Moritz Legal Information Blog

Adoptive Couple vs. Baby Girl , was recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, then sent back to South Carolina for final disposition. The actual holding at the U.S. Supreme Court is as follows, according to SCOTUS Blog : "Assuming for the sake of argument that the biological father in this case is a "parent" for purposes of the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Act still does not bar termination of the biological father's paternal rights." The baby girl at issue was adopted as an infant, removed from her adoptive family at two-years-old and given to her biological father, and has now been returned to the adoptive couple at the age of four. The legal system is frequently employed to resolve emotionally fraught custody disputes. For a look at the ethical and moral questions that arise, check out The Ethics of Transracial Adoption Ethics in American Adoption Improving the Quality of Child Custody Evaluations Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Child Custody: Legal

The George Zimmerman Trial began recently, and defense counsel Don West has already received criticism for a poor choice in how to begin his opening statement . The current issue Mr. West faces? Criticizing a witness for the prosecution via his daughter's Instagram account . The prosecution has requested a formal inquiry for the nature of the comments, but it also seems to have been a poor choice to broadcast opinions about witnesses via such a public medium. But can an attorney face discipline or sanctions for the actions of his or her child? If you're researching this issue, you might try looking for recent ethics opinions from state agencies governing attorney discipline, since the medium (Instagram) is fairly new. You might also try thinking about the issue in old-school terms: look for opinions or cases in which an attorney was disciplined for the actions of someone he or she had authority over, regardless of whether that actor was using a telephone, fax machine, telegr

The Moritz Legal Information Blog is taking a summer vacation to sunny Seattle , this year's host of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) conference . To see some of the sights the blog will be taking in, check out the Local Arrangements Committee site . For all the ways the blog will be learning to assist you better when it returns, view the conference schedule  of events. With four days of opportunities to better assist law students and faculty, the blog is sure to return with phenomenal ideas to make your life easier. See you July 17!

"Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both." 18 U.S.C. § 871 . Turns out, tweeting threats constitutes "mak[ing] any such threat" against the President, and a number of hapless individuals are serving time as a result .

The ABA website recently featured an article titled " 50 Simple Ways You can Market Your Practice ." The tips seem particularly handy if you have your own small practice, but it crossed my mind they're also valuable tips for job hunting. The idea is to be front-of-mind to folks, whether they be potential clients, sources of referrals, or future employers. Clients are, after all, employers for solo practitioners. For more employment pointers, check out some of the library's books on legal employment .

Yesterday was Canada Day , so here are some resources on the law of the True North Strong and Free: Guide to the law of Canada at the Library of Congress Canadian Legal Research Blog Links to News Releases, Decisions, and Case Information at the Supreme Court of Canada plus a virtual tour And, some books at the Moritz Law Library: The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research Essential Readings in Canadian Constitutional Politics Canadian Green Energy Law and Policy Youth Criminal Justice Policy in Canada: A Critical Introduction The African Canadian Legal Odyssey: Historical Essays Westward Bound: Sex, Violence, the Law, and the Making of a Settler Society

The U.S. Supreme Court has come out with a number of decisions recently, which may have your interest piqued about Supreme Court judicial decision-making.  Here are a few resources with stats and data on the Supreme Court justices and their opinions: Which justice asked the most questions? Is there a new 5-4 alignment? Stats have answers The Supreme Court compendium : data, decisions, and developments The Supreme Court : a C-SPAN book featuring the justices in their own words