Moritz Legal Information Blog

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.

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 .

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

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

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 Liberia during a brutal civil war before returning to run for office in 2005. See also a profile of Sirleaf and related articles from the New York Times.

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 reference desk for assistance and/or alternative means of access. Thanks to Legal Research Plus for the initial coverage.

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, does not sit well with Ohio pork producers. More news: ABA Journal The Columbus Dispatch Fremont News-Messenger