Moritz Legal Information Blog

This blog keeps track of courts that webcasts proceedings (look along the right hand side of the page). Why should legal researchers watch these webcasts? Determine whether the court is "hot" (asks many questions) or "cold" (asks few questions) to prepare for oral argument Find similar cases (from your state or another state) to determine what issues concerned the judges Learn about the etiquette and procedures for a court before appearing there

Now that many of our students are out doing research in law firms and other legal settings, they are learning the real value of secondary sources. Why should a legal researcher use a secondary source? a secondary source may provide an overview of the law. This is important so that the researcher uses the right terms while searching and will know what's important while sifting through the cases. a secondary source might provide the answer to your question. Do you need to know what the exceptions to the statute of frauds are? I bet your state encyclopedia has a nice summary of the rule along with its exceptions. secondary sources provide links or references to important cases. Sure it's great if you find a recent trial level case that proves your point, but it's even better if you can find the state supreme court case that established the rule.

An article on Law.com offers the Top 10 Things Law Librarians Want New Associates to Know . It's a nice list . Law students and new attorneys should definitely check it out. From Santa Clara Heafey Headnotes Blog .

InSite recently wrote about the Inclusion International website. It looks like a nice resource for international disability information. From InSite : Inclusion International (II) is "a global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide." II, one of the largest non-governmental organizations devoted to disabilities, is officially recognized by the United Nations. Working with numerous international agencies, including the International Labour Organization, II promotes inclusiveness in policy, practice, and investment strategies. The II website is organized into numerous sections describing the group's various projects and initiatives, and offering its publications and other documents. One of the significant initiatives is the International Disability Alliance (IDA), in which II networks with several other international organizations. On the page devoted to the IDA, users will find numerous

Some new Congressional Research Service ("CRS") Reports have been made available. The Reports cover a wide-range of topics, including: Border Security and Military Support: Legal Authorizations and Restrictions Retirement Savings and Household Wealth: Trends from 2001 to 2004 Data on Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost-Sharing in HSA-Qualified Health Plans U.S. Immigration Policy on Permanent Admissions Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress For a more complete list of recent CRS Reports, check out Open CRS .

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts recently gave the commencement address at the Georgetown University Law Center. The Chief Justice discussed the importance of deciding Supreme Court cases on narrow grounds and seeking greater consensus among the Justices. The commencement address can be heard or viewed at the Georgetown Law Center Web site or at Princeton's University Channel . From BarclayBlog .

Now that the verdicts have been announced in the Lay and Skilling Enron trials, legal researchers may want to review the legal proceedings leading up to the verdict. The Houston Chronicle has collected a wealth of information on the various legal proceedings, including videos, newspaper stories, profiles of the key players, and commentary by lawyers and other legal experts. Findlaw has posted several documents, including indictments and plea agreements.