QUESTION:
What is your policy on cell phones in the courthouse? Are you able to keep them with you? If not, what do you do with them while you are in the courthouse? Can you use them in the courthouse?
SOME RESPONSES:
New 2008 Presidential Debates Web Site
The Commission on Presidential Debates has partnered with MySpace to create a new Web site, www.MyDebates.org. This site will become available in the days leading up to the first Presidential debate on September 26. The more questions submitted, the more likely a library question will be asked. This is an opportunity for the library voice to become an important part of the 2008 Presidential election. Librarians need to submit questions to this web site in order for their voices to be heard.
New State Bibliographies from the AALL Government Documents SIS
The GD-SIS Publications Committee is proud to announce three new bibliographies ready for purchase.
1. State Documents Bibliography: Washington, DC (series # 3-74)
2. Selective Annotated Bibliography of Delaware State Documents and Other Resources Used in Delaware Legal Research (Series # 3-73)
Recent NY Appellate Division First Department Criminal Cases Originating from the NY Supreme Court NY County
Source: Lexis Alert Service. Search run September 22, 2008.
1. People v. Hill, 4080, 4081, 3857/05, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2008 NY Slip Op 6931; 2008 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6766, September 18, 2008, Decided, September 18, 2008, Entered, THE LEXIS PAGINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING RELEASE OF THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION., THIS OPINION IS UNCORRECTED AND SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Support Ohio Draft Reform Bill SB 345 to Help Ohio County Law Libraries
Ohio Draft Reform Bill SB345
Increasingly, county law libraries face new challenges with regards to their funding, space and continued existence in the states with established systems. These challenges were addressed in 2005 with legislation in Ohio to cut back on funds going to county law libraries. Please take a moment to read this summary of the bill and let us know if you are in favor of SCCLL supporting Ohio county law libraries in their struggle. Please go to our website to share your read more and share your vote.
Some Helpful Criminal Justice Information Web Reference Sources
Findlaw Criminal Law Center Provides “information and help if you or a loved one are faced with a legal need related to the criminal justice system…”
Cornell University Law School: Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Criminal Codes and other subjec categories of statutes
Washlaw, A free service of Washburn University School of Law. For links to governmental and non governmental criminal justice information, click here
New ABA Voting Information Website
This ABA voting information website, www.abavoteinfo.org, is a project of the ABA Division for Public Education and the Standing Committee on Election Law, in cooperation with the Section of Administrative Law, the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, the Judicial Division, the Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice, and the Office of the President. It also provides materials for the bar including a call for attorneys to serve as nonpartisan election officials, Election Protection Project hotline volunteers and materials for the public that includes information on the importance of voting and how to register to vote.
All are encouraged to visit this new website.
Robert Pear Highlights Concerns of Loss of Federal Electronic Government Information*
One of the historic functions of libraries has been preserving and providing access to information in various media. In many ways, digitization of information has positively altered the information landscape. However, with the dynamic nature of such information, vital information preservation issues arise.
In a timely September 13, 2008, New York Times article by Robert Pear that is entitled “In Digital Age, Federal Files Blip Into Oblivion,” the issue of institutional preservation of digital information is addressed. The author maintains that many federal records created by email, word processing, or posting on the Internet are being lost to history. This is due to federal employees failing to preserve such material due to the incredible volume being generated. Dramatic examples of these preservation issues include, the appearance of non-functioning links on government websites and removal of important reports such as those critical of the Bush administration.
There is another concern about information loss not addressed directly in Robert Pear’s article. The issue Mr. Pear raises regarding the apparent failure of federal employees to implement adequate procedures to preserve the huge amounts of significant digital materials being generated may also relate to the ongoing necessary maintenance of such information to keep it trustworthy and authentic. No matter how carefully information in digital formats is maintained on an ongoing basis there is always a possibility that it may become corrupted or otherwise tainted, making it untrustworthy and therefore “lost” in terms of its value and relevancy to users. The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) is very concerned about this issue because the trustworthiness of all online legal resources, including federal. is fundamental to permanent public access and is inherently a matter of great concern to the legal community
Justice Made Local: The Future of Town and Village Courts in New York State: A Report by the Special Commission on the Future of New York State Courts
September 2008
A special commission appointed by Hon. Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the Courts in the State of New York, has issued a Report: Justice Most Local, The Future of Town and Village Courts in New York State, which recommends a significant consolidation of the “centuries-old” local court system.
Am excerpt from the Overview of Findings section of the Executive Summary”
The Jury Expert: The Art and Science of Litigation and Advocacy
Volume 20 Issue 3 September 2008
Table of Contents
The Preparation of Narcissistic Witnesses