Libraries are bridges to information and knowledge.

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FROM THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (ABA):

“The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion on March 5, 2025, that provides clarification on when a lawyer may divulge information when they are a victim of a crime by a client or prospective client.

Formal Opinion 515 states that “a lawyer who is the victim of a crime by a client or prospective client may disclose information relating to the representation to the appropriate authority in order to seek an investigation and potential prosecution of the alleged offender or other services, remedy or redress. To the extent that the information would otherwise be subject to the lawyer’s duty of confidentiality under Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6, the information is subject to an implicit exception to the Rule.”

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In his essay, Do State Legislatures Have to Obey U.S. Supreme Court Decisions?  Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses how several state legislatures, particularly Alabama, are passing laws allowing the death penalty for child rape despite a 2008 Supreme Court ruling, Kennedy v. Louisiana, that declared such punishment unconstitutional. Professor Sarat argues that this strategic legislative defiance represents a dangerous trend that threatens constitutional order, as lawmakers are deliberately passing unconstitutional laws hoping the current conservative-majority Supreme Court will overturn precedent, similar to the strategy that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned.

Reflecting on the urgency expressed by professor Sarat regarding this question, we have prepared our own report, titled Do State Legislatures Have to Obey U.S. Supreme Court Decisions?, An Overview, to provide an added frame of reference for considering the implications of professor Sarat’s posting. Our Report, which follows, is based on our search of related sources, including Deep Research, the advanced AI research application recently introduced by Open AI.

DO STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE TO OBEY U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS?, An Oveerview

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These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed

NEWS BRIEFS:

Sharing Porn Doesn’t Warrant Official’s Firing, Court Rules

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INCLUDES U.S. SUPREME COURT SUMMARIES:

During the week ending March 7, 2025 we have received listings of 21 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  22 Constitutional Law summaries, 63 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 White Collar Law Summaries,  1 Copyright Law Summary, 9 Intellectual Property Summaries, 3 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 2 U.S Supreme Court Summaries. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated.  To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending  March 7, 2025:

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INCLUDES U.S. SUPREME COURT SUMMARIES:

During the week ending February 28, 2025 we have received listings of 24 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  19 Constitutional Law summaries, 55 Criminal Law Summaries, 4 White Collar Law Summaries,  1 Internet Law Summary 1 Intellectual Property Summary, 3 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 4 U.S Supreme Court Summaries. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated.  To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending  February 28, 2025:

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Introduction:

Law libraries are undergoing a transformation fueled by artificial intelligence (AI). While AI isn’t replacing law librarians, it has become a powerful tool that is changing how legal research is conducted and how libraries serve their patrons​

Modern law librarians leverage AI in various domains – from advanced legal research platforms to automated document handling and chat-based reference assistance – all with the goal of improving efficiency and service quality. By offloading routine or labor-intensive tasks to AI, librarians can focus on higher-level work such as complex research consultations, teaching, and strategic planning​. The following overview highlights key AI applications in legal research tools, document automation, and chatbots, explaining how each contributes to enhanced library services.

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From: Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Posted by Phil Swagel, CBO Director on February 24, 2025.

Fifty years ago today, Alice Rivlin was appointed to lead the Congressional Budget Office as the agency’s first director. Gathering in a single room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (CBO’s original home), Rivlin and a few assistants began the process of standing up a new nonpartisan agency dedicated to supporting the Congressional budget process.

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FROM: Jenny S. Silbiger, AALL Vice President.

“I am so grateful to all of our members who make AALL an informed, educated, and wholehearted organization. I know we are not alone in the work that we do, as access to legal information impacts all aspects of the legal profession, and I am heartened to know that we are just one organization of many who are working diligently to make a positive difference in the world.”

STATEMENT:

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The White Collar Crime Institute of the American Bar Association is considered the “premier gathering for legal professionals specializing in white-collar crime”. It is being held in Miami, FL , March 4-7, 2025. For additional information and registration, click here.

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“Beyond remorse” refers to, individuals who exhibit a lack of regret or guilt for their actions, often associated with a personality disorder like antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), where people may not understand the harm they cause others and therefore do not feel remorseful, even when confronted with the consequences of their behavior.”
In a February 18, 2025 essay, No Regrets, in VERDICT, Cornell law professor Joseph Margulies discusses his book project about society’s tendency to ostracize wrongdoers and explores the complex role of remorse in how society judges and responds to those who have committed serious transgressions. Professor Margulies grapples with a particular challenge in his research—how to address cases where individuals who have committed wrongful acts feel no remorse for their actions, using examples like January 6 rioters and abortion providers in different states—and invites such individuals to share their perspectives. Below, we include an abstract of Professor Margulies’ essay, including a link to his complete posting, a list of key points about people who lack remorse and  some potential causes.
ABSTRACT:
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