Oregon Legal Research BlogThis year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
What can one say? A remarkable book, indeed.
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50th Anniversary of “To Kill a Mockingbird”
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Spousal Support and “The Feminine Mistake”: A Gift that Keeps on Giving
County law librarians work with a lot of family law attorneys and pro se litigants contending with family law issues (marriage, divorce, custody, support). Not a small percentage of them have questions about spousal support (and subsequent modification). If your practice (or your life) hasn’t been such that you keep up with the law on this subject on a regular basis, you’ll need to do some research in the primary sources (starting with your state’s “Digest,” usually), the secondary sources (e.g. treatises and periodicals), and in your state’s legal practice research resources.
(I highly recommend a West “Digest” Topic (e.g. Divorce or Husband and Wife) search for starters and make sure you read the Scope Notes.)
Lately, though, every time I hear a summary of the facts for these cases, I think of the book “The Feminine Mistake.”
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Lawyers and Oregon Writers: Terroir Creative Writing Festival
It has been said that lawyers are frustrated writers. (This can also be said about most writers.) For those of you seeking your inner scribe (contrast with those seeking their inner inventor at Da Vinci Days):
TERROIR CREATIVE WRITING FESTIVAL
A day of workshops, lectures and readings brings writers together in McMinnville, May 1, 2010
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Justice Bedsworth Looks (askance) Upon the Entertainment Value of the Internet (and Legal Memos)
When legal memos are one and the same with the “content” of the Internet, is there any hope for the future?
“Cats, Frogs, and [don’t spam me please*] Women,” by Justice William W. Bedsworth:
Excerpt: “Sitting on the library table in my chambers is a memorandum from the Judicial Council entitled, “Information for Implementing New Rules of Court Regarding Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records.” It is, sadly, not the page-turner its title would lead you to expect….
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Bull Elks, Bag Limits, and the Oregon Supreme Court
In case you were wondering (and you were, weren’t you), the Oregon Supreme Court on April 1, 2010, decided:
State of Oregon v. Benson L. Hogevoll (SC S057014)
From the Oregon Supreme Court, April 1, 2010, Media Release:
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Government Comics Repository (online, yet): Who Knew?
Did you know there was a repository for government comics? I sure didn’t, but others did, including some law librarians. It doesn’t surprise me that such a repository exists, and someone should let Mr. Mankoff know (if he doesn’t already), but not everyone has my idea of a dream job, which is to be head honcho in a Comics Library (aka the Funny (Biblio) Farm). I’m still working on a secret identity, but might stick with my previous choice of Miss Knowitalia (from Cul de Sac, an excellent cartoon).
See the Law Librarian Blog post from April 1, 2010 (but no joke, at least not entirely). The link to the repository is priceless.
Excerpt: “…Did you know that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln maintains an online collection of government comics? Me neither so a big hat tip to Free Government Information. My favorite, so far, is Johnny Gets the Word. It’s supposed to be about STDs but I’m in a Johnny Westlaw frame of mind at the moment….” (Link to full LLB post.)
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Lawsuit Climate Change?
“Chamber of Commerce Releases 2010 Lawsuit Climate Survey
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) released 2010 Lawsuit Climate Survey which ranks the states with the best and worst legal climates for business. According to the survey, the states with the worst legal climates are California (46th), Alabama (47th), Mississippi (48th), Louisiana (49th), and West Virginia (50th)….” (Link to full blog post.)
More about Chambers of Commerce (not to be confused with the Better Business Bureau – neither of which is a government entity).
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Oregon 2010 HB 3686 (Religious dress in schools): Update
Governor Kulongoski signed 2010 HB 3686 on April 1, 2010:
1) Press release from the Oregon Legislature.
2) Signing Statement / Letter (from the Governor’s Legislative Action website).