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Spotlight & News Archive
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Letting the Sunshine In Next week, an annual event occurs in which the participants come together to analyze and discuss the importance of records. No, we’re not talking about the NCAA basketball tournament selection process (although we will address the legal issues surrounding college sports next week) but rather, National Freedom of Information Day. Observed on March 16 (and coinciding with Sunshine Week), FOI Day is a time for citizens to focus on issues of open access to government information, the public’s right to know, and the need for transparency in government. Locally, the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information will hold its annual Finnegan FOI Award Ceremony. Fittingly, the event (featuring Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson as keynote speaker) is free and open to the public. To delve deeper into freedom of information issues, check out: The Minnesota Coalition of Government Information’s resource page. Federal Agencies’ FOIA Web Sites / compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice. FOIA Reference Materials / compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice. Litigation under the Federal Open Government Laws 2008 / Harry A. Hammitt ... et al. Call number: KF5753.L57 2008. Who Needs to Know?: The State of Public Access to Federal Government Information / Patrice McDermott. Call number: KF5753.M33 2007. Access to Government in the Computer Age: An Examination of State Public Records Laws / Martha Harrell Chumbler, editor. Call number: KF5753.A94 2007. posted March 8, 2010
Spring Break Suggestions Because not everyone is headed out of town for spring break, the Library offers this list of suggestions for a semi-productive week away from law school: Spend time watching the thought-provoking videos at TED.com. Check out the Library of Congress’s massive multimedia American Memory website. Be sure to click on the Color Photographs from the FSA/OWI collection and come to the realization that the 1930s and 1940s didn’t take place in black and white. Play around with these niche search engines for law students and see if they work better than Google for your needs: http://socialmedialawstudent.com/law-office-software/search-tools/. Browse through Awkward Family Photos. Flip through Sharon Eliza Nichols’ I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar. Read The Rights of Spring: A Memoir of Innocence of Abroad, David Kennedy’s exploration of the ambiguities of human rights movements. Learn how to construct non-cringe-inducing PowerPoint presentations by poring over Edward Tufte’s The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within and Garr Reynolds’ Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. posted February 24, 2010
A Triple Lutz into a Double Toe Loop The Winter Olympics … an event that unites people around the globe in a common quest to understand the subtle differences between an axel, a lutz, a salchow, and a toe loop. Not surprisingly, the Library doesn’t own any materials on the intricacies of figure skating jumps, but a search of JSTOR, HeinOnline, and Academic Search Premier does return a surprising number of academic articles (i.e. more than 10) on figure skating judging and the cultural aspects of figure skating including:
Proof that you can find scholarly, peer-reviewed treatments of nearly any subject imaginable by searching the databases provided by the Library. posted Feburary 11, 2010
Potpourri for 1000, Alex Web-based, student-centered software applications—will they make your study time more productive or needlessly complicate it? Check out the 15 Must-Have Webs Apps for Students and decide. The perfect book for Groundhog Day reading: The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America / James Bamford. Call number: UB256.U6 B35 2008. Westlaw unveils WestlawNext and LexisNexis announces Lexis for Microsoft Office. Read about the cleverly-named online legal research platforms in this law.com article: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202441724570&rss=newswire You’ve seen the headlines on the 3.8 trillion dollar budget, here’s the original source material: February 4th marks the 36th anniversary of Patty Hearst’s kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Relive the moment, or read about it for the first time in: Patty's Got a Gun: Patricia Hearst in 1970s America / William Graebner. Call number: F866.4.H43 G73 2008. posted February 2, 2010
Popular Culture Studies Commenting on his relationship with television, Zippy the Pinhead, the quintessential postmodern comic strip character, explained: “I don’t watch TV, I monitor it.” While the authors of the books listed below may or may not find the comparison flattering, their approach to popular culture is not unlike Zippy’s approach to television. They don’t merely absorb popular culture passively, they dissect its structures, analyze its underpinnings, and reveal its deeper meanings. Find these new additions to the Library's expanding collection of interdisciplinary works on the display cabinet next to the circulation desk:
posted January 25, 2010
Lexis-Nexis Academic Now Available As the headline states, Lexis-Nexis Academic is now available to assist you in your legal, business, and government-related research. Highlights of the database include:
Thankfully, even with its surfeit of information, Lexis-Nexis Academic is easy to search thanks to a clean, uncluttered, intuitive interface. Lexis-Nexis Academic is available on-campus to all users and off-campus with a William Mitchell network login. posted January 13, 2010
The Ten Most Intriguing Titles of 2009 Not wanting to be left behind in the stampede of year-end and decade-end “best of” lists, the Library presents its compilation of the ten most intriguing titles added to its collection in 2009. The only criteria for inclusion on the list: a title that piqued our collective interest. No claim is made concerning the actual intellectual content of these books, but they certainly sound interesting.
posted January 4, 2010
Library Closed for Winter Break Although the Library will be closed from December 24, 2009 through January 3, 2010 for the College’s winter break, you can still utilize its online resources for your legal research needs. All of the Library’s Free Internet Research Sources remain available to everyone and most of the Library’s Subscription Databases—including HeinOnline, BNA Online, and Academic OneFile—are accessible off campus with a William Mitchell network login. Enjoy your winter break and we’ll see you next year. posted December 20, 2009
Finals Haiku Our semiannual presentation of finals haiku: winter’s chill arrives issues spotted first CALI not short for Send your exam-related haiku to: sean.felhofer@wmitchell.edu posted December 6, 2009
Latest Library News -The Library is seeking work-study eligible students to help cover the circulation desk through December 23rd. Stop by the Library to fill out an application or contact Ayanna Muata for more information. -The Food for Fines program is being extended through December 18. The Library will forgive a single overdue fine up to five dollars for each donation of one non-perishable food item or one personal hygiene product. So far, enough food has been donated to support four families’ visits to a food shelf. The program’s goal is to be able to aid six families. Donations are, of course, welcomed even if you don’t have any library fines. Contact Kimberly Trinh-Sy for more information. -Beginning on December 3 and continuing through December 18, the Library will be open extended hours:
posted November 30, 2009
Library Hours Library hours for the Thanksgiving weekend are as follows:
Remember that even when the Library is closed or when you’re out of town, you can use your William Mitchell network login and password to access HeinOnline, LegalTrac, BNA Online, and most of the Library’s other subscription databases. posted November 25, 2009
Afghanistan: Background Reading For the past few years, the war in Afghanistan has been largely overshadowed in the public and media consciousness by the ongoing war in Iraq. But recently, with the controversial Afghan presidential election and the Obama administration’s pending decision on committing additional troops to the war, the United States’ role in Afghanistan has become the central foreign policy issue of the day. Should the U.S. deploy more troops? If so, how many? Or, should the U.S. begin to withdraw and disengage? And what are the consequences of that course of action? The following materials won’t provide answers to those specific questions, but they will provide helpful background information for understanding the options on what will shortly become the longest war in U.S. history.
posted November 19, 2009
Professor Phebe Haugen's Novel Ideas Every so often, the Library asks a faculty member to compile a top ten list of books on a theme of his/her choice with the understanding that the Library will acquire the titles and add them to the collection. The most recent respondent to our top ten list request is Professor Phebe Haugen who, after careful consideration, has selected her ten all-time favorite novels. She notes:
One of the casualties of the law school experience is free time, as we all know. Time to read good novels becomes a distant memory after just a few weeks of cases and statutes. All the books on this list, for one reason or another, sometimes over several decades, have stayed with me. All are worth multiple readings, if anyone ever had that luxury. Find Professor Haugen’s novel ideas on the display cabinet next to the circulation desk. posted November 10, 2009
Food for Fines Program Are you a currently enrolled William Mitchell student who has accrued some overdue fines at the Library? The Food for Fines program is a great way to erase those fines and help out the local community in the process. Here’s how the program works: for each donation of one non-perishable food item or one personal hygiene product, the Library will forgive a single overdue fine up to five dollars. For example, if you have three overdue books each with fines under five dollars, donate three items and your fines will be waived. Of course, even if you don’t have any library fines, your donations are welcomed and greatly appreciated. Contact Kimberly Trinh-Sy or Ayanna Muata at the circulation desk for more information. Food for Fines overview:
posted November 3, 2009
E-journals, A to Z Although it may escaped your notice, the Library’s catalog page now includes a link (found under “specialized searches”) to an A to Z title listing of all its e-journals. The entries in the list tell you in which database or databases you’ll find each journal title and what volumes of each specific title are available online. Clicking on a title takes you directly to that journal’s page in a given database. The A-Z list is especially helpful when you have a citation to an article and are looking for an electronic version of the journal in which it appears. Instead of immediately searching Westlaw or Lexis or HeinOnline only to find that either the journal or the desired volumes aren’t part of those databases’ offerings, head to the A-Z e-journals list, find the journal title, note the coverage dates, and click on the title link. Voila. Two or three clicks that spare you several fruitless searches. posted October 26, 2009
The Clarence Thomas Nomination Hearings, Revisited While leafing through a “this day in legal history” calendar, we noticed that October 23rd marks the eighteenth anniversary of Clarence Thomas being seated on the Supreme Court. And suddenly feeling rather old, we realized that most current Mitchell students probably have little or no memory of the contentious spectacles that were Thomas nomination hearings where highly-charged accusations of sexual harassment and “high tech lynching” all but supplanted discussions of jurisprudential philosophy. Reading history can, at times be a chore. But the Thomas hearings are one of those rare episodes about which the cliché “the past is prologue” is actually true. Many of the issues of gender and race debated during the Thomas hearings were again raised--albeit in less heated manner—during the recent Sotomayor hearings. A selected bibliography:
posted October 15, 2009
All the Data That's Fit to Search With all the scorn that is regularly heaped upon the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press for their supposed editorial bias, lack of timeliness, and unworkable business models, it is only fair to praise both of the local dailies for their excellent work in compiling their respective public information/public databases pages. Both the Strib’s infoCenter and the PiPress’s Data Planet offer a wealth of government and non-profit agency information on topics ranging from public employee salaries to county jail bookings to the most popular names for newborns in Minnesota. Sure, you could probably find much of this information via Google, but at the expense of a great amount of time and effort—and you wouldn’t find the raw data repurposed into interactive maps and searchable databases like you will on the newspapers’ sites. So the next time you’re doing serious research on local crime issues or if you’re just plain nosy (as an FYI: the 3 highest paid University of Minnesota employees are the men’s basketball, football, and hockey coaches) click over to infoCenter and Data Planet. posted October 9, 2009
AudioCaseFiles There comes a time in every law student’s life when s/he realizes that listening the wit and wisdom of William Brennan is a far better use of one’s mp3 player than simply zoning out to the latest Taylor Swift or T-Pain offerings. When that moment arrives, might we suggest a visit to www.audiocasefiles.com. There you’ll find hundreds of downloadable mp3 files of the judicial opinions that are most frequently referenced in casebooks. The opinions are arranged by legal subject area and by the casebook in which they appear, so finding a specific case is a snap. And if the case isn’t currently available on the site, request it and AudioCaseFiles pledges to have it online in three days. The site also features streaming video of selected trials giving you a real world glimpse of actual courtroom proceedings. Please note that while the web site indicates that audiocasefile.com is a subscription service, the Library has purchased access for all William Mitchell students, faculty, and staff. Click on the “sign up” button to register and remember to use your @wmitchell.edu e-mail address. posted September 30, 2009
A Fall Reading Guide The days are getting shorter, the leaves are turning, and the feeling of fall is in the air. Desperate to mark the occasion of the autumnal equinox, we racked our collective brains trying to create a primer on the law-related aspects of the season, but alas, soon discovered that the fall/law nexus is, like the recently-harvested fields, fallow. So in a move more corny than clever, we simply performed a keyword search for “fall” in the Library catalog and present selected results below. Fall Guys: False Confessions and the Politics of Murder / Jim Fisher. Call number: HV8079.H6 F57 1996. The Fall / Albert Camus. Call number: PQ2605.A3734 C513 1973. The Fall and Rise of Freedom of Contract / edited by F.H. Buckley. Call number: KF807.F35 1999. The Fall of a Sparrow: A Novel / Robert Hellenga. Call number: PS3558.E4753 F3 1998. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / by Edward Gibbon. Call number: AC1.G72 v. 40-41. The Rise & Fall of Classical Legal Thought / Duncan Kennedy. Call number: KF380.K46 2006. Things Fall Apart / Chinua Achebe. Call number: PR9387.9.A3 T5 1992. Though the Heavens May Fall: The Landmark Trial that Led to the End of Human Slavery / Steven M. Wise. Call number: KD379.S66 W57 2005. Obligatory disclaimer: This sort of serendipitous search strategy should not be used for actual legal research, but it does show the breadth of resources available in the Library. posted September 22, 2009
We the People It’s that time of year again ... Constitution Day. Or, as the September 17th celebration is formally designated in 36 U.S.C. sec. 106: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. A day set aside to “commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.” Observe the occasion by re/reading the U.S. Constitution, acknowledging the contributions of naturalized U.S. citizens, and checking out the following recent Library acquisitions on constitutional law and citizenship: A Constitution of Many Minds: Why the Founding Document Doesn't Mean What it Meant Before / Cass R. Sunstein. Call number: KF4552.S96 2009. Beyond Citizenship: American Identity after Globalization / Peter J. Spiro. Call number: KF4700.S65 2008. Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution / Richard Beeman. Call number: KF4510.B44 2008. Saving the Constitution from Lawyers: How Legal Training and Law Reviews Distort Constitutional Meaning / Robert J. Spitzer. Call number: KF4552.S69 2008. The Constitution in 2020 / edited by Jack M. Balkin, Reva B. Siegel. Call number: KF4550.C5918 2009. The State as a Work of Art: The Cultural Origins of the Constitution / Eric Slauter. Call number: KF4550.S53 2009. posted September 15, 2009
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District On Thursday, September 10, Mary Beth Tinker, the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District will speak on freedom of speech and constitutional literacy at William Mitchell as part of the College's Public Square Lecture series. For background on the case and its continuing significance in American law, see the following resources: Listen to the oral arguments via The Oyez Project. Read the text of the decision via Justia. The Struggle for Students Rights: Tinker v. Des Moines and the 1960s / John W. Johnson. Call number: KF228.T56 J64 1997. Freedom of Speech in Public Schools: Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) in The Pursuit of Justice: Supreme Court Decisions that Shaped America / Kermit L. Hall & John J. Patrick. Call number: KF4550.H35 2006. The Overlooked Litigant in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) in Constitutionalism and American Culture: Writing the New Constitutional History / edited by Sandra F. VanBurkleo, Kermit L. Hall, and Robert J. Kaczorowski. Call number: KF4541.C67 2002. posted September 8, 2009
The Equality and Dignity of Labor is Emphasized Despite the presence of the word “labor” in the very name of the holiday, Labor Day is typically thought of as a temporal marker for the end of summer rather than a day set aside specifically to honor the country’s working men and women. It wasn’t always so. After being celebrated in various states for over a decade, Labor Day became an official national holiday in 1894. A Congressional Committee on Labor report advocating for the passage of a Labor Day bill noted: “by making one day in each year a public holiday for the benefit of workingmen the equality and dignity of labor is emphasized. Nothing is more important to the public weal than that the nobility of labor be maintained.” (53rd Congress, 2nd Session, H.Rpt. 902) Read more about the history of the US labor movement:
Posted September 1, 2009
Statutes on a Stick It’s quite likely that very few of the 1.7 million State Fair-goers strolling the midway, gazing upon the butter sculpture of Princess Kay of the Milky Way, and collecting enough free yardsticks to circle the globe (twice) know that the operation of “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” is regulated by the state statutes. That means that the typical Fair attendee is blissfully unaware that Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.01 delineates the exact geographic coordinates of the State Fairgrounds and that Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.03 outlines in almost excruciating detail the membership of the Fair’s governing body, the State Agricultural Society. More importantly, the average Fair patron is certainly oblivious to the fact that the sneaking into the Fair is not just poor form, but an actual misdemeanor (Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.25) and that anyone who engages in an unauthorized play, game, concert, or theatrical performance must, repeat, must be removed from the fairgrounds (Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.18). This ignorance of the law means that a few unruly Fair patrons will find themselves detained by the Fair’s duly sworn peace officers (Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.20) and temporarily confined in a “watchhouse or lockup” on the fairgrounds (Minn. Stat. Sec. 37.22). But now that you know about Chapter 37 of the Minnesota Statutes, you can stride confidently along Dan Patch Avenue secure in your knowledge of State Fair statutory minutiae. And your deep-fried dill pickle on a stick will taste all the better for it. posted August 24, 2009
Please, Bother Us Well, maybe not “annoy” bother, but definitely ask, beseech, or entreat us for assistance. Make requests of our time. Query us on legal research methods. Inquire about the location of reporters, restatements, and restrooms. And by all means, solicit our advice on using the catalog. In doing so, you’ll not only receive timely and accurate information, but you’ll also put a smile on our faces. Because, contrary to the prevailing stereotype of librarians as shy, retiring introverts, the staff of the Warren E. Burger Library finds that interacting with patrons is the most enjoyable, as well as the most meaningful part of our day. That’s why you’ll never have to cajole, inveigle, or importune us to answer even the most seemingly inconsequential question. And that’s also why we offer library services in person, over the phone, through e-mail, or via instant messaging. So don’t hesitate. Ask us. It’s really no bother. posted August 13, 2009
The CBO and GAO : Not Just for Policy Wonks Anymore Judging by their names alone, the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accounting Office sound like two faceless bureaucratic agencies where green eyeshade-wearing technocrats spending their days poring over spreadsheets. And perhaps there is an element of truth in that conception. But the CBO and the GAO are also busily producing some of the best authoritative, nonpartisan research reports on public policy available, covering topics as diverse as health care reform, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the H1N1 pandemic, and the future of the federal student loan program. All the agencies’ reports are freely downloadable from their well-designed, easily navigable web sites. Spend some time on CBO.gov and GAO.gov and you are sure to gain a richer understanding the country’s pressing issues. Even if you’ve never considered yourself a policy wonk. Posted August 4, 2009
Library Hours Update Now that the summer semester has ended and the start of the fall semester is still three weeks away, the Library’s hours will be fluctuating a bit over the next few days. From Wednesday, July 29 through Friday, July 31, the Library will be open from 7:30 am - 6:00 pm with reference service from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. On Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, the Library will be open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. No reference service will be available on those days. On Monday, August 3 through Wednesday, August 19, the Library will be open its regular summer hours. Click on the Library Hours page to see the complete academic year schedule. posted July 30, 2009
The Week that Was in Legal History July 23: Justice Anthony Kennedy’s birthday. The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty / Helen J. Knowles. Call number: KF4749.K56 2009. July 24: The Supreme Court rules in United States v. Nixon that President Nixon must surrender the Watergate tapes. All the President's Men / Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward. Call number: E860.B47 1994. July 25: David Souter nominated to the Supreme Court. David Hackett Souter: Traditional Republican on the Rehnquist Court / Tinsley E. Yarbrough. Call number: KF8745.S68 Y37 2005. July 26: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 signed into law by George Bush. Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook / Henry H. Perritt, Jr. Call number: KF3469.P47 2003. July 27: Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Atlanta Olympics bombing and the FBI interrogation of Richard Jewell / United States Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information. Call number: Micro KF49.C62 CIS 1997 S521-103 July 28: Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution ratified. Democracy Reborn: The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equal Rights in post-Civil War America / Garrett Epps. Call number: KF4757.E67 2006. July 29: President Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act creating NASA. An Introduction to Space Law / I.H. Ph. Diederiks-Verschoor, V. Kopal. Call number: KZD1145.D53 2008. posted July 23, 2009
The ICC at 11 Eleven years after its establishment by the adoption of the Rome Statute, the International Criminal Court remains a contentious topic in the United States. Opponents of the Court contend that acceding to it infringes upon U.S. sovereignty and conflicts with the Constitution while advocates argue that consenting to the Court demonstrates respect for the rule of law and enhances the nation’s international moral standing in the wake of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Don’t know where you stand on the issue? Read more about the International Criminal Court and decide: International Criminal Court home page: http://www.icc-cpi.int/ Text of the Rome Statute: http://untreaty.un.org/cod/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm Selected Library resources:
posted July 16, 2009
The Prolific Mr. Posner This past week, the Library added A Failure of Capitalism: The Crisis of '08 and the Descent into Depression to its collection. That isn’t in itself particularly noteworthy, except that it is the Library’s fiftieth book by Richard Posner. Which got us thinking: is there any other author more prolific and more wide-ranging than Posner? The inexhaustible U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Judge/University of Chicago Law School Senior Lecturer has written books on topics as disparate as aging, economics, plagiarism, and sex while also crafting hundreds of court opinions, penning dozens of journal articles, and regularly posting on his two blogs. Scrolling the entire length of his publications page is almost enough to induce carpal tunnel syndrome. Sample smaller segments of Posner's prodigious output by clicking on the following links: Books in the Library's collection Articles (via HeinOnline) Judicial Opinions (from The Posner Project) Correspondents Blog in The Atlantic posted July 9, 2009
Fireworks Oohs and Aahs The Fourth of July. A day to commemorate the nation’s declaration of independence from the grip of British tyranny … by setting alight extravagant displays of personal pyrotechnics. But before lighting your sparklers, snakes, bottle rockets, cherry bombs, and roman candles, read up on the laws governing the sale, use and possession of fireworks. Federal law: Fireworks are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. See 16 CFR part 1507. Minnesota: Before 2002, all consumer fireworks were illegal in Minnesota. Since then, certain nonexplosive, nonaerial consumer fireworks are allowed. See Minn. Stat. sec. 624.20-624.25. Wisconsin: While seemingly there are fireworks shops on every Interstate exit in Wisconsin, the state’s fireworks laws are actually quite restrictive for its residents. See Wis. Stat. sec. 167.10. Other States: The American Pyrotechnics Association web page has a compilation of fireworks law fact sheets for all fifty states. posted June 30, 2009
Tweet, Tweet, Tweet Depending on who you read, Twitter is either an ongoing communications revolution or an already passé social networking platform. Let’s split the difference and say that Twitter can be a useful tool for keeping up to date on events, building communities, and promoting causes and businesses. Twitter can also be an enormous time waster, but we’ll ignore that aspect of it for now. Not surprisingly, the legal world’s presence in the Twitterverse is increasing as a growing number of attorneys and firms explore the potential benefits of the technology. Learn more about the law/Twitter phenomenon (or simply find more tweeters to follow) in the following links compiled by the Library’s always helpful reference staff:
posted June 19, 2009
Hoop Dreams Deferred? Legal questions sometimes arise in the most unlikely of places. Take, for instance, the National Basketball Association’s annual draft. The process is straightforward enough: teams select eligible players that they feel will best improve their squads in the upcoming season. But the designation of “eligible” has become a legal point of contention. The NBA’s rules stipulate that a player must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year in which the draft is held and be one year removed from high school. Critics contend the rules are unfair and possibly illegal. Recently, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) has asked the Association to reconsider its minimum age requirements or potentially face hearings before the House Judiciary Committee. Also, a June 4th posting on an employment law firm’s blog addressing the potential for an age discrimination action against the league has created a stir in the sports law universe. Read more legal analyses of the NBA's draft eligibility rules in the following articles: Pitts, Jack N. E., Jr. "Why Wait?: An Antitrust Analysis of the National Football League and National Basketball Association's Draft Eligibility Rules." Howard Law Journal 51.2 (2008): 433-78. (via HeinOnline) Rossen, Jordan Michael. "The NBA's Age Minimum and its Effect on High School Phenoms." Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal 8.1 (2008): 173-91. (via Index to Legal Periodicals) Shaffer, Brian. "The NBA's Age Requirement Shoots and Misses: How the Non-statutory Exemption Produces Inequitable Results for High School Basketball Stars." Santa Clara Law Review 48.3 (2008): 681-707. (via HeinOnline) McCann, Michael A., and Joseph S. Rosen. "Legality of Age Restrictions in the NBA and the NFL." Case Western Reserve Law Review 56.3 (2006): 731-68. (via HeinOnline) Applegate, Daniel A.. "The NBA Gets a College Education: an Antitrust and Labor Analysis of the NBA's Minimum Age Limit." Case Western Reserve Law Review 56.3 (2006): 825-56. (via HeinOnline) Jones, Andrew M.. "Hold the Mayo: An Analysis of the Validity of the NBA's Stern No Preps to Pros Rule and the Application of the Nonstatutory Exemption." Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review 26.3 (2005/2006): 475-522. (via HeinOnline) posted June 12, 2009
Seven Suggestions for Summer Reading Traditionally, summer reading lists are chock full of lightweight literary fare. Potboilers, page-turners, and the occasional memoir are the usual reading choices for the season. But this summer, delve into something a little more substantial. Head to the Library’s lower level stacks and find the following summer reading suggestions: Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives / John Palfrey and Urs Gasser. Call number: HM851.P35 2008. And yes, if you are looking for something a little breezier, the Library’s collection does include the requisite John Grisham novels. posted June 4, 2009
Judge Sonia Sotomayor. In Her Own Words President Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to the United States Supreme Court. With the surfeit of pundits and spinmeisters offering up instant opinions and analysis on the selection, it is sometimes easy to overlook one of the best ways to get to know the nominee—in her own words. Articles: Another Historical Moment: Motion by the Federal Bar Association and Others to Admit New Members on Nov. 15, 2005. 53 Federal Lawyer 29 (2006). Tribute to John Sexton. 60 NYU Annual Survey of American Law 23 (2004). Paper copy also available. A Latina Judge’s Voice. 13 Berkeley La Raza Law Journal 87 (2002). Paper copy also available. Returning Majesty to the Law and Politics: A Modern Approach. 30 Suffolk University Law Review 35 (1996). Paper copy also available. Judicial opinions: A compilation of Judge Sotomayor’s notable opinions and cases is available via the New York Times. Judge Sotomayor has written or participated in over 600 appellate and district court decisions. Find them in Westlaw's 2nd Circuit database (Westlaw login required for access). posted May 26, 2009
The Law School-Food Connection (In Four Easy Steps) Law schools teach using the Socratic method. Socrates, as quoted by Plutarch, said: “bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.” Eating well is the focus of thirteen food-related books recently acquired by the Library. Library patrons learn about the ethical, environmental, and humorous aspects of raising, growing, cooking, and eating food.
Find these epicurean delights on the display cabinet next to the circulation desk. Posted May 18, 2009
Same-sex Marriage In the past six weeks, three states—Iowa, Vermont, and Maine—have either judicially or legislatively legalized same-sex marriage. Whether these developments signify the beginnings of a nationwide shift in cultural and legal attitudes or rather, are reflective of individual states’ unique political climates, the issue of same-sex marriage is now in the public spotlight more than at any time since the heated debates surrounding The Defense of Marriage Act of 1996. To gain a deeper understanding of the legal, philosophical, and moral dimensions of same-sex marriage, check out the following books: A Time to Embrace: Same-gender Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics / William Stacy Johnson. Call number: HQ1033.J64 2006. Defending Same-sex Marriage / edited by Traci West et al. Call number: HQ1034.U5 D44 2007. Gay Marriage: For Better or for Worse?: What We've Learned from the Evidence / William N. Eskridge, Jr., Darren R. Spedale. Call number: K699b.E85 2006. Same Sex, Different States: When Same-sex Marriages Cross State Lines / Andrew Koppelman. Call number: KF539.K67 2006. Same-sex Marriage and the Constitution / Evan Gerstmann. Call number: KF539.G47 2008. Same-sex Marriage: Pro and Con: A Reader / edited by Andrew Sullivan. Call number: HQ76.25.S26 1997. Find more books on the topic at call numbers HQ1034.U5 and KF539. posted May 7, 2009
Haiku final exams near procrastinating? civil procedure Send your exam-related haiku to: sean.felhofer@wmitchell.edu posted April 28, 2009
Some Random Information The four recently released Bush administration “torture memos” are available online at: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/olc_memos.html You could spend hours every day surfing the web for the latest developments in law, technology, and government information. Or you could just bookmark the invaluable beSpacific blog: http://www.bespacific.com/ The National Security Archive at George Washington University collects and publishes declassified U.S. government documents. The content ranges from an analysis of Operation Desert Storm to a recap of Elvis Presley's visit with President Richard Nixon. Paul Lombardo recently spoke on campus. His book, the memorably titled Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, The Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell is a recent addition the Library’s collection. Marci Hamilton is a featured speaker at the April 24th symposium Understanding a Silent Tragedy: A Conference on Childhood Sexual Abuse. Her latest book, Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children is available in the Library. It’s baseball season. Read how Curt Flood’s lawsuit against Major League Baseball changed the game in One Man Out: Curt Flood Versus Baseball. posted April 20, 2009
Going Back to CALI With final exams less than three weeks away, now is the time to begin reviewing a semester’s worth of cases and concepts. In addition to perusing the old standbys of the legal study aid universe—Nutshells, Examples & Explanations, and the Understanding Series—be sure to pay a visit to the Library of Lessons at www.cali.org. As described by CALI, the Library of Lessons “is a collection of over 600 interactive, computer-based lessons covering 32 legal education subject areas. The lessons are designed to augment traditional law school instruction and can be assigned as supplemental study material or integrated with other course materials.” In other words, they’re perfect for brushing up your knowledge on almost any specific legal topic. Access to the CALI’s tutorials is free, but an authorization code available from the William Mitchell reference staff is required for initial registration. posted April 10, 2009
Knowing It When You See It The 40th anniversary on April 7th of the Supreme Court’s Stanley v. Georgia decision which effectively invalidated state laws forbidding the personal possession of indecent materials has us thinking about obscenity. Not in a salacious manner, mind you. But rather how obscenity, both in the legal and social sense, is no longer the hot button issue it once was. While contemporary debates on the nature of obscenity do still occur, they are generally just blips on the cultural radar. The FCC brouhaha surrounding the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake “wardrobe malfunction” seems almost comical in comparison to the very heated, and at times, era-defining clashes over Miller’s Tropic of Cancer, the Meese Commission’s report, Carlin’s seven words, Dworkin and MacKinnon’s anti-pornography civil rights ordinance, and the PMRC’s “filthy fifteen” list. Read more about the times when obscenity was at the forefront of the public's consciousness:
posted April 2, 2009
In Memory of John Hope Franklin At first glance, John Hope Franklin’s role in the court battles of the Civil Rights era seems somewhat minor: he provided non-legal, background research for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s Brown v. Board of Education suit. But viewed with a broader perspective, Franklin’s contributions to cause of equality become clearer. His book From Slavery to Freedom (published in 1947) was the first comprehensive, formal history of the African American experience. After its publication, it became increasingly problematic to contest the dignity, humanity, and agency of African Americans—the historical record now proved otherwise. For society in general, and the courts specifically, denying rights by denying history was no longer a viable option. John Hope Franklin died on March 25th at the age of 94. From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans. 8th ed. Call number: E185.F723 2000. Race and History: Selected Essays, 1938-1988. Call number: E185.F726 1992. Racial Equality in America. Call number: E185.F727 1976. Reconstruction: After the Civil War. Call number: E668.F72 1961. The Color Line: Legacy for the Twenty-first Century. Call number: E185.615.F69 1993. posted March 26, 2009
Reading Lawrence Lessig It’s safe to say that very few law professors ever develop a fan base outside of the realm of academe. Yet, Stanford Law School (and soon to be) Harvard University professor Lawrence Lessig regularly appears in the pages of Wired magazine, headlines with indie-rock darlings Wilco, guests on The Colbert Report, and is written into an episode of The West Wing. Why? Because as a founding member of Creative Commons and as an outspoken advocate of copyright reform, Lessig has emerged as the intellectual patron saint of the mashup, remix, and open source subcultures. His critics, on the other hand, view him at best, as mistaken in his conception of copyright, and at worst, as a tacit accomplice in the piracy of intellectual property. Read his books and engage with his ideas: Code. Version 2.0. Call number: ZA3225.L47 2006. Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace. Call number: ZA3225.L47 1999. Creative economies. Call number: KF2996.L47 2006. Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. Call number: KF2979.L47 2004. The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World. Call number: K1401.L47 2001. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy. Call number: KF3020.L47 2008. published March 17, 2009
Best. Acquisitions. Ever? The line separating the cool from the geeky is so infinitesimally fine that it is all but nonexistent. Doubt that statement? Consider that almost all great art, music, literature, and yes, even great legal reasoning, is the result of an obsessive, almost single-minded preoccupation with a subject or idea. Think, for instance, of the renowned jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. His music is the epitome of cool, yet he spent countless hours of his life compulsively engaged in that most band-campesque of activities: practicing scales and working through chord changes. In essence: absent the geeky, there can be no cool. All of which is a rather roundabout and convoluted way of announcing the Library’s recent acquisition of eleven classic graphic novels. Cool or geeky? Both or neither? Find them on the display cabinet next to the circulation desk and decide for yourself.
posted March 9, 2009
The Gun Control Debate Between the Supreme Court’s February 24th United States v. Hayes decision banning gun possession for persons previously convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors and Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent comments about reinstituting an assault weapons ban, gun control has once again become a topic for heated discussion. As always, the Library takes no official position on this (or any other) controversial issue. Instead, we strive to make information available that allows you, the patron, to fully explore all the dimensions of the gun control debate. Federal law:
State law:
Journals:
Books:
posted February 27, 2009
Keeping Informed on the Economy When watching or reading media reports on the economy, notice how often the stories begin with phrases such as “today the government reported” or “official government numbers released today.” This begs the question: where exactly are these government reports? And further: how does one locate these official numbers? Find out below. GPOAccess. A portal to US federal government information sources hosted by the Government Printing Office. Offers access via searchable databases and links to almost all online government information. FDsys. The new, improved beta version of GPOAccess. Recovery.gov. Monitors the government spending mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the “stimulus bill”). The Bureau of Economic Analysis. Presents updates on the gross domestic product, personal spending and saving trends, and corporate profitability. The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Contains current and historical data on employment, wages, prices, and other economic indicators. The Congressional Budget Office. Publishes objective, nonpartisan analyses of economic and budgetary issues. The FDIC. Features statistics and reports on the status of the banking sector including updates on bank failures. The Federal Reserve. rovides information and research on monetary policy. posted February 19, 2009
Spy vs. Spy Espionage. Intrigue. Assassination plots and brainwashing schemes. Covert operations and Cold War machinations. Welcome to the world of Professor Afsheen John Radsan. Or, more accurately, the world of his “ten best spy novels of all time.” Compiled exclusively for the Library, Radsan’s list includes classic, popular, and obscure titles that illuminate the shadowy, undercover realm of intelligence service as it's practiced from London to Moscow to Havana.
Find the "ten best spy novels of all time" on the display shelf next to the circulation desk. posted February 10, 2009
Periodically Speaking The Library subscribes to over one thousand journals and periodicals and quite honestly, very few of them would be considered “light reading.” Law reviews are, after all, directed toward legal scholars rather than general audiences. Yet interspersed amidst This School’s Law Journal and That University’s Legal Quarterly are a few—stress, a few—popular magazines that are quite readily intellectually digestible. Time and Newsweek offer an overview of current events while The Economist, Business Week, and Fortune report on the latest developments in the financial realm. Wired and PC Magazine (apologies to Apple fans: the Library doesn’t receive MacWorld) examine the virtual world of information technology. And, for pictorial stories on the real world, global or local, check out National Geographic and Mpls-St.Paul magazine. Clearly, not the selection you’d find at the local Barnes and Noble newsstand, but just enough to provide a periodic diversion from the law. posted January 29, 2009
Roe v. Wade While the topic of abortion is never far removed from the public consciousness, the January 22nd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision invariably stimulates passionate public discourse on the morality of abortion and the Court’s legal reasoning in the opinion. No matter where you stand on the issue, re-familiarizing yourself with its central debates and doctrines is always good practice. The following resources on the abortion question will undoubtedly strengthen some convictions while challenging others. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). The Supreme Court opinion. Roe v. Wade oral argument. Audio file and transcript available from oyez.org. Documentary History of the Legal Aspects of Abortion in the United States. A multi-volume collection of source material on abortion litigation. Abortion: The Myths, the Realities and the Arguments and Abortion, Society and the Law. Pre-Roe v. Wade examinations of abortion in the United States. Abortion / edited by Belinda Bennett. A collection of essays on the philosophical, legal, and biomedical aspects of abortion. The Ethics of Abortion: Pro-life vs. Pro-choice / edited by Robert M. Baird and Stuart E. Rosenbaum. A compilation of essays aimed at a general audience. What Roe v. Wade Should Have Said: The Nation's Top Legal Experts Rewrite America's Most Controversial Decision / edited by Jack M. Balkin. Exactly what the subtitle says. posted January 22, 2009
Un-derstanding Online United Nations Resources Looking for the transcript of a debate at the United Nations General Assembly? Or perhaps you need to find the text of a Security Council resolution. While it’s tempting to turn first to either lexis or westlaw to find such information, neither of the legal database behemoths contain primary source UN materials. Instead, head to the United Nations web site, the Access UN database, or the online United Nations Treaty Collection. The UN web site (www.un.org) offers a staggering array of information ranging from Security Council discussions on Darfur to the UN DESA reports on sustainable development. Unfortunately, the somewhat byzantine structure of the web site and the sheer volume of documents available on it can be overwhelming. Novice researchers will probably find that clicking on the link to UNBISnet (the UN Library’s catalog) is the best starting point for locating specific documents. An alternative to the UN web site is the commercial database Access UN which features a simpler and more intuitive user interface than that of UNBISnet. Although full-text access is available for recent documents, Access UN is primarily an index providing citations to masthead documents, official records, sales publications, resolutions and many other types of UN publications. Print or microfiche versions of the documents cited in Access UN are available at the University of Minnesota. When specifically looking for a treaty rather than general information, it is best to bypass both the UN web site and Access UN and go straight to The United Nations Treaty Collection. The newly-redesigned site provides full-text access to the United Nations Treaty Series (containing over 158,000 treaties and related actions), the Status of Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General, and the Monthly Statements of Treaties and International Agreement. A useful feature on the site is the automated CN subscription service that allows users to have depository notifications of treaty-related information e-mailed to them. posted January 15, 2009
The Most Intriguing Titles of 2008 Taking our cue from People magazine (something we categorically don’t recommend for any other law school-related endeavor) the Library presents its annual compilation of the 10 most intriguing titles added to the collection in the past year. Remember, these are not necessarily the “best” books of 2008, but rather the books that caught our collective eye because of their enticing titles.
posted January 5, 2009
Library Closed for Winter Break Although the Library will be closed from December 24, 2008 through January 4, 2009 for the College’s winter break, you can still utilize its online resources for your legal research needs. All of the Library’s Free Internet Research Sources remain available to everyone and most of the Library’s Subscription Databases—including HeinOnline, BNA Online, and Academic OneFile—are accessible off campus with a William Mitchell network login. Enjoy your winter break and we’ll see you next year posted December 23, 2008
Finals Facts Final exams are in full swing so we’ll eschew our usual rambling prose style and give you just the facts. Extended hours: Through December 19, the Library is open Monday-Friday from 7:30-Midnight and on Saturday-Sunday from 8:00-Midnight. Exam archive: The Library’s online exam archive contains actual exams administered in previous semesters. While the archive is not comprehensive—it only contains exams submitted by professors voluntarily —it does offer some insight into the structure and content of law school exams. Study aids: The Nutshell Series, the Understanding Series, the Hornbook Series, the Examples and Explanations Series, and the Sum and Substance of Law Sound Recording Series are good sources of review information on substantive areas of the law. CALI Lessons: CALI, The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, offers interactive lessons on various areas of the law. A password—available from the Library reference desk—is required to login to the database for the first time. posted December 10, 2008
JSTOR The study of law is no longer restricted to foundational statutes, cases, and regulations. Instead, legal scholarship has become a cross-disciplinary undertaking (think, for example, of law and economics or feminist jurisprudence) that understands and interprets the law through the prism of other academic disciplines. This hybrid approach requires that scholars and students alike have access to an archive of the leading journals in the fields of social science and business. At the Warren E. Burger Library, they do—via JSTOR. JSTOR provides full-text access to over 300 scholarly journals ranging from The American Economic Review to Gender & Society to The Journal of Military History. Coverage for all titles begins with volume 1, issue 1. Please note, however, that because JSTOR operates as an archive, the most current volumes for each title are not available online. JSTOR’s “moving wall” time lag, usually three to five years from a journal’s publication to its online availability, helps maintain the financial sustainability of the database’s content contributors and ensures that publishers continue to make their back issues accessible. Access to JSTOR is available to all on-campus users and to off-campus users with a William Mitchell network login. Contact the friendly Library reference staff with any questions about using this invaluable resource in your cross-disciplinary research. posted December 1, 2008
Pro Football, Inc. v. Harjo The case itself isn’t particularly newsworthy. In fact, only the irony of a Washington Redskins football game being nationally televised during National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month brought it to mind. But the case that began sixteen years ago when Suzan Harjo petitioned the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to cancel the team’s trademark on the grounds that it is disparaging to Native Americans and is still being contested on procedural matters raises important questions about the use of Indian mascots and the nature of trademark law. Opinions: The 1999 U.S Trademark and Trial Appeal Board Decision The 2003 U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Opinion The 2005 U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Opinion The 2008 U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Opinion Background readings: Team Spirits: The Native American Mascots Controversy / edited by C. Richard King and Charles Fruehling Springwood. Call number GV714.5.T43 2001. Cummings, André Douglas pond. Progress Realized? The Continuing American Indian Mascot Quandary. Marquette Sports Law Review, Vol. 18, no. 2 2008. Available from SSRN. Hughey, Rachel Clark. The Impact of Pro-Football, Inc. v. Harjo on Trademark Protection of Other Marks. Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Vol 14, no. 2, 2004. Available from Fordham Law School. Nicholson, Stacie. Indian Mascot World Series Tied 1-1: Who Will Prevail as Champion? American Indian Law Review, Vol. 29, issue 2, 2004-2005. Available from HeinOnline. Note. A Public Accommodations Challenge to the Use of Indian Team Names and Mascots in Professional Sports. Harvard Law Review, vol. 112, issue 4, 1999. Available from HeinOnline. posted November 20, 2008
Law and Popular Culture Between the recently concluded Presidential election campaign and the continuously developing financial crisis, the zeitgeist of the past few months has been undeniably serious. Perhaps then, a brief intellectual respite in the world of popular culture is in order to (if only temporarily) lighten the collective mood. We are, of course, an academic institution so our detour into a more trivial realm won’t quite pass through the world of Us Magazine or tmz.com. Instead, we’ll pause at the intersection of law and popular culture to contemplate the jurisprudence of Harry Potter, the role of Harvard Law School in contemporary films, the politics of legal education as seen in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the evolution of prison songs. Read more: Law and Popular Culture / edited by Michael Freeman. Call number: K487.C8 L38 2005. Lex Populi: The Jurisprudence of Popular Culture / William P. MacNeil. Call number: K487.C8 M33 2007. Popular Culture and the Law / edited by Richard K. Sherwin. Call number: K487.C8 P67 2006. Readings in Law and Popular Culture / edited by Steve Greenfield and Guy Osborn. Call number: K487.C8 R426 2006. When Law Goes Pop: The Vanishing Line Between Law and Popular Culture / Richard K. Sherwin. Call number: KF300.S48 2000. posted November 7, 2008
Hanging Chads and Butterfly Ballots The paradox of the epochal event is that while it takes place at a specific time, it lives on in our memories in a state of timelessness. We remember it as having simultaneously occurred both only yesterday and a lifetime ago. Consider the Presidential Election of 2000. Has it already been/only been eight years since hanging chads and butterfly ballots entered the everyday lexicon? Since Katherine Harris and Theresa LePore became nationwide figures for scorn or veneration? Since the manual recounts and the “Brooks Brothers Riot?” And since legal heavyweights Ted Olson and David Boies squared off in front of the US Supreme Court in the case of Bush v. Gore? Revisit (and relocate in your memory) the only presidential election to end via a Supreme Court decision by reading the following books: A Badly Flawed Election: Debating Bush v. Gore, the Supreme Court and American Democracy / edited by Ronald Dworkin. Call number: KF5074.2.B33 2002. Breaking the Deadlock: The 2000 Election, the Constitution, and the Courts / Richard A. Posner. Call number: KF5074.2.P67 2001. Bush v. Gore: Exposing the Hidden Crisis in American Democracy / Charles L. Zelden. Call number: KF5074.2.Z445 2008. Bush v. Gore: The Court Cases and Commentary / E.J. Dionne Jr. and William Kristol, editors. Call number: KF5074.2.B87 2001. The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our President / Vincent Bugliosi. Call number: KF5074.2.B84 2001. The Longest Night: Polemics and Perspectives on Election 2000 / edited by Arthur J. Jacobson and Michel Rosenfeld. Call number: JK526 2000.L66 2002. The Unfinished Election of 2000 / Jack N. Rakove, editor. Call number: JK526 2000.U53 2001. Understanding the 2000 Election: A Guide to the Legal Battles that Decided the Presidency / Abner Greene. Call number: KF5074.2.G74 2001. posted October 28, 2008
The Land of 10,000 Online Legal Resources Okay ... the suggestion that Minnesota is the land of ten thousand online legal resources is probably a bit of a stretch. But if one were to count the number of articles indexed by the Minnesota Legal Periodicals Index and the number of full-text CLE chapters available through the Minnesota CLE Materials online library, then maybe the headline claim wouldn’t seem so outlandish after all. So let’s take a closer look at these two Minnesota-centric online databases and see how they can assist you in your legal research. Minnesota Legal Periodicals Index The Minnesota Legal Periodicals Index, a project of the Minnesota State Law Library, contains thousands of citations to articles published in Minnesota-based legal periodicals including law reviews, bar association journals, and commercial publications. Titles such as the William Mitchell Law Review, Bench & Bar of Minnesota, and Minnesota Law & Politics are among the nineteen periodicals currently indexed by the MLPI. While some citations include a link to a full-text version of an article, the MLPI is primarily, as its name implies, an index. Fortunately, nearly all of the publications cited in the MLPI are readily available in the Library’s periodical collection. The Library collects a paper version all Minnesota CLEs, but if you are unable to make it to the Library, or if the CLE you want is checked out, or if you just prefer information in a digital format, then the Minnesota CLE materials online library is for you. The database—searchable by seminar name, practice area, author or keyword—features full-text versions of Minnesota CLE presentation materials spanning from the year 2000 to the present. Access to the database is free for William Mitchell students, staff, faculty, and adjuncts. However, because an activation code is required to complete the registration process, first-time users should consult with the friendly Library reference staff to establish a database log-in. posted October 17, 2008
More Books for That Someday Reading List The someday reading list. The mental, or in the case of the obsessively organized among us, actual written list of all the books about which we’ve said, “I should read that someday.” For everyone but the intentionally aliterate, the someday reading list is an ever-expanding entity: a random walk through a bookstore, a footnote in an article, a Nobel Prize announcement, or a review in the New York Times all induce a sense of literary “ought to.” Another sure-fire inspiration for the expansion of a someday reading list is the latest titles link on the Library’s catalog page. Click on it regularly (or set up an RSS feed for the page) and discover great books—like those listed below—that you definitely will want to read. Someday. The Cigarette Century: The Rise, Fall, and Deadly Persistence of the Product that Defined America / Allan M. Brandt. Call number: HD9135.B73 2007. Democracy's Prisoner: Eugene V. Debs, the Great War, and the Right to Dissent / Ernest Freeberg. Call number: HX84.D3 F73 2008. The Global Securities Market: A History / Ranald C. Michie. Call number: HG4551 .M53 2008. I Was Wrong: The Meanings of Apologies / Nick Smith. Call number: BF575.A75 S64 2008. The Longevity Revolution: The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life / Robert N. Butler. Call number: QP85.B88 2008. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness / Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein. Call number: HB74.P8 T53 2008. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information / Edward R. Tufte. Call number: QA276.3.T83 2001. posted October 7, 2008
Foreclosure With the dramatic bursting of the nationwide housing bubble, foreclosure has re-emerged as a major public concern for the first time since the 1980s-era farm crisis and savings and loan debacle. Nationally, Congress has held hearings on proposed changes to federal foreclosure laws while locally, the State of Minnesota has recently amended several of its statutes as the scope of the foreclosure problem has become evident. On a personal level, your humble Spotlight correspondent recently learned that the apartment building in which he is dwelling had entered foreclosure. The following resources, compiled with the help of the Library’s friendly reference staff, answer many of the common questions about the foreclosure process and serve as an entry point for deeper investigations of the topic. Minnesota Statutes. The electronic version of the statutes won’t be updated until October 21, 2008. Thus, changes to foreclosure laws implemented on August 1, 2008 are not yet online. Consult the Minnesota Session Law Service pamphlet (call number MN REF KFM5425.A4) or search on the Minnesota Legislation & Bill Status web site for current information. Foreclosures: Defenses, Workouts, and Mortgage Servicing / John Rao et al. Call number: KF697.F6 R36 2007. The Law of Distressed Real Estate / by Baxter Dunaway. Electronic resource available via Westlaw. Mortgage Foreclosures in Minnesota / Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. Call number: RESERVE KFM5490.M52 No. 1465 2008. Basics of Mortgage Foreclosure and Contract-for-Deed Cancellation for Tenants / Paul Birnberg. A report from HOME Line, a nonprofit tenant advocacy group based in Minneapolis. When Your Landlord Loses the Building: Mortgage Foreclosure and Contract For Deed Cancelation. A fact sheet from Minnesota Legal Aid. Facing Mortgage Foreclosure: From the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. posted September 25, 2008
Constitution Day Although it has only been formally celebrated since 2004, Constitution Day (officially known as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day) has quickly surpassed the more established Law Day as the legal community’s favorite non-sectarian holiday. And why not? While Law Day demands that its revelers pursue the somewhat vague notion of “rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other,” Constitution Day simply asks its celebrators to “commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.” What better way then to honor the American experiment than to peruse the Library’s collection of materials on constitutional law, constitutional history, and citizenship. Texts of the Constitution: The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation / prepared by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Call number: RESERVE KF4527.A2 2004. The Constitution of the United States of America as Amended. Call number: GOV DOCS Y 1.1/7:110-50. Selected works: How Democratic is the American Constitution? / Robert A. Dahl. Call number: KF4550.D33 2003. Desperately Seeking Certainty: The Misguided Quest for Constitutional Foundations / Daniel A. Farber, Suzanna Sherry. Call number: KF4550.F37 2002. Treatise on Constitutional Law: Substance and Procedure / Ronald D. Rotunda, John E. Nowak. Call number: KF4550.R632. A Community Built on Words: The Constitution in History and Politics / H. Jefferson Powell. Call number: KF4541.P68 2002. Belonging to America: Equal Citizenship and the Constitution / Kenneth L. Karst. Call number: KF4700.K37 1989. posted September 15, 2008
Extra! Extra! Read All About ProQuest Looking for “all the news that’s fit to print” on a particular topic? Searching for articles published several months, or even several years ago in "the newspaper of the Twin Cities?” Or perhaps you would like to receive regular updates from “the daily diary of the American dream.” If so, visit ProQuest, an online newspaper database available to all on-campus users and to off-campus users with a William Mitchell network login. ProQuest offers full-text access to over 500 U.S. and foreign newspapers ranging from the Washington Post to the Moscow Times. Historical coverage varies by newspaper, but often extends back ten to twenty years, meaning articles that may not be available on a newspaper’s own website—or are behind a subscription wall—are readily accessible via ProQuest. Like most databases, ProQuest features both basic keyword searching and more advanced Boolean searching. In either option, the interface is a model of Google-inspired simplicity. Additionally, topic and title browsing is also offered with each individual newspaper being further browseable by date of publication. ProQuest users can keep up to date on the latest developments on specific topics in the news or on the latest reports from specific newspapers by setting up easily-configured RSS feeds and e-mail alerts. As always, contact the friendly Warren E. Burger Library reference staff for assistance using ProQuest or any other Library database. posted September 5, 2008
Hurricane Katrina: Three Years Later On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region. The destruction wreaked by the storm seems almost unfathomable: over 1800 people lost their lives and over 80 billion dollars of property was damaged. Three years later, as the following reports and resources make clear, the social and political effects of Katrina remain profound on New Orleans, the Gulf Region, and the nation as a whole. The New Orleans Index: Tracking the Recovery of New Orleans & the Metro Area. A statistical analysis of population, economy, housing, and infrastructure trends post-Katrina. Authored by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. New Orleans: Three Years After the Storm. Results and analysis of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s spring 2008 survey of New Orleans residents on the city’s recovery and their own challenges in the aftermath of Katrina. The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned / Executive Office of the President. The Executive Branch's self-assessment of the performance of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security during the catastrophe. Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared / Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate ; A Failure of Initiative: Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. Reports of Congressional Committee investigations into the Federal Government's failures of disaster planning and recovery. Through the Eye of Katrina: Social Justice in the United States / edited by Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan. An examination of social, racial, and economic divides in the U.S. as seen in the government reactions to and media portrayals of Hurricane Katrina. posted August 27, 2008
Campaign Financing '08 With candidate yard signs sprouting up like mushrooms, political ads saturating the airwaves, and both the Democratic and Republican Party conventions taking place within the next two weeks, inquisitive legal minds undoubtedly find themselves wondering, “What are the laws that govern campaign financing? And where can I find informed commentary on them?” Well, wonder no further. Instead, head to the Federal Election Commission’s homepage (www.fec.gov). There you’ll find a veritable treasure trove of primary source materials including the 2008 edition of Federal Election Campaign Laws, a searchable database of FEC advisory opinions, campaign guides for candidates, political parties, and PACs, and a historical library of FEC publications and forms. Then, for interpretations and assessments of campaign financing laws, head to the Library’s lower level. There you’ll find:
posted August 19, 2008
Please, Bother Us Well, maybe not “annoy” bother, but definitely ask, beseech, or entreat us for assistance. Make requests of our time. Query us on legal research methods. Inquire about the location of reporters, restatements, and restrooms. And by all means, solicit our advice on using the catalog. In doing so, you’ll not only receive timely and accurate information, but you’ll also put a smile on our faces. Because, contrary to the prevailing stereotype of librarians as shy, retiring introverts, the staff of the Warren E. Burger Library finds that interacting with patrons is the most enjoyable, as well as the most meaningful part of our day. That’s why you’ll never have to cajole, inveigle, or importune us to answer even the most seemingly inconsequential question. And that’s also why we offer library services in person, over the phone, through e-mail, or via instant messaging. So don’t hesitate. Ask us. It’s really no bother. posted August 8, 2008
Academic OneFile As everyone from the most wide-eyed 1L to the hoariest professor emeritus knows, Westlaw and LexisNexis are the sources for online legal information. But suppose—as can often happen when researching malpractice, patent, or environmental issues—you need information on medicine or technology, or on the physical or social sciences. Where would you find authoritative, online resources on non-legal topics? The answer is a multidisciplinary database. The Library subscribes to several such databases, but today, in the first of our soon-to-be monthly primers on databases, the focus is on Academic OneFile. Academic OneFile provides full-text access to more than 4000 peer-reviewed journals and it also contains abstracts and citations for articles in an additional 8000 titles. The inclusion of such varying resources as The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, The Journal of Computer Science & Technology, and The Journal of Environmental Health demonstrates the database’s utility in providing needed background information on nearly any research topic. And, if you’re looking for less scholarly treatments of various subjects, Academic OneFile also includes the full text of the New York Times from 1985 to the present and audio versions of every NPR broadcast since 1990. Access to Academic OneFile is available to all on-campus users and to off-campus users with a William Mitchell network login. Contact the friendly Library reference staff with any questions about using this invaluable resource. posted July 29, 2008
Econ 101 Is the run-up in the price of oil the result of supply and demand issues, commodities speculation, or the declining value of the dollar? What’s the difference between inflation, deflation, and stagflation? Is the US economy poised to enter a recession? What exactly is a recession? If these questions leave you befuddled, it may be time for a crash course in the "dismal science" of economics—and the Library has all the resources you’ll need to get up to speed. Begin your study with Paul Samuelson’s Economics, perhaps the finest textbook available on the subject. After you’re comfortable with your understanding of basic economic theories and principles, it’s time to tackle Adam Smith’s seminal An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations and David Ricardo’s highly influential The Works of David Ricardo. Then, to challenge your new-found assumptions, read through Capital by everyone’s favorite Marxist, Karl Marx. With that solid grounding in classical economics, you’ll be ready to explore the neoliberal ideology of Friedman, the Keynesian ideology of Galbraith, the anti-ideology of Olson and the post-ideology of Levitt. If you’re having difficulty with some of the concepts in these, at times, opaque treatises, turn to The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics for assistance. At the completion of your intensive independent study, you'll not only be able to answer the questions posed above, but you'll also be able to comment confidently on externalities, opportunity costs, moral hazards, and wage-price spirals. And the exchange-value of that ability is immeasurable. posted July 11, 2008
Yankee Doodlings Being a compendium of useful, annotated bibliographic information related to the 232nd celebration of the declaration of United Colonies to be free and independent states absolved from allegiance to the British Crown, and dissolving all political connection between them and the State of Great-Britain. The Declaration of Independence: The Evolution of the Text / Julian P. Boyd. A collection of facsimiles of all the known drafts of the Declaration of Independence and selected predecessor documents. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence / Pauline Maier and Inventing America: Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence / Garry Wills. Two acclaimed historians analyze the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and reflect on its lasting significance. The Declaration of Independence: A Global History / David Armitage. An examination of the influence of the Declaration of Independence on self-determination and national sovereignty movements. Thomas Jefferson / R.B. Bernstein. A concise biography of the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and one of two Presidents (along with John Adams) to die on the Fourth of July. What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? / Frederick Douglass. The famed abolitionist expounds on the gap between the rhetoric of “all men are created equal” and the reality of slavery in the United States in 1852. posted July 1, 2008
The Burger Court, Revisited June 23 marks the thirty-ninth anniversary of the swearing in of St. Paul native and Library namesake Warren E. Burger as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. During his seventeen year tenure, Burger presided over a Court forced to confront many of the volatile and divisive issues that defined the turbulent 1960s and 1970s eras. From abortion (Roe v. Wade) to affirmative action (Regents of the University of California v. Bakke) to the death penalty (Furman v. Georgia and Gregg v. Georgia) to sexual conduct (Bowers v. Hardwick) and to executive privilege (United States v. Nixon), the landmark rulings of the Burger Court had, and are still having, a profound impact on American law and society. For those too young to remember that period in legal history—and for others who want to refresh their memories of it—the following books offer critical assessments of the Burger Court: The Ascent of Pragmatism: The Burger Court in Action / Bernard Schwartz. Call number: KF8742.S29 1990. The Burger Court: Counter-revolution or Confirmation? / edited by Bernard Schwartz. Call number: KF4541.B855 1998. The Burger Court: Justices, Rulings, and Legacy / Tinsley E. Yarbrough. Call number: KF8742.Y365 2000. The Burger Court: Political and Judicial Profiles / edited by Charles M. Lamb and Stephen C. Halpern. Call number: KF8742.B76 1991. The Burger Court: The Counter-revolution that Wasn't / edited by Vincent Blasi. Call number: KF8748.B86 1983. The Burger Years: Rights and Wrongs on the Supreme Court, 1969-1986 / edited by Herman Schwartz. Call number: KF8742.B78 1987. The Chief Justiceship of Warren Burger, 1969-1986 / Earl M. Maltz. Call number: KF8745.B85 M35 2000. The Legacy of the Burger Court and the Schools, 1969-1986 / Richard S. Vacca and H.C. Hudgins, Jr. Call number: KF4119.A1 V32 1991. posted June 23, 2008
A Scopes Note How is it that a court trial lasting only seven days and resulting in a mere one hundred dollar fine remains, nearly eighty-three years after its conclusion, among the most captivating episodes in American legal history? Perhaps because the Scopes “Monkey Trial” (Scopes v. State, 152 Tenn. 424) with its celebrity lawyers and attendant Court TV-like media spectacle was arguably the first “modern” trial. And perhaps because the issues raised in the trial—evolution vs. creationism, modernism vs. traditionalism—are still being debated and litigated today. Delve further into the Scopes Trial phenomenon by checking out the following: Summer for the Gods / Edward J. Larsen. A Pulitzer Prize-winning chronicle of the trial and its cultural impact and relevance. Call number: KF224.S3 L37 1997. Six Days or Forever / Ray Ginger. An acclaimed account and analysis of the trial from 1958. Call number: KF224.S3 G5 1974. The Scopes Trial. A complete transcript of the trial proceedings including Clarence Darrow’s famous interrogation of William Jennings Bryan. Call number KF224.S3 S36 1990. Reframing Scopes / Marcel Chotkowski LaFollette. A collection of recently discovered photographs and notes from journalists who covered the trial. Call number: KF224.S3 L34 2008. Inherit the Wind. The classic movie adaptation of the Broadway play based on the trial. Starring Spencer Tracy. Call number: Reserve Video Tape No. 284. Scopes Trial Homepage. A comprehensive website on the trial maintained by UMKC Law School Professor Douglas Linder. posted June 11, 2008
Your Tax Dollars at Work The phrase “your tax dollars at work” is usually uttered disparagingly in response to government programs, studies, or expenditures that are perceived as wasteful or frivolous. But for librarians—upon discovering a particularly worthwhile government publication—the phrase is invoked in a completely complimentary manner. And just what are the government reports that have earned the admiration of librarians lately? For starters: Census Atlas of the United States / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Compensating Victims of Bridge Collapses Outside Minnesota / Senate Counsel, Minnesota Legislature. Mortgage Fraud Report 2007 (issued April 2008) / U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. This Week in Petroleum / U.S. Dept. of Energy. Energy Information Administration. Finding government publications can sometimes be difficult—the classification system is complex and agency web sites are often poorly designed—so don’t hesitate to ask the always helpful reference librarians for assistance in locating the information your tax dollars helped pay for. posted May 30, 2008
Legal Fictions After nine long months, the school year is finally over. It’s time—for a month or two, anyway—to cast aside the casebooks, ditch the digests, sequester the statutes and instead, read for the sheer enjoyment of reading (not that there’s anything wrong with enjoying a casebook now and then).* The perfect place to begin your quest for relaxing reading material is the Library’s fiction collection located at call number range PR-PZ in the lower level. There you’ll find dozens and dozens of novels and short story collections, many of which have law-related themes so your powers of legal reasoning won’t completely atrophy over the summer. Gems of the collection include: A Frolic of His Own / William Gaddis. Call number: PS3557.A28 F76 1995. Collected Works / Flannery O’Connor. Call number: PS3565.C57 1988. Novels, 1942-1955 / William Faulkner. Call number: PS3511.A86 A6 1994. Pigs in Heaven / Barbara Kingsolver. Call number: PS3561.I496 P54 1994. Sense and Sensibility / Jane Austen. Call number: PR4034.S4 1992. The Trial / Franz Kafka. Call number: PT2621.A26 T74 1992. Typee / Herman Melville. Call number: PS2384.T86 1996. *Students enrolled in summer session classes should disregard this directive and make a beeline for the casebooks. posted May 16, 2008
In Praise of the Polemic Often dismissed as mere ideological screeds, polemical writings have nonetheless frequently been the driving force behind tectonic intellectual shifts in dominant political, philosophical, and religious orthodoxies. Think, for instance, of the influence Thomas Paine’s writings wielded on the course of the American Revolution. It is admittedly unlikely that any modern day polemic will exert such a profound impact on society—academic specialization and the continuing diffusion of media argue strongly against the possibility—but that hasn’t prevented contemporary polemicists from practicing their craft. For a sampling, check out the following books (with the caveat that one person’s ideological screed is another person’s self-evident truth). Slouching Toward Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline / Robert Bork. Call number: HN59.2.B68 1996. The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality / Walter Benn Michaels. Call number: HN90.S6 M49 2006. Legal Education and the Reproduction of Hierarchy: A Polemic Against the System: A Critical Edition / Duncan Kennedy. Call number: KF272.K46 2004. Patriotism and Other Mistakes / George Kateb. Call number: JA74.K37 2006. Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation / Richard A. Epstein. Call number: HD9666.6.E68 2006. Out of Order: Arrogance, Corruption, and Incompetence on the Bench / Max Boot. Call number: KF8775.Z9 B66 1998. posted May 6, 2008
Celebrate Law Day, Loyalty Day, May Day … Or Just Prepare for Finals May 1st: a day when two presidentially-proclaimed national observances compete with an internationally recognized holiday for the rapt attention of the nation’s citizenry. To help you decide where to focus your celebratory energy, a brief synopsis of each commemoration follows. Law Day. Initiated in 1958 at the urging of the ABA, Law Day is a "day of national dedication to the principle of government under law." This year’s theme is “the rule of law.” Suggested reading: The Rule of Law in America / Ronald Cass. Call number: KF382.C37 2001. Loyalty Day. Originated in 1921 as a counter to the communist-inspired May Day, Loyalty Day is a time for “reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.” Suggested reading: For Love of Country? / Martha C. Nussbaum. Call number: JC329.N87 2002. May Day. Begun as a remembrance of the Haymarket Riot of 1886, May Day is a worldwide celebration of the international labor movement … and the inspiration for Loyalty Day. Suggested reading: Labor Embattled: History, Power, Rights / David Brody. Call number: HD8066.B76 2005. Of course, May 1st is also the last study day before finals begin. So students may have to forego participating in any of the day's celebrations, and instead demonstrate their loyalty to the law by spending extended hours in the Library perusing various hornbooks, nutshells, and study guides. posted April 30, 2008
Torture The Library usually takes a lighthearted approach to its spotlight feature. The tone and subject matter are, at times, purposely snarky and frivolous. But this week the focus is on a serious—and sometimes deadly serious—topic: torture. With the recent release of a March 2003 legal memorandum from the U.S. Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel on the standards governing the interrogation of military detainees, the debate over the moral, ethical, and legal aspects of torture is once again in the headlines. The discussion—that as we struggle to define torture, torture will inevitably define us—is a critical, difficult, yet necessary national conversation. To challenge or to reinforce your views on torture, or to gain a deeper understanding of the issues and ramifications involved in the debate over it, check out the following books:
posted April 21, 2008
That Time of Year Again And exactly what time of year would that be? Baseball season? Allergy season? Crabgrass season? Well, technically yes, it is indeed all of those seasons. But what is putting the pep in the step and the glide in the stride of your already enthusiastic Warren E. Burger librarians is the arrival of the 50th anniversary of National Library Week. Running from April 13-19, National Library Week celebrates the contributions libraries have made to society and promotes their use and support. All well and good—after all, who doesn’t like libraries?—but you’re probably wondering “what does National Library Week mean for me, the library patron?” It means that fines accumulated on overdue books will be waived if the books are returned during the April 13-19 timeframe. No questions asked. No explanations expected. posted April 10, 2008
Taxman. Yeah, I'm the Taxman. It’s a safe bet that in 1966 when The Beatles recorded “Taxman,” that even their highly-skilled and undoubtedly well-compensated tax attorneys did not have at their disposal even the smallest fraction of the tax law resources found in the Warren E. Burger Library. From online databases such as CCH Internet Tax Research and RIA Checkpoint to venerable loose-leaf publications such as Standard Federal Tax Reporter, United States Tax Reporter, and Tax Management Portfolios, the answer to practically any tax-related question is readily at hand. And if supplementary research information on taxation is necessary, the Library has literally thousands of books, periodicals, and government publications on the subject. All of which points to the inescapable conclusion that were this wealth of information available to the Beatles’ taxmen, The Fab Four might have been able to evade Britain’s onerous “one for you, nineteen for me” 95% top tax rate and the hit song might never have been written. posted March 31, 2008
About That March Madness Office Pool You’re about to fill out an NCAA basketball tournament bracket. Settled on your sleeper teams, Cinderella stories, and upset specials. Concluded that UCLA will beat Georgetown in the championship game. But then a thought crosses your mind: “Is this legal?” As librarians, we don’t give legal advice or opinions, but we can direct you to the resources that will answer that question. Start with 28 U.S.C. [sec.] 3701-3704 “The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992”. Then peruse the pertinent Minnesota laws on gambling: Minn. Stat. [sec.] 349 and Minn. Stat. [sec.] 609.75-609.763. Finally, read an article or two on the legality of office pools. Now that you’ve determined the lawfulness of participating in the office pool, turn to the experts for help with your picks. No, not the folks at ESPN, but the bona fide statistics gurus found on JSTOR:
posted March 20, 2008
Reading O' the Green For most people, St. Patrick’s Day is a time for shamrocks and shillelaghs, green clothes and green beer, Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys. But this year, take a more cerebral (ok, I’ll admit that it’s really just one geeky librarian’s) approach to celebrating the national holiday of the Emerald Isle. In addition to wearing o’ the green, spend some time reading o’ the green. Do an author search for "Green" in the Library’s catalog and you’ll find, at the end of your query’s metaphorical rainbow, an intellectual pot of gold that includes: James R. Green: Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement, and the Bombing that Divided Gilded Age America. Call number: HD8085.C53 G74 2006. John C. Green: The Final Arbiter: The Consequences of Bush v. Gore for Law and Politics. Call number: KF5074.2 .F56 2005. Ronald M. Green: Babies by Design: The Ethics of Genetic Choice. Call number: RB155 .G74 2007. Stuart Green: Lying, Cheating, and Stealing: A Moral Theory of White-collar Crime. Call number: K5018 .G73 2006. William Green: A Peculiar Imbalance: The Fall and Rise of Racial Equality in Early Minnesota. Call number: F614.S4 G745 2007. Erin Go Bragh, indeed. posted March 12, 2008
Legal Schadenfreude Schadenfreude. That wonderful German word for the satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune. Certainly not a state of mind to which we readily confess, but only the most saintly among us can completely resist succumbing to schadenfreude’s siren song—especially when reading about the prosecutions of high-level executives for corporate misdeeds. Gauge your ability to refrain from taking even the smallest measure of pleasure at others’ guilt by checking out the following books: Martha Stewart's Legal Troubles / edited by Joan MacLeod Heminway. Call number: KF225 .S74 2007. Pride Before the Fall: The Trials of Bill Gates and the End of the Microsoft Era / John Heilemann. Call number: KF228.U5 H44 2002. Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story / Kurt Eichenwald. Call number: HD9502.U54 E5736 2005. posted February 28, 2008
The Presidents of the United States of America Between President’s Day, various presidents’ birthdays (not only Lincoln’s and Washington’s, but William Henry Harrison’s and Ronald Reagan’s are also in February), and the ongoing presidential primaries, interest in the nation’s highest office is at a near fever pitch. So indulge your inner Doris Kearns Goodwin by browsing the Public Papers of the Presidents. The Public Papers contain almost all of the speeches and writings of the Presidents that were issued by the Office of the Press Secretary during their respective terms in office. In the Papers, you’ll find such treasures as the remarks Kennedy had prepared for his ill-fated November 22, 1963 visit to Dallas, Johnson’s famous “I shall not seek reelection speech," and Nixon’s resignation address to the nation. Volumes covering the Hoover Administration through the first three years of the Reagan Administration are available at call number: Gov Docs GS 4.113: (note: Roosevelt’s public papers have not yet been published). Volumes covering the final five years of the Reagan Administration through the George W. Bush Administration are available at call number: Gov Docs: AE 2.114: The Public Papers of the Presidents are also available online as a searchable database. posted February 19, 2008
The Eleventh and the Twenty-Fifth February 7th and 10th mark the anniversaries of the ratifications of the Eleventh and Twenty-fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution. While these two amendments—concerned with sovereign immunity and presidential succession, respectively—haven’t inspired the wealth of scholarship that their more well known and oft-times more controversial brethren have, there is still a substantial body of research that can aid in the understanding and interpretation of the roles the Eleventh and Twenty-fifth Amendments have played in shaping constitutional law. On the Eleventh Amendment, see:
On the Twenty-fifth Amendment, see:
posted February 6, 2008
Open CRS If you’ve ever wondered how your U.S. Senator or Representative manages to stay informed on all the issues of the day, the answer is twofold: a dedicated support staff and the Congressional Research Service. The CRS, a division of the Library of Congress, performs unbiased, confidential research and analysis for members of Congress. The research reports and issue briefs produced by the CRS are not, unfortunately, available to the general public unless a Congressperson releases them or a constituent requests them. This is where Open CRS comes into the picture. Open CRS acts a central collection repository for all publicly released CRS reports. Their web site features a searchable database of nearly 13,000 reports with titles ranging from Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security Governance to Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress. So if you’re looking for background information when researching nearly any legislative topic or if you just want to be as well informed (or hopefully better informed) than your Congressperson, add Open CRS to your Internet bookmarks. posted January 28, 2008
A Martin Luther King Jr. Day Bibliography for the Busy Law Student Admittedly, very few people have the time or inclination to work their way through David Garrow’s or Taylor Branch’s massive, yet masterful tomes on Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Era. But even the most time-pressed among us can spare an hour or two to peruse the following compilations of speeches, articles, photographs, and documents from that epochal moment in the nation’s history: A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. / edited by James M. Washington. Call number: E185.97.K5 A25 1991. King, Malcolm, Baldwin: Three Interviews / by Kenneth B. Clark. Call number: E185.61 .K56 1985. Let Freedom Ring: A Documentary History of the Modern Civil Rights Movement / by Peter B. Levy. Call number: E185.61.L47 1992. The Eyes on the Prize Civil Rights Reader: Documents, Speeches, and Firsthand Accounts from the Black Freedom Struggle, 1954-1990. Call number: E185.61 .E95 1991. Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement / Danny Lyon. Call number: E185.615 .L96 1992. posted January 15, 2007
Welcome Back, Students ... Looking for a Job? It’s a new year, a new semester, and a new opportunity for work-study eligible students to secure employment at what is quite possibly the premier law library circulation desk in the Upper Midwest. We’re looking for several service-oriented students to assist in staffing said desk. Duties include: helping patrons, retrieving library materials, checking books out & in, shelving library materials, filing law library updates, and assisting in miscellaneous tasks. Benefits include: putting some extra cash in your pocket and gaining practical insight into incorporating the Library’s resources into your own legal research.
posted January 4, 2007
Library Closed for Winter Break Although the Library will be closed from December 22, 2007 through January 1, 2008 for the College’s winter break, you can still utilize its online resources for your legal research needs. All of the Library’s Free Internet Research Sources remain available to everyone and most of the Library’s Subscription Databases—including Westlaw, LexisNexis, and HeinOnline—are accessible off campus with a William Mitchell network login. Enjoy your winter break and we’ll see you next year. posted December 20, 2007
The Finals Countdown ‘Tis the season for final exams and the Library is here to provide services and materials to support you during this not-so-festive time of the year. Extended hours: Through December 21, the Library is open Monday-Friday from 7:30-Midnight and on Saturday-Sunday from 8:00-Midnight. Exam Archive: The Library’s online exam archive contains actual exams administered in previous semesters. While the archive is not comprehensive—it only contains exams submitted by professors voluntarily —it does offer some insight into the structure and content of law school exams. Study Aids: The Understanding Series, the Hornbook Series, the Examples and Explanations Series, and the Sum and Substance of Law Sound Recording Series are good sources of review information on substantive areas of the law. CALI Lessons: CALI, The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, offers interactive lessons on various areas of the law. A password—available from the Library reference desk—is required to login to the database for the first time. Alas, the Library is not able to provide a download of "The Final Countdown" for your cell phone or ipod. posted December 4, 2007
Revisions to the Federal Rules Barring Congressional action, amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Procedure will take effect on December 1, 2007. The revisions, approved by the United States Supreme Court in April 2007, implement provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002. Additionally, the amendments impose a set of comprehensive style changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in an attempt to clarify and simplify the Rules without changing their substantive meaning. More information on the Federal Rules amendments as well as advisory committee reports on the amending process is available from the United States Courts website. A criticism of the Rules revisions by Professor Jeffrey S. Parker of George Mason University Law School is available via SSRN. posted November 27, 2007
I Personally Recommend Amidst the all the casebooks, hornbooks, reporters, treatises, and digests in the Library’s collection are dozens of overlooked but extraordinary books. Three of which are: Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing / by Ted Conover. Journalist Ted Conover wanted to write about the world of corrections officers. So he became one—at New York’s notorious Sing Sing prison. Newjack chronicles the banalities and brutalities of a year spent on the inside. Call number: HV9475.N72 S563 2000. Fair Use: The Story of the Letter U and the Numeral 2 / by Negativland. In which Negativland, U2, Casey Kasem, Island Records, and SST Records clash over the Fair Use Doctrine of the United States Copyright Act. Enjoy the accompanying CD: a sound collage commentary on the ordeal. Call number: KF3080.N43 1995. Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families / by J. Anthony Lukas. A sprawling, yet elegantly written exploration of race, class and social upheaval in 1970s era Boston. Thirty years later, the issues raised in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book—integration, educational inequality, and social stratification—still confront America’s cities. Call number: F73.9.A1 L85 1985. posted November 16, 2007
When the Glove Didn't Fit With O.J. Simpson once again the subject of cable TV’s legal gabfests, memories inexorably drift back to the murder trial/media spectacle that transfixed the nation for much of 1995. Lance Ito, Kato Kaelin, and Mark Fuhrman became household names, and the white Ford Bronco, the Bruno Magli shoes and the bloody glove became topics for endless speculation. The “trial of the century” spawned a cottage industry in the publishing world. Prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden and “dream team” defense attorneys Robert Shapiro, Alan Dershowitz, and Gerald Uelmann all provided first person accounts of the trial. Monday morning legal quarterbacking was proffered by Gerry Spence, Jeffrey Toobin, and Vincent Bugliosi, while other commentators deconstructed the Simpson trial as a metaphor for race, rhetoric, language, and justice. Find all these books and more at call number KF224.S485 in the Library's lower level. posted November 9, 2007
BNA Titles Now Available Online The Warren E. Burger Library is pleased to announce that the complete collection of BNA online publications is now available to faculty, students, and staff. Comprised of over 110 titles, including such familiar titles as United States Law Week and Pension & Benefits Daily, the BNA collection provides timely, authoritative, and objective information in the areas of corporate, employment, environmental, health care, and tax law. To browse a complete list of the publications available via the BNA collection, click on the BNA link on the Library’s Subscription Databases page. posted November 1, 2007
Dinner and a Movie The Library can’t help you prepare the food, but we can provide the film. And we don’t mean stale instructional videos, but award-winning Hollywood and independent features. Choose a lighthearted romp such as Wedding Crashers, Adam’s Rib, or My Cousin Vinny. Opt for more serious fare like The Squid and The Whale, Syriana, or The Story of Qui Ju. Or, compare your law school experiences with those depicted in The Paper Chase. All of the movies in the Library’s collection, available on either DVD or VHS format, are kept on reserve and circulate for three days. posted October 22, 2007
The National Pastime, Litigated With the World Series just two weeks away, Americans find themselves divided into two camps: baseball fans studiously poring over ERAs, RBIs, and batting averages in anticipation of the 103rd Fall Classic and non-baseball fans struggling to understand why grown men wearing funny-looking pants play a children’s game. Perhaps this yawning chasm can only be breached by thinking of baseball not as a sport, but as the American legal system in microcosm. Farfetched? Maybe, but not to the authors of:
Both baseball lovers and baseball haters will appreciate the books’ insights into antitrust law, collective bargaining, employee privacy issues, mediation, and statutory construction. And, thankfully, the books' minimal references to relief pitchers, power hitters and those funny-looking pants. posted October 9, 2007
The First Monday in October Sure, you could acknowledge the day by seeing the play or just watching the movie, but serious legal minds will want to delve more deeply into the cases and issues that highlight the Supreme Court’s 2007-2008 term. Begin that exploration by visiting On the Docket—Northwestern University’s Supreme Court News page—and peruse the synopses of the 43 cases before the Court. Then head to the ABA’s Supreme Court Preview to read the briefs submitted for the Court’s consideration. Finally, bookmark the Supreme Court's Opinions page and check it frequently—slip opinions are posted within hours of the issuance of bench opinions. posted October, 1, 2007
Which One is the Salad Fork? As the Career Development Office will tell you, knowledge of proper etiquette is not simply an esoteric concern for the persnickety readers of Miss Manners’ column. It is also an essential skill in networking and interviewing--two situations where your social grace is being measured along with your understanding of estoppel. So then, which fork is the salad fork? And when should you exchange business cards? Find out from the old school masters of etiquette: Emily Post, Amy Vanderbilt, and Letitia Baldrige. Or, for a more contemporary approach to matters couth and uncouth, check out:
posted September 25, 2007
Avoiding Plagiarism Plagiarism: The act or instance of copying or stealing another’s words or ideas and attributing them as one’s own (Black’s Law Dictionary 1170. 7th ed. 1999) Whether in the realms of academia, literature, or law practice, charges of plagiarism have the potential to derail promising careers. For law students, the consequences of plagiarism, whether deliberate or unintentional, are severe and can include course failure, suspension or expulsion from school, and notification of state bar examiners. To learn more about the pitfalls of plagiarism, copy and paste … in light of the topic at hand, perhaps it would be better to simply click on the following links:
Posted: September 14, 2007
Instant Message Reference Service The problem: you need assistance researching riparian rights in Rhode Island, but are unable to make it to the Library. The solution: send your questions to the Warren E. Burger Library reference librarians via the meebo instant messaging widget found on the right side of this page. The IM reference service is completely anonymous and is available during regular reference hours. So whether you’re studying in the commons, at a coffee shop, or at home on your couch, the expertise of the Library’s reference librarians is only a few keystrokes and mouse clicks away. Posted: September 6, 2007
A Story Ripped from Today's Headlines As the Michael Vick dogfighting saga culminates with the Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleading guilty to federal conspiracy charges, inquisitive legal minds may find themselves wanting to learn more about animal law. A great place to begin is the Animal Legal & Historical Center at the Michigan State University College of Law. The web site features a comprehensive collection of state and federal statutes and case law. For a more philosophical consideration, check out Rattling the Cage: Toward Legal Rights for Animals or People, Property, or Pets? or any of the other animal law and animal rights books found in the Warren E. Burger Library. Posted: August 27, 2007
How to Succeed in Law School Without Even Trying The truth is, you probably can’t. The demands of law school—briefing cases, writing memos, researching statutes, creating outlines—require an extraordinary amount of time and effort. To learn how to thrive at these tasks (and a myriad of others), check out the Library’s collection of “success in law school” books. You’ll find them at call number KF283 in the lower level of the Library. Posted: August 15, 2007
Resources on I-35 Bridge Tragedy The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library and the University of Minnesota Government Publications Library have both published Web pages listing resources connected to the I-35 bridge collapse on Thursday, August 2, 2007. To view the resources pages, click on the links above. Posted: August 6, 2007
Spotlight On … Minnesota Laws from 2007 SessionThe Minnesota House of Representatives Web site has a page, 2007 New Laws, which links to summary reports of the new laws from the latest legislative session. From this page you can search for law by keyword, topic or browse a list of all new laws by chapter number. Posted July 19, 2007
Library News … JSTOR available for William Mitchell CommunityJSTOR, an online archive of scholarly journals, is now available through the Warren E. Burger Library's Subscription Databases page. The library's subscription to JSTOR provides access to journals in the areas of Arts & Sciences and Business. This database is available on campus to all users, and off campus to members of the William Mitchell Community with your Mitchell network login. Please contact the reference desk if you have any questions about using JSTOR. Posted July 12, 2007
Spotlight On … Supreme Court Limits Use of Race to Achieve DiversityIn its June 28 decision in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School Dist. No. 1, the Supreme Court limited the use of racial factors in determining school eligibility for students in order to maintain racial diversity. This 5-4 decision continues the conservative trend of the Court's decisions. Details:
Posted June 28, 2007
Spotlight On … Supreme Court Decides Five CasesThe United States Supreme Court handed down five decisions on Monday, June 25. News sources analyzed the influence of the two recent Bush appointees, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, on the outcome of recent cases, as the decisions indicate a move to the conservative right. Several of the cases have been followed with much interest, including one on campaign-finance regulation and another dealing with student free speech. Details: Posted June 25, 2007
Spotlight On … New Federal Documents Search EngineThe Sunlight Foundation, release a beta version of a new search engine with a goal to "improve public access to federal documents." LOUIS, the Library of Unified Information Sources, currently includes documents dating back to 2001 from the Congressional Record, congressional bills and resolutions, congressional reports, congressional hearings, GAO reports, presidential documents and the Federal Register. Ellen Miller, executive director of Sunlight Foundation states, "Sunlight created LOUIS to give citizens a one-stop, Google-like ability to search across disparate information sources in order to examine the workings of the federal government." Details:
Posted June 18, 2007
Spotlight On … Flag Day, June 14June 14, 1777 is the date on which the U.S. Flag was official adopted as a symbol of the United States. In 1885, a school teacher in Wisconsin arranged for his students to celebrate "Flag Birthday" or "Flag Day" and following this example, other celebrations developed. The date was officially recognized in 1916 by a presidential proclamation signed by Woodrow Wilson, and became a national holiday in 1949 through an act of congress signed by President Harry S Truman. Details:
Posted June 14, 2007
Spotlight On … Google Book Search Project ExpandsAs part of its goal "to create a repository of books that allows users to search the full text of those books as easily as they search Web pages today" Google has entered into an agreement with 12 universities (the members of the Big Ten, and the University of Chicago) to digitize 10 million books. This brings the total number of schools Google is working with to twenty five. While there is some concern over the inclusion of copyrighted material in the project, scholars view this as a groundbreaking move that will revolutionize research. According to Thomas Sullivan, provost of the University of Minnesota, "the virtual access to printed volumes will change the face and pace of scholarly research." Details:
Posted: June 11, 2007
Spotlight On … Authenticated Public and Private LawsEver wonder if what you see on the web is authentic? GPO access is beta testing a searchable and browseable database of authenticated public and private laws for the 110th Congress. What does that mean? The authentication initiative "focuses on the primary objective of assuring users that the information made available by GPO is official and authentic." Thus users of files distributed through this process are assured that the information is unchanged from the official print version. For more information go to GPO Access beta site for Laws of the 110th Congress. Posted: May 31, 2007
Library News … Library Catalog Redesigned!In 2006, the library catalog system was upgraded from the Innovative Interface Millenium to WebPAC Pro. The upgrade offers rich new features, including a sleek new search engine offering results ranked by relevancy and a host of Web 2.0 features such as user ratings, user reviews, and RSS feeds. To allow our patrons to make full use of the new features and maximize their utility, we felt that the catalog needed a new look to go along with the new functionality. Tinkering in the margins would not fully utilize the new features; the time had come for a redesign. Check out the redesigned catalog and please feel free to send any comments about the design (both what you like and ideas for further improvement) to Neal Axton, chair of the redesign committee. Posted: May 21, 2007
Spotlight On… Library Movie and Popular Fiction CollectionsAre you done with finals, but haven't started summer classes yet? Are you looking for something to occupy the time you used to spend studying? Did you know that the library has a growing collection of popular movies available to be checked out? This collection includes titles with legal, elder law and feminist themes such as: The Firm, Driving Miss Daisy and even Wedding Crashers. To locate movies in the library collection, go to the Library Catalog and under "Limit search to..." click on Video Material. Prefer to spend your downtime reading a good book instead? Check out the library's collection of popular fiction. Titles such as: An American Tragedy, The Just and the Unjust and The Caine Mutiny are located in the PS 3000 call number area on the lower level of the library. If you are looking for a specific title, please check with the reference librarians, and we will be happy to help you. Enjoy! Posted: May 16, 2007
Spotlight On… Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945World War II Digital Document ArchiveMay 8, 2007, marks the 62nd anniversary of the day the Allies formally celebrated the victory over Nazi forces in Europe. The Government Printing Office (GPO) and Southern Methodist University (SMU) Central University Libraries have partnered to provide digital access to over 300 U.S. Government Publications distributed during the war. This archive can be accessed at http://worldwar2.smu.edu/.
Library News … Library on Extended Hours, Conference Room open until 2 a.m.Students looking for a study area after midnight may use the Library conference room until 2 a.m. Monday through Friday. The Conference Room may be entered on the 2nd floor near the Kelly Board Room. Students must enter and exit through the main security doors. Please note that there will not be access to the library after midnight. Posted: April 30, 2007
Spotlight On… World Intellectual Property Day, April 26World Intellectual Property Day was first designated in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organization as "an opportunity to encourage people to think about the role played by intellectual property in everyday life, and about its importance in stimulating and safeguarding innovation and creativity." This year's theme is "encouraging creativity."
Details: Posted: April 26, 2007
Library News… Library on Extended HoursThe library will be on extended hours from April 20 through May 11. We will be open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to Midnight, and Saturday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to Midnight. Reference hours will remain the same. Click here for the Library Hours page. Good luck as you prepare for and take your final exams! Posted: April 23, 2007 . Library News...Network Outages in the LibraryOn Sunday, April 22, Information Technology will be taking the network down to install new network components. This work will affect the library at approximately the following times (times are approximate, depending on project progress): 9:00 am to 11:00 am Computer room powered down - All computer applications will be down. This includes email, web and all applications, both inside and out side of the campus. 9:00 am to 11:00 am Library checkout system will be down (you will still be able to check material out, but we will process these manually) 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Library labs will not have connection to the Internet or network drives 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Library upper level will not have Internet or network connection Posted: April 20, 2007 . Spotlight On … National Library Week and Mitchell's New CatalogThe Warren E. Burger Library is excited to announce the debut of its new catalog interface during National Library Week starting April 15th. The new catalog design will improve Internet access to the library’s resources. The new catalog links to:
The new catalog features:
The new catalog design is available on the college network at the beta testing site. Posted: April 13, 2007 Spotlight On … Briefs available for 8th Circuit Arguments to be held at William Mitchell, April 4
On April 4, William Mitchell will host a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit as it hears oral argument in cases involving issues ranging from the denial of social security disability benefits to the constitutionality of criminal sentencing regulations. Chief Judge James B. Loken, Judge C. Arlen Beam, and Judge Kermit E. Bye will hear oral arguments in the William Mitchell Auditorium starting at 9:00 am. The event is open to faculty, staff, and students. Details: Briefs: . Spotlight On … National Women's History Month
The National Women’s History Project (NWHP) was founded in 1980, to "broadcast women’s historical achievements." As the project grew and expanded, they lobbied congress to designate the month of March as National Women's History Month. This year's theme, "Generations of Women Moving History Forward,” was selected to recognize the "wisdom and tenacity of the generations of women who have come before us and those who will follow." Details: Posted: March 13, 2007 . Spotlight On … International Women's Day 2007
Evolving since the early 1900s, International Women's Day (IWD) is the "global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future." Details: Posted: March 8, 2007 . Spotlight On … . Class Action Against BAR/BRI Reaches Tentative Settlement, Some Class Members Dissatisfied
A class action suit against BAR/BRI, a leading bar review prep course, has reached a tentative settlement. The suit, filed in 2005, contends that the company operated an illegal monopoly and overcharged students for bar review courses by as much as $1,000. The settlement has angered many of the class members who assert that one objective of the suit was to force changes in BAR/BRI's business practices, which the current agreement does not require. Details: Posted: March 3, 2007 . Library News … March 1, 2007 - College and Library Closing at Noon The Library and College will close at noon on Thursday, March 1, 2007 due to the stormy weather. For current updates on the status of the library, call the circulation desk at 651-290-6333. For information on the status of the college, see the William Mitchell homepage. Posted: March 1, 2007 . Spotlight On … Minnesota State Legislature Website The Minnesota State Legislature Website is an award winning site that provides a wealth of information to users about the Minnesota Legislature, past and present. The site includes access to the current Minnesota Statutes, session laws back to 1994, Minnesota Rules, and the state constitution. In addition, the "MyBills" service allows a user to track proposed legislation as it moves through the system. You can also find information on the State House and Senate, and link to live or archived video of floor sessions, committee hearings and other materials. Posted: February 12, 2007 . Spotlight On … Documentary on the Minnesota Supreme Court "Justice Matters" is a documentary co-produced by the Minnesota Supreme Court and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) which "...uses significant cases of the past 20 years to illustrate the role Minnesota's highest court plays in the state's justice system, and in the lives of Minnesotans." This documentary will be shown on Sunday, February 11 at 4 p.m. on Channel 2 and 7 p.m. on Channel 17. For more information see the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. Posted: February 8, 2007 . Spotlight On … Public Access KeyCite available in the Library KeyCite is now available on one of the research terminals located in the reference area. Through this subscription, researchers may use Keycite to update the current status of cases, statutes, selected administrative decisions, and federal and selected state regulations. This service does not provide full-text of the KeyCited document or full-text access to other material on the report, nor does it allow general research in other Westlaw databases. Posted: February 7, 2007 . Spotlight On … Minnesota CLE Online Library Training Are you interested in harnessing the power of Minnesota CLE materials through your computer? Join us for a training session on using the CLE Online Library to find practice aids, forms and many other materials, Tuesday, February 6 at 3 p.m. in room 240 and 5 p.m. in room 234. Posted: February 5, 2007 . Spotlight On … U.S. Supreme Court Documentary Series on PBS Described as “an unprecedented series exploring the history, impact and drama of America's highest court," this four part series will begin its run on Wednesday, January 31. See the PBS website for the complete schedule, a discussion guide, a timeline of Supreme Court events, interactive games to test your knowledge of our highest court, and more resources. Posted: January 29, 2007 . This Date in History … Madeline K. Albright sworn in as Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright was sworn in as the 64th Secretary of State and the first woman to serve in the position on January 23, 1997. Ms. Albright, who was born in Czechoslovakia, on May 15, 1937, held the position for four years. Details::
Posted: January 23, 2007 . Library News… Lexis and Westlaw Classes Being Offered Our Westlaw and Lexis representatives are offering a variety of training opportunities for William Mitchell students over the next few weeks. These classes are a great way to improve your online research skills and develop techniques to maximize your research effectiveness. Check out the Lexis My School page (login required) and the Westlaw Training page (login required) for classes, times and locations and to sign up. Posted: January 18, 2007 . Spotlight On… Research Article Published by Librarian Deb Hackerson William Mitchell Reference Librarian and alumna Deb Hackerson '96 recently published an article titled Legal Research: A Guide to Online Tutorials for First Year Law Students, 25 Legal Reference Services Quarterly 153 (2006). This article suggests tutorials provided by CALI, LexisNexis and Westlaw which might be most relevant and useful for first year law students. William Mitchell students, faculty and staff can can find her article in the periodical collection on the upper level of the library, and the tutorials through the links in the spotlight details below. Details: William Mitchell students, faculty and staff can access these tutorials as follows:
Posted: January 16, 2007 . . Spotlight On… Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Library Closed Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!! This is the theme for this year's celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15, 2007. This holiday was officially recognized by Public Law 98-144, signed into law on November 2, 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. Details:
Posted: January 11, 2007 . Spotlight On… Welcome Back to Classes The library welcomes our students and faculty back to the spring 2007 semester. Please let us know how we can help you with your research needs! Posted: January 9, 2007 . Library News … Library Closed During the Winter Break The Library will be closed during the college winter break. We will close on Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday January 2, 2007 at 7:30 a.m. We will be on interim hours January 2 -7, 2007. We wish you a safe and relaxing Holiday Season, and look forward to serving you in the New Year! Posted December 20, 2006 . Spotlight On… Iraq Study Group Final Report Available
The Final Report of the Iraq Study Group, released on December 6, 2006, is available online and may accessed through the Library's Online Catalog. At the catalog page enter a title search for Iraq Study Group Report to bring up the link to connect to the complete document. For additional information on the Report see the Spotlight Details below. Details: Posted: December 08, 2006 . Spotlight On … Getting Ready for Finals The Library has many items that may be helpful to students preparing for final exams. These include: CALI Lessons - CALI, The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, provides interactive lessons in substantive areas of law. Contact the reference desk for the William Mitchell authorization code to login the first time. Exam Archive - The library maintains an online exam archive containing past exams voluntarily contributed by faculty of the college. Exams are organized by course and by faculty member. Note that not all faculty provide exams. Study Aids - The library owns many books and audio materials that can serve as a good source for review of a substantive area of law. To find some of these, search the Library Catalog for the following titles: Sum and Substance of Law Sound Recordings, Understanding Series, Hornbook Series, Examples and Explanations Series. If you need help locating particular materials, members of the library staff are always willing to help. Feel free to stop in, email or call (651-290-6424) the reference desk for assistance. Good Luck on Exams! Posted: November 30, 2006 . . Library News … Library Hours for Holidays and Exams The Library will be closed on Thursday, November 23, 2006 for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be open regular hours prior to the 23rd, and again on the 24th. There will be no reference service on Friday, November 24th. The Library will go to our extended hours schedule on Friday, December 1, 2006 and remain on that schedule through Friday, December 22, 2006. The Library will be closed for the Winter Break from December 24, 2006 through January 1, 2007, and will reopen on January 2, 2007. If you have any questions about library hours, they are posted on the Library Hours page or you may contact the circulation desk at 651-290-6333 or circulation@wmitchell.edu. Posted: November 21, 2006. Spotlight On … Historic Code of Federal Regulations now available on HeinOnline HeinOnline has announced the availability of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) from inception in 1938 through the 1983 edition. All editions inclusive of this period as well as all supplements for this time frame are now easily accessible online for the very first time in an image-based (PDF), searchable format. The CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register (also available in HeinOnline from its' inception in 1936) by the executive departments and agencies of the U.S. Federal Government. The CFR is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to U.S. Federal regulation. To access HeinOnline from the Library website, click on the Research link above, and then Online Databases Posted: November 8, 2006 . Spotlight On … Don't forget to Vote! November 7, 2006 is election day, don't forget to take time to exercise you constitutional right to vote! Not sure where to go, who the candidates are, etc? Check out the Minnesota Secretary of State's website for all that information and more. Interested in getting the election results? The Library's Internet Legal Resources Minnesota Media page links to the major Minnesota media outlets where you can find continuing coverage of the election. Posted: November 7, 2006 . Library News … Library Study Room Policy Change The policy for use of the library study rooms has changed to allow individual users when the rooms are not being used by groups. The rooms have also been re-keyed to allow entry using your William Mitchell ID card. For complete details on access to the study rooms, see the Spotlight Details (link below), and for all library policies related to students check out the Current Students page. Details: Study Room Policy Availability of Rooms; Authorized Users and Uses The library has 11 study rooms on the lower level. These rooms are available only to WMCL students and faculty and to alumni who are studying for the bar exam, and they may be used only for college academic purposes. Any exceptions must be approved by the Circulation Librarian. The rooms are designed primarily for group study, and groups have priority for use of the rooms. The rooms may be used for individual study but only when they are not needed for group study. Use of the Rooms A group may use a study room for an initial two-hour period. If no other group needs the room after that period, the group may signup on the room reservation sheet for another two-hour period and remain in the room.. A group does not have to vacate a room for an individual student. Individual students may use the smaller study rooms (B, C, G, H, I, J, K, and L). The larger study rooms (D, E, and F) are not available for individual study. An individual may use a study room as long as a group does not need it. An Individual must vacate a room immediately if it is needed by a group, even if the individual has not been in the room for two hours. Students and faculty may open study rooms by using their WMCL ID cards on the card reader outside the door of a study room. Alumni studying for the bar exam may request help at the circulation desk. Groups who have not reserved a room in advance and all individual users must sign in on the registration sheet posted on or near the door. Room Reservations Groups are encouraged to reserve study rooms in advance, but standing reservations (multiple reservations for the same day and time) are not allowed. To reserve a room for the next day, your request must be made at least an hour before the library closes. To reserve a room, email the Circulation Desk staff (circulation@wmitchell.edu) with the time and date you wish to use a room and with the name of at least one other person who will be in the room with you. The circulation staff will respond to your request. Reservations for each day will be posted outside each study room. If a group is more than 15 minutes late for its reservation, it forfeits use of the study room if another group wants it. Individuals may not reserve rooms. Those who do so will forfeit their study room privileges. Study Room Code of Conduct I you are an individual user, vacate a room immediately when asked to do so by a group, regardless of how long you have been occupying the room. Do not consume food or beverages in the study room. Do not use a study room as a locker, storage space, or place to sleep. Do not leave library materials in the study rooms. Place them on shelving carts. Leave a room in good condition by erasing the white boards, picking up trash, and pushing in chairs. Vacate a study room 15 minutes before the library’s scheduled closing. Violating the Study Room Policy Those violating study room policies may have their study room privileges revoked for the academic year. Posted: October 25, 2006 . Spotlight On… Supreme Court Transcripts - Same Day Availability In a move applauded by some for providing greater public access, the Supreme Court announced that starting with the October 2006 term, oral argument transcripts will be posted to the Court's web site on the same day they are given. In prior terms, transcripts were generally not available for about two weeks after the arguments. Details:
Posted: October 2, 2006 . Spotlight On… O'Connor Confirmation 25th Anniversary On September 21, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor was unanimously confirmed as the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court. She served on the court until her retirement in January of 2006. As a moderate conservative, O'Connor often cast the deciding vote in cases that polarized the court. Details:
Posted: September 21, 2006 . Spotlight On… Constitution Day Celebrates Freedom The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1789, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of official celebrations of that day. Many federal agencies and other related groups have planned activities to commemorate this pivotal event in the history of the United States. See the Spotlight Details below for links to several of these. Details:
Posted: September 18, 2006 . Spotlight On... Windows Live Search Launched Windows announced the launch of Live Search, its internet search service, on September 11. Live Search will power the web search feature on MSN, Microsoft’s portal for media and entertainment. Microsoft is third behind Google and Yahoo in search engine popularity Details:
Posted: September 11, 2006 . Spotlight On... Super Lawyers? A committee of the New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that lawyers may not advertise as a “Super Lawyer” as determined by Law & Politics magazine’s Super Lawyers supplement. The concern is that labels such as “super” or “best” can mislead consumers to think that one attorney is significantly better than others. Details:
Posted: August 14, 2006 . Spotlight On… Title IX Anniversary June 23 marked the 34th anniversary of President Nixon signing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into law, which prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. Details:
Posted: June 29, 2006 . Spotlight On… Video Game or Terrorist Training Tool? In a recent congressional hearing, pentagon experts showed scenes from a popular video game, Battlefield 2, that were described as an advertisement for a terrorist modification of the game to be used for terrorist training purposes. In reality, the scenes were from a fan film for the game, posted to the internet, and the "modification" was actually a component of the commercially sold game. Details:
Posted: June 27, 2006 . Spotlight On… Affirmative Action in Law Schools Two recent law review articles have presented some challenges to conventional ideas regarding affirmative action in law schools, and a June 16, 2006 meeting of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights also fueled debate on the issue. See the Details page for more information. Details:
Posted: June 21, 2006 . Spotlight On… The Response to Hurricane Katrina - Government Reports The government response to Hurricane Katrina has been the subject of much discussion. Several government reports have recently been issued which review the response and what can be learned for the future. Details:
Posted: April 27, 2006 . Spotlight On… Supreme Court allows use of unpublished opinions in Federal Courts The U.S. Supreme Court voted Wednesday to adopt Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1, permitting attorneys to cite to unpublished opinions in federal court. See the Details page below for additional information. Details:
Posted: April 13, 2006 . Spotlight On… National Library Week - April 2-8, 2006 Change Your World @ Your Library... is the theme for this year's National Library Week. National Library Week, started in 1958, is a time to celebrate all libraries as centers of learning. Did you know that academic reference librarians answer over 7 million questions a week! Stop in and see what we can do for you! Details:
Posted: April 3, 2006 . Spotlight On… Women's History Month - March 2006 Women's History Week, first celebrated in 1978, was originally designated as the week including March 8, which is International Women's Day. In 1987, the celebration, which recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women throughout the history of the United States, was expanded to the full month of March. Over the past 15 years, it has developed into a major national and international celebration of the accomplishments of women in the US and around the world. Details:
Posted: March 9, 2006 . Spotlight On… The Solomon Amendment Upheld In an 8-0 opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that the Solomon Amendment, which requires law schools that receive federal funding to allow the military the same access as other employers when recruiting on campus, does not violate the First Amendment. Details:
Posted: March 6, 2006 . Library News… The Best of the Legal Web - CLE by Neal Axton, Reference Librarian Reference Librarian Neal Axton recently presented a Continuing Legal Education Seminar on the Best of the Legal Web. He discussed a range of topics, including internet security, resources beyond Google, where to find cases, briefs, regulatory and financial information, how to keep up on current happenings, and the future of the Web, including data-mining and the Semantic Web. Posted: March 1, 2006 . Library News… Library Online Catalog Unavailable March 1st The Library Online Catalog will be unavailable on Wednesday, March 1st for installation of new hardware for the system. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please ask for help at the reference desk if you are looking for library materials. Posted: February 23, 2006 . Spotlight On… Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 The 16th edition of this classic reference tool is now available online and in our library! This comprehensive directory contains the biographies of thousands of members of Congress from the first through the 108th Congress, territorial delegates, resident commissioners and vice presidents. Search the title in the Library's Online Catalog for the location of the print version in the library or a link to the online version. Posted: February 21, 2006 . Spotlight On… Trial of Saddam Hussein The Law Library of Congress has created a website devoted to the trial of Saddam Hussein. This site will monitor, analyze and report legal developments related to the trials, and provide a list of reference materials related to various aspects of the trials. Posted: February 13, 2006 . Spotlight On... Black History Month - Why is it in February? Get the answer to this question and others from the new bulletin board display in the library! Learn about resources in the library's collection about Black history in the United States, including: "All Deliberate Speed," "How Long? How Long?" and articles found using the library's Online Databases. Posted: February 7, 2006 . Spotlight On… National Security Agency Eavesdropping Activity President Bush defended his authorization of the NSA's eavesdropping program as "critical to saving American lives" and "consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution." Details:
Posted: January 26, 2006 . Library News... HeinOnline Unavailable Sunday Morning HeinOnline services will be unavailable Sunday, January 15, from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. for an operating system upgrade. Posted: January 12, 2006 . Minnesota Libraries Survey… Confused by technical jargon on library websites? A committee of Minnesota libraries is researching the language library patrons feel best describes library services. If you are interested in helping this effort, please click on the survey link below.
Posted: January 11, 2006 . Library News… Shift of the Minnesota Collection In order to facilitate use of the Minnesota collection, we are currently shifting some older materials to the lower level. Current editions of Minnesota Practice, Minnesota CLEs from the last 5 years and current treatises will remain on the entry level, along with primary resources such as statutes and regulations. All materials in the Minnesota collection on the entry level will have a MN REF label at the top of the spine. These changes will be reflected in the online catalog, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask a member of the library staff. Posted: January 9, 2006 . Library News… Interim Hours January 2-7, 2006 The library will be on interim hours during the first week of January, and there will be no reference service on January 7-8, 2006. We will resume regular reference hours on January 9. Posted: January 2, 2006 . Library News… Winter Break The library will close on Friday, December 23, 2005 at 6 p.m., and will reopen on Monday January 2, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. Happy Holidays! Posted: December 21, 2005 . Spotlight On… Economic Data on FRED & FRASER FRED and FRASER are two companion Web sites from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. They contain valuable current and historical economic data of the United States. Details:
Posted: December 7, 2005 . Spotlight On… FAIR v. Rumsfeld - Solomon Act Constitutionality On Dec. 6, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in FAIR v. Rumsfeld, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Solomon Amendment, which denies federal funds to educational institutions that prohibit military recruitment on campus. Details:
Posted: November 29, 2005 . Library News… Extended Hours for Exams The library will be open extended hours starting Friday, December 2 and running through Thursday, December 22. Posted: November 29, 2005 . Library News… Library Hours for Thanksgiving Holiday The library will be closed on Thursday, November 24 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. On Friday, November 25, we will be open regular hours, but there will be no reference service. Regular reference service will resume on Saturday, November 26. Posted: November 21, 2005 . Spotlight On… FBI Scrutiny under Patriot Act Challenged A recent Connecticut case is challenging the FBI's use of "National Security Letters" to conduct domestic surveillance. Details:
Posted: November 15, 2005 . Spotlight On… Bloggers Investigated for Encouraging Rioting French authorities have detained two teenage bloggers on suspicion of encouraging people to participate in the recent riots in France. Details: .
Posted: November 10, 2005 . Spotlight On… Samuel A. Alito Nominated to U.S. Supreme Court President Bush nominated Judge Samuel A. Alito to replace Harriet Miers as his nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the United States Supreme Court. Details:
Posted: October 31, 2005 . Library News… E-mail Reference Service Do you have a quick reference question after hours? Or while working from home? Send your question to reference@wmitchell.edu (or click the "Ask a Reference Librarian" link under Contact Us) and a reference librarian will get back to you within 24 hours. This service is intended to provide brief answers to factual questions, help with search strategies and information on library resources and services. For more in-depth assistance, you may arrange a meeting with one of the reference librarians or call (651) 290-6424. Posted: October 24, 2005 . Spotlight On… Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005
Details: Posted: October 17, 2005 . Spotlight On… Harriet Miers nominated to U.S. Supreme Court White House counsel Harriet Miers has been nominated by President Bush to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Details: . . U.S. Supreme Court begins October Term On Monday October 3, the United States Supreme Court began the 2005 term with Chief Justice John Roberts at the helm. Details: . Posted: October 3, 2005 . Spotlight On… Roberts Confirmed Chief Justice John G. Roberts was confirmed to be the U.S. Chief Justice and will be sworn in later today (Sept. 29). Details: . Blatz to leave Minnesota Court Minnesota Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz has announced she will be leaving the court in January. Details: Posted: September 29, 2005 . Spotlight On… Constitution Day and Citizenship Day To commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, Saturday, September 17, has been designated Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. To learn more, see the Spotlight Details below. Details: . Many organizations and federal agencies are commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution with special activities including Web exhibits and live Webcasts. For more information, see the links below. Posted: September 14, 2005 . Spotlight On… Roberts Supreme Court Nomination Hearings to Begin 9/12/05 The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin hearings on September 12, 2005 on the nomination of John Roberts for the position of Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. See the Spotlight Details below for links to more information. . Details: For information about the Judiciary Committee hearings see: Posted: September 12, 2005 . Spotlight On… Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies at 80 Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died at his home in Washington D.C. over the Labor Day weekend. To learn more about his career, see the Spotlight Details below. Details: For information about Chief Justice Rehnquist's career see:Posted: September 7, 2005 . Library News… What's New in the Library? We are excited to announce several improvements in the library that have taken place over the summer, including new computers, new printer/copiers, reduced cost for printing and copying, and expanded reference hours. Details:
New
Computers - The 24 computers in Lab 1 have all been
replaced with new machines. These are the smaller profile CPU’s
and flat screen monitors which will provide more desk space for
users. Posted: August 24, 2005 . Spotlight On… Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court President Bush has selected Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit, as his nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Details: Posted: July 20, 2005 . Spotlight On… The Reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary's recent hearings on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act are now available online. Click below for details. Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions The MGM v. Grokster (file sharing), Kelo v. New London (eminent domain), and McCreary County v. ACLU (Ten Commandments) case decisions, along with other U.S. Supreme Court opinions, are available online. Details: The Reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act You can access some of the hearings on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act online through the library's online catalog with a keyword search for USA Patriot Act. This search will also retrieve other items on the topic available in the library. You may also go directly to the Judiciary Committee's Web page for a listing of all the hearings they have held during the 109th Congress. Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions The Supreme Court's recent opinions are available online. You may access these through the federal cases section of the Library's Internet Legal Resources, or by the direct link to the Supreme Court Web site. Posted: June 27, 2005 . Spotlight On… Online Databases William Mitchell patrons have access to many online databases through the library's subscriptions. To see what is available visit the Online Databases page under the Research tab above. Posted: June 2, 2005 . Library News… Interim & Memorial Day Weekend Hours The library will follow the interim hours schedule May 14-27, and will be closed for Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30. Regular summer hours will resume on May 31. Posted: April 12, 2005 . Spotlight On… Library Services for Exam Time Exam Archive on the Library Web Site To access the exam archive, click Users | Current Students (or Users | Faculty). The archive contains exams voluntarily submitted by William Mitchell faculty. If your instructor maintains a Blackboard page, you should also check there for exams. Library Hours Extended The library hours for the regular semester have been extended so we are now open 7:30 a.m.-midnight, Monday-Friday. Starting April 22, we will continue to be open 7:30 a.m.-midnight, Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday. Please let us know if you have any comments or concerns. Posted: April 2005 . Spotlight On… The Warren E. Burger Library Web site The library Web site has been redesigned with a goal of providing our users with convenient access to library information and research tools on pages that are distinctive, informational and user-friendly. Please let us know what you think! Posted: March 2005 |
