January 2009 Volume 2 # 1
Challenge or Secret Questions
From the Desk of David Badertscher
ABA Publication: Criminal Mental Health and Disability Law Evidence and Testimony
New: (February 2009) Criminal Mental Health and Disability Law, Evidence and Testimony: A Comprehensive Reference Manual for Lawyers, Judges and Criminal Justice Professionals
This Comprehensive Reference Manual examines both criminal mental health and disability discrimination law from the points of view of lawyers, judges and other professionals within the criminal justice system. The manual builds on established resources within the ABA, including the Mental & Physical Disability Law Reporter, Mental Disability Law, Evidence and Testimony and Disability Discrimination Law, Evidence and Testimony. It synthesizes the best and most recent information at the ABA on mental health and discrimination law that specifically pertains to criminal justice matters. It also references the ABA’s Criminal Justice Mental Health Standards. Regular: $110; $93.50 discounted. 458 pages.
For additional information, click here.
Billable Hours Giving Ground at Law Firms
New York Times article by Jonathan Glater, published January 30, 2009.
“Lawyers are having trouble defending the most basic yardstick of the legal profession – the billable hour…”
See article at:
Brief Summary of American Library Association Midwinter MARBI Meetings
George Prager, Head of Cataloging at New York University Law School Library has sent his summary of the ALA Midwinter MARBI meetings to members of the American Association of Law Libraries Technical Services Special Interest Group. With his permission I am also posting it here along with his opening comments:
COMMENTS:
I have added a brief summary of each proposal and discussion paper presented at the American Library Association Midwinter MARBI Meetings, whhich took place January 24-25, 2009. A more detailed analysis of the papers will be available in my 2008/2009 Annual report, which will appear on the TSIS Website shortly before the AALL 2009 Annual Meeting, and later in TSLL.
Seeking a Consultant to Assess a Law School Library’s Collection and to Develop an Acquisition Strategy
Charlotte School of Law would like to assess its library collection and subsequently develop an acquisition strategy. At this initial stage, we’re seeking qualified consultants who can respond to a more detailed RFP after signing a confidentiality agreement.
Objective
Our objective is to assess the library collection and to develop a collection enhancement strategy that will be used to guide future acquisitions. More specifically, we would like to:
U.S. Supreme Court Update 1-28-09
A Service from the ABA Criminal Justice Section, http://www.abanet.org/crimjust
VAN DE KAMP, JOHN, ET AL. v. GOLDSTEIN, THOMAS L. (No. 07-854.)
AP reporting: The Court threw out a lawsuit by a Los Angeles man wrongfully convicted of murder and gave district attorneys a broad shield against being sued even if their management mistakes send an innocent person to prison.
New York: Significant Change in the Rules of Professional Conduct
James R. Sahlem, Principal Law Librarian at the New York Supreme Court Library at Bullafo, notes in his publication, NYCRR/Sections Affected , a significant change in the Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR 1200), NYR 1-28-09 at p 99.
New York Appellate Criminal Cases Originating from the New York Supreme Court NY County – LEXIS. January 29, 2009.
Update from the Lexis Alert Service,
January 29, 2009
1. People v. Rodriguez, 5115, 810/05, SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT, 2009 NY Slip Op 434; 2009 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 426, January 27, 2009, Decided, January 27, 2009, 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.
Some Recent Documents from the Obama White House
Below are links to some of the recent documents, January 21, 22 and 26, 2009 :
Executive Order: Presidential Records, Released by White House on 1-21-09
Memorandum: Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) Released by White House on 1-21-09
Connecticut: Judge Uses Vulgar Language As She is Charged
“Judge Uses Vulgar Language As She is Charged”, an article by Edmund H. Mahoney and Jon Lender, published in the January 27, 2009 Hartford Courant, reports that a Connecticut Superior Court judge is accused of arguing with a police officer and calling him a “Negro trooper”. The folllowing links to both the article and a “booking video”:
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-cofield0127.artjan27,0,2287060.story