fall Stanford has offered its three most popular computer science courses free to the public online. Thousands of students from around the world enrolled. Stanford is now offering additional classes that may be of cross-discipline interest to law students: Technology Entrepreneurship (on launching a successful startup) and The Lean Launchpad (on turning a great idea into a great company).

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-29790161213422269502011-11-23T11:37:00.001-05:002011-11-23T11:37:00.219-05:00

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear constitutional challenges to the Affordable Care Act, perhaps it's worth revisiting what the law actually does and does not do. The Kaiser Family Foundation provides a 9-minute animated video on some of the law's details. See also the Foundation's chart explaining the much-disputed "individual mandate" that eventually requires many individuals to

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-74020650605707582162011-11-22T16:58:00.001-05:002011-11-22T17:07:26.328-05:00

House Bill 14 seeks to amend Ohio laws designating pit bulls as an inherently "dangerous" and "vicious" breed.  The bill has passed the House and moved to the Senate.  Both local dog owners and celebrities like Willie Nelson have spoken out in support of the bill. WFMJ Rolling Stone

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-63244777094742354252011-11-21T16:31:00.001-05:002011-11-21T16:38:58.432-05:00

Ohio State Representative Lynn Slaby, a former county prosecutor and state appellate court judge, has introduced a bill that would give Ohio prosecutors the right to insist on a jury trial when a criminal defendant waives that right. See coverage from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the bill analysis from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-79553676715916037502011-11-18T15:28:00.000-05:002011-11-18T15:28:00.779-05:00

The California Supreme Court ruled yesterday that sponsors of California's ballot initiative prohibiting same-sex marriage have standing to defend the measure in court when state officials refuse to do so. The path is now clear for the Ninth Circuit to rule on the substantive issues of the sponsors' appeal of a federal district court ruling striking down the initiative. The Ninth Circuit heard

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-58067189895949404302011-11-17T15:32:00.001-05:002011-11-17T15:44:50.143-05:00

Police in Derbyshire, England, came up with an imaginative way to track down suspects who had evaded arrest: offer them free beer. Letters were sent to dozens of suspects, offering a case of beer for calling a "marketing company."  The calls went through to the police, who set up a date and time for delivery of the beer.  At that date and time, instead of getting free beer, the suspects were

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-27619071039390140772011-11-16T18:17:00.002-05:002011-11-16T18:17:54.282-05:00

In case you missed it, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear argument on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. As SCOTUSblog has written, the court has allotted a whopping 5 1/2 hours for oral argument. CSPAN has sent a letter to the court requesting television cameras in the courtroom (unobtrusively). Given the court's past practice, this seems unlikely,

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-22234738483249598032011-11-15T10:53:00.001-05:002011-11-15T10:58:07.509-05:00

HeinOnline is one of the many databases available to students at our law library databases page. Recently, Hein presented Top Ten Tricks for Using HeinOnline.  You can read them here or watch the two webinars (15 minutes each) here.

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-71791433080982152862011-11-14T17:29:00.002-05:002011-11-14T17:29:00.621-05:00

The National Archives recently released records of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, including transcripts of President Nixon's grand jury testimony of June 23-24, 1975. The records are available at the GPO's FDsys site and the Our Archives Wiki. Nixon's testimony begins at Folder 9/16. For background information, see the National Archives' press release.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-10864526436591448532011-11-10T16:01:00.001-05:002011-11-10T16:09:25.194-05:00

Earlier this week, we discussed the oral argument in the GPS tracking case at the Supreme Court. Although it is now possible to listen to Supreme Court oral arguments and/or read transcripts, some prefer to watch and listen in person...even if they have to wait all night. The Line to See Arguments in United States v. Jones Hat tip: The Volokh Conspiracy

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-23465363703305554202011-11-09T17:45:00.001-05:002011-11-09T17:58:29.914-05:00

Ohio's referendum on SB 5 gained international media attention. See the county-by-county vote breakdown on the Ohio Secretary of State website for Issue 2 and the other statewide issues. The "Map It" feature provides a geographical representation of the results. Thanks to C-M Law Library Blog for the assist.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-27389107532105558502011-11-08T13:58:00.000-05:002011-11-08T13:58:09.469-05:00

Earlier this year, we talked about the case of long-term monitoring of a suspect via a GPS device attached to a car.  Today, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in United States v. Jones. News and commentary: SCOTUSblog The Volokh Conspiracy Forbes Huffington Post

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-46113062905751111102011-11-07T11:42:00.002-05:002011-11-07T11:43:48.715-05:00

In May, we wrote about Yale Law Library's therapy dog, Monty. Following Yale's lead, the University of San Francisco Law School has instituted its own therapy dog program. Read more in AALL Spectrum.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-28224085026613577052011-11-04T14:18:00.002-04:002011-11-04T14:18:00.581-04:00

SCOTUSblog has made available a recent interview of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. The interviewer is one of his former clerks, Stanford law professor Jeffrey Fisher. Stevens recently published Five Chiefs, his memoir of his time on the court.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-70743191745393373802011-11-03T08:57:00.000-04:002011-11-03T08:58:00.793-04:00

Remember to turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday! The History of Daylight Saving Time 15 USC § 260a

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-45053154237391730322011-11-02T11:32:00.000-04:002011-11-02T11:32:00.525-04:00

The U.S. Supreme Court has created a web page showing filings related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the health care reform legislation passed last year). Filings at this point include petitions for writs of certiorari and related briefs. The ACA litigation blog, whose primary contributors include Santa Clara law professor Bradley Joondeph, links to lower court documents.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-87392735040591874312011-11-01T10:10:00.000-04:002011-11-01T10:52:34.763-04:00

Shirley Smith was found guilty of shaking her infant grandson to death.  In its only opinion released yesterday, the Surpeme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit, which had previously found that no rational trier of fact could have found Smith guilty. The majority's unsigned opinion in Cavazos v. Smith stated that "it is the responsibility of the jury—not the court—to decide what conclusions should

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-49274431854360444532011-10-31T12:07:00.000-04:002011-10-31T12:02:16.793-04:00

Find a great list of 20 Spooky Law Review Articles (at least the titles) posted today by the C-M Law Library Blog.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-8023451227328382492011-10-27T08:58:00.001-04:002011-10-27T08:58:35.631-04:00

In preparation for a weekend of spookiness and candy, here are a few sites with discussion of laws and law enforcement relating to Halloween: FindLaw: Keep Your Halloween Party Legal FindLaw: Can I Wear a Mask While Diriving? Ohio Department of Public Safety

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-24104301276620921642011-10-25T14:50:00.003-04:002011-10-25T14:50:53.518-04:00

Last week, dozens of exotic animals, including tigers, bears, and monkeys, escaped from a private residence after the suicide of the owner.  Most of the animals were subsequently killed by law enforcement officers, and a few were rescued.  In the wake of the tragedy, some are questioning regulations regarding the ownership of wild animals. News and commentary: Discovery News ABC News The

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-76038395225974889242011-10-24T13:57:00.000-04:002011-10-24T13:57:00.764-04:00

Judge Antonio Cassese, a prominent figure in modern international criminal justice, recently passed away after a long illness. Cassese is credited with playing a substantial role in the founding of two major international criminal tribunals, most notably the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. In 1993, Cassese became the first president of this court, set up by the UN in

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-66832897254350954822011-10-21T18:22:00.000-04:002011-10-21T18:22:00.599-04:00

A federal district court judge for the District of Columbia has dismissed a complaint brought by a group of U.S. legislators (including Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul) challenging President Obama's authority to order military strikes in Libya. The complaint alleged that the President's actions violated Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution because

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-85286666841522007382011-10-19T09:22:00.000-04:002011-10-19T09:22:00.756-04:00

Gallup recently released a poll showing that support for legalizing marijuana has reached 50%. This is up from Gallup's first poll in 1969 showing 12% in favor. See analysis from Ilya Somin on the Volokh Conspiracy and a brief discussion of the conservative case for legalization.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-76106628978320695302011-10-18T09:51:00.000-04:002011-10-18T09:51:37.729-04:00

President Obama has nominated Los Angeles lawyer Paul Watford to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Watford, 44, clerked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and is a former United States Attorney. News: Los Angeles Times San Francisco Chronicle Whitehouse.gov

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-45385110494798678392011-10-17T16:52:00.000-04:002011-10-17T16:52:00.497-04:00

Several news articles have emerged recently about the increased demand for patent lawyers in the wake of the America Invents Act, legislation that overhauled the U.S. patent system. See coverage by Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Finally there is some good news for the legal job market.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-82170295455329751762011-10-14T18:34:00.000-04:002011-10-14T18:34:01.015-04:00

Yes, there is an Android app for use when you are about to be arrested, designed to quickly notify friends, loved-ones, and legal advisors of your circumstances. Apparently it was inspired by an Occupy Wall Street incident. See the review at cnet and download here.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-75668708557359985532011-10-13T16:30:00.002-04:002011-10-13T16:30:32.664-04:00

Michael Morton was convicted of the murder of his wife in 1986.  After recent DNA testing showed that another man had committed the crime, Morton was freed from prison.  Yesterday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared Morton innocent. News and commentary: Austin American-Statesman Houston Chronicle Los Angeles Times

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-67199143188636959902011-10-11T13:12:00.001-04:002011-10-11T13:12:11.405-04:00

Several Ohio Amish men are accused of breaking into homes and inflicting injuries while cutting off the hair and beards of other Amish. CNN Wooster Daily Record

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-84601119251211809692011-10-10T17:59:00.001-04:002011-10-10T18:04:50.157-04:00

Liberia will hold elections tomorrow. Presidential candidates include recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient and current president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, dubbed the first woman elected to lead a country in modern African history. In Custodia Legis sets the stage and describes the legal maneuvering that preceded the election. One issue was a constitutional residency requirement. Sirleaf had fled

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-21302867700499880472011-10-07T11:24:00.001-04:002011-10-07T11:24:00.658-04:00

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the electronic document access system for federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, is now offering a mobile version of its case locator tool. See the recent announcement in PACER's quarterly newsletter. Accessing documents from PACER costs 8 cents per page (until April, 1, 2012) and requires registering for an account. Contact the

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-73812969249537758662011-10-06T15:34:00.000-04:002011-10-06T15:34:54.729-04:00

Earlier this year, two Ohio prisoners (one on death row) filed a lawsuit alleging violation of their civil rights, due to the fact that Muslim prisoners are not provided meals prepared according to Islamic law (halal).  In contrast, they point out, Jewish prisoners are provided kosher meals. In response, Ohio prison administrators decided to remove pork from prison menus.  This decision, in turn

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-41491327717136875122011-10-04T16:22:00.001-04:002011-10-04T16:22:39.235-04:00

An Italian court yesterday overturned the murder conviction of Amanda Knox.  In 2009, Knox and her boyfriend, Rafaelle Sollecito, were found guilty of the 2007 murder of Knox's English roommate, Meredith Kercher.  Sollecito's murder conviction was also overturned. News and commentary: Bloomberg Time MSNBC Huffington Post The Seattle Times

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-14660211877278250092011-10-03T18:43:00.000-04:002011-10-03T18:43:00.789-04:00

HeinOnline recently added a "One Box Search" option in beta form, allowing searches across all HeinOnline collections. Notice the new search box at the top left of HeinOnline's main page above the list of collections. Boolean operators, quoted phrases, and proximity searching are possible, and users can narrow results by date and collection. Consult Hein's syntax guidelines for more details on

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-81083755724168998692011-09-30T10:33:00.003-04:002011-09-30T10:42:26.831-04:00

Earlier this week, we wrote that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia granted Saudi women the right to vote in 2015 municipal elections. While acknowledging progress, we noted that Saudi women are still not permitted to drive. The next day, a Saudi woman was reportedly sentenced to lashing for driving. Reports later emerged that the King had overturned the court decision ordering the sentence. See

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-81061455702022069032011-09-29T09:31:00.000-04:002011-09-29T09:31:04.947-04:00

The White House website has launched an online system for petitioning the government.  At We the People, anyone 13 or older can start or sign a petition.  Once that petition reaches a certain threshold (currently 5,000 signatures within 30 days), it is reviewed for an official response by the Administration. Current petitions with a high number of signatures include ones to make federal election

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-69219388718194267762011-09-27T11:43:00.001-04:002011-09-27T11:43:59.370-04:00

Last week, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia announced that women will have the right to vote in the 2015 municipal elections.  Although women still are not allowed to drive, some feel that this may be the beginning of an era of civil rights. News and commentary: New York Times BBC News  Amnesty International Washington Post Blog NPR

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-53301489520943977372011-09-26T10:46:00.000-04:002011-09-26T10:46:00.597-04:00

SCOTUSblog issued a statement announcing recent changes to its website. According to the statement, Bloomberg Law is now exclusively sponsoring the site. Changes include more expert commentary and a new "community" section in which readers can post comments on various Supreme Court -related topics. The best comments will be compiled and featured in later blog postings. Another new feature is a

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-71299205190636828202011-09-22T08:56:00.001-04:002011-09-22T08:56:08.120-04:00

Maintaining his innocence until the end, Troy Davis was executed late last night for the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer.  The execution took place after a final request to delay the execution was denied by the Supreme Court. News and commentary: Sentencing Law and Policy Blog  MSNBC NPR Wall Street Journal Law Blog New York Times

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-34033332716906215222011-09-21T12:18:00.001-04:002011-09-21T12:18:00.286-04:00

A California federal judge has granted a motion to unseal video of last year's trial involving Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban. U.S. District Court Judge James Ware of the Northern District of California stayed the order until September 30 when, unless a higher court reverses the decision, the video will become available. JURIST provides additional coverage.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-40450823009331436462011-09-20T09:44:00.001-04:002011-09-20T09:44:23.137-04:00

Today marks the repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell, the ban on gay men and women openly serving in the military. H.R. 2695 DOD Memorandum and "Quick Reference Guide" News and commentary: SCOTUSblog Time blog Washington Post NPR Wall Street Journal

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-42229460858041059322011-09-19T15:32:00.001-04:002011-09-19T15:32:00.688-04:00

In its final online symposium before the start of the October term, SCOTUSblog provides guest commentaries on the subject of arbitration. Guest writers will comment on recent Supreme Court decisions including AT&T v. Concepcion. Ten commentaries are currently available on the SCOTUSblog site with more to come.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-85388393303223925732011-09-15T16:41:00.000-04:002011-09-15T16:42:19.813-04:00

A classic red British phone booth in the town of Clinton, New York, has been called "America's Littlest Library."  The refurbished phone booth houses about 100 books on shelves built by a local carpenter.  The "Book Booth" is part of the Clinton Comunity Library's book exchange program. Library Journal Facebook Huffington Post

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-86616098984149060272011-09-13T16:01:00.003-04:002011-09-13T16:01:56.415-04:00

Hat Tip: Lowering the Bar An Iowa man was sentenced to 10 days in jail due to excessive library fines.  The library's items, valued at over seven hundred dollars, were not returned despite repeated requests.  More commentary: Huffington Post

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-89740911233656682622011-09-12T10:46:00.001-04:002011-09-12T10:46:00.233-04:00

CALI and Cornell's Legal Information Institute have partnered to release freely downloadable e-books for the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The e-books are in .epub form and compatible with iPhones and iPads. The books are based on the rules versions available on the LII site and include advisory committee notes,

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-25636689853005822412011-09-09T10:05:00.004-04:002011-09-09T10:11:33.651-04:00

Above the Law reports on Alex Kozinksi, Chief Judge of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, acknowledging an affidavit for someone. Anyone who has ever been given the run around by a clerk's office will appreciate the story.

Matt Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02488905599329939556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-54496827113200654962011-09-08T16:09:00.000-04:002011-09-08T16:10:16.549-04:00

On Tuesday, the 9th Circuit upheld an injunction barring Arizona from eliminating health care coverage for same-sex partners of state employees.  Judge Mary M. Schroeder wrote the opinion, finding that the state may not provide benefits in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner that adversely affects unpopular groups. News and commentary: The Arizona Republic Wall Street Journal Law Blog The

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-44993503976811904782011-09-07T10:11:00.001-04:002011-09-07T10:11:00.171-04:00

An Ohio prison inmate has filed a lawsuit against the state alleging a civil rights violation because prison officials are no longer providing access to law books. According to an article in the Mansfield News Journal, the prison provides access to Westlaw via seven computer terminals.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-23889787752387098702011-09-06T09:59:00.000-04:002011-09-06T09:59:03.864-04:00

In more news of teachers and social media, the Dayton Public Schools now prohibit teachers from friending their students on Facebook, as well as texting or instant-messaging them. News and commentary: Dayton Daily News Dayton Daily News The Repository/CantonRep Cincinnati.com

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-91024035019205823302011-09-02T12:55:00.001-04:002011-09-02T15:51:58.102-04:00

A recently updated International Sports Law Guide created by Moritz grad Amy Burchfield is now available at the GlobaLex website. Topics covered include the Olympic Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, anti-doping, and sports-related treaty provisions. GlobaLex, published by NYU School of Law, contains numerous foreign and international legal research guides and articles.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-9657621456271639482011-09-01T08:36:00.002-04:002011-09-01T08:56:58.478-04:00

Ohio is joining over a dozen other states in proposing "Caylee's Law," which would require prompt reporting of missing or deceased children. S.B. No. 203 H.B. No. 299 News: Miami Herald

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-44865827091813211802011-08-30T08:33:00.002-04:002011-08-30T09:18:28.364-04:00

The growth of the e-discovery industry has been in the news a great deal this month. Here are some articles of interest: E-Discovery Moves to the Cloud (hat tip: Legal Skills Prof Blog) 6 Project Management Practices to Apply to E-Discovery Cases Are E-Discovery Sanctions More Fear Than Reality? Star Trek Meets E-Discovery Twitter, Facebook, and the Peril of E-Discovery

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-73843211099174148502011-08-29T10:33:00.002-04:002011-08-29T10:33:00.076-04:00

Last week we wrote about a challenge by Missouri teachers to a state statute restricting their use of Facebook and other social networking sites. The statute bans online "friendships" with under-18 current or former students. In a preliminary ruling, a Missouri trial court judge blocked implementation of the statute. See analysis from the Volokh Conspiracy. See also the text of the recently

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-91450826780198996722011-08-26T10:12:00.000-04:002011-08-26T10:12:00.315-04:00

UCLA's Williams Institute provides a national snapshot of same-sex households in the U.S. based on 2010 Census data. See also a recent piece by D'Vera Cohn of the Pew Research Center discussing the accuracy of same-sex household counts.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-82920178470514545242011-08-25T09:17:00.002-04:002011-08-25T10:15:05.088-04:00

Columbus-based law firm Schottenstein Zox & Dunn will merge with Indianapolis-based law firm Ice Miller, effective January 1, 2012. The combined firm, which will operate under the Ice Miller name, will have a total of over 300 attorneys in six offices. More: The American Lawyer Daily SZD Press Release Crain's Cleveland Business

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-73440605920936626862011-08-23T09:01:00.003-04:002011-08-23T09:58:23.129-04:00

Missouri Senate Bill 54, the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, is set to take effect next week. The bill provides, among other things: By January 1, 2012, every school district must develop a written policy concerning teacher-student communication and employee-student communications. Each policy must include appropriate oral and nonverbal personal communication, which may be combined with

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-65820198725687771462011-08-22T19:18:00.000-04:002011-08-22T19:18:00.172-04:00

Vermont sports law professor Michael McCann provides initial analysis on SI.com of the class action concussion lawsuit filed last week against the National Football League. Plaintiffs include former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon. See court documents including the complaint (starting at p. 7) filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-2064166511442734482011-08-19T16:24:00.002-04:002011-08-19T16:39:06.572-04:00

An online archive called The Old Bailey provides access to reports and summaries of 197,745 criminal trials taking place at central London's Old Bailey criminal court between 1674 and 1913. The site descibes its contents as "the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published." See the recent story in the New York Times for more on this freely available resource.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-46128018749357010102011-08-18T14:33:00.002-04:002011-08-18T14:57:56.154-04:00

This week, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on medical malpractice risk. The abstract, tables, and article from the NEJM can be found here. The study measured the proportion of physicians who face a malpractice claim every year (according to specialty), the proportion of claims leading to a payment, and the size of payments. More news and commentary: Wall Street Journal

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-55767912037357233172011-08-16T09:01:00.002-04:002011-08-16T09:08:50.865-04:00

We recently reported on the health care symposium over at SCOTUSblog. SCOTUSblog's new symposium will focus on same-sex marriage. Pieces submitted so far: Marriage Equality State by State Marriage Equality: Religious Freedom, Federalism, and Judicial Activism

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-31338212781973120632011-08-15T16:05:00.000-04:002011-08-15T16:05:01.660-04:00

We wrote earlier this month that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's murder and corruption trial would be shown live on Egyptian state television. As JURIST is now reporting, the presiding judge recently ordered an end to this practice. See additional coverage from the Washington Post. See also coverage of Mubarak's Aug. 3 appearance including video from Al Jazeera.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-82983290851165677162011-08-11T11:41:00.002-04:002011-08-11T12:06:36.714-04:00

Another TSA lawsuit: Student Aaron Tobey protested TSA procedures by stripping to his shorts at Richmond International Airport, revealing part of the text of the Fourth Amendment written on his chest. Tobey was detained, arrested, and charged with disorderly conduct (the charge was dropped). He is now suing the TSA and others for violation of his First and Fourth Amendment rights. Complaint

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.com