Electronic Filing Reaches All Federal Courts

The announcement caught my attention as many of you leave for summer work or embark upon your future profession in the "real world" of clients and cases. As of this week, every United States federal district, appellate, and bankruptcy court now accepts electronic case filings through the courts' CM/ECF system for document filing and case management. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., was the final court to join the system. It adopted, effective May 17, revised Federal Circuit Rule 25 provisions that require, with certain exceptions, electronic filing of court case documents. Joining the CM/ECF system will permit the Federal Circuit to make its electronically filed documents available in the PACER (Online Service for Access to Court Electronic Records) database. To learn more and keep current on PACER and electronic filing in federal courts, begin here.  Current Hofstra law students and faculty should see a reference librarian for access to PACER.       

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

CONGRATS !!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to all !!!!

3Ls - you made it through.  Best of luck on the Bar Exam and everything that follows.  Come to visit us in the Library - you are always welcome.

2Ls - you made it through another year.  Two down, one to go.

1Ls - you survived your first year.  It gets much easier and will be lot less stressful here on out.

Have a great Summer everyone.  As I mentioned in my Summer Hours post on Wednesday, we will be here all Summer.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Is Bigfoot Legally Fair Game?

Those of you who may be considering a Sasquatch hunt during your Summer break may want to start in Texas. This article will explain why.

(Acknowledgement to Legal Blog Watch.)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Summer Hours Begin Today

The library's summer hours begin today!

Our summer hours through August 13 are:

Monday - Thursday:    8:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Friday:                        8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Saturday-Sunday      10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

Exceptions:

Sunday, May 20, 2012	10 AM - 8 PM
Monday, May 28, 2012	CLOSED
Wednesday, Jul 4, 2012	CLOSED

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Your Facebook "Likes" Are Not Free Speech

Be Careful Who You "Like"

In the article Your Facebook 'likes' can get you fired, the author notes that "Applying old laws to new technology can be tricky. ...

In the case of "Bland v. Roberts, Bobby Bland and four coworkers in the sheriff's department in Hampton, Va., clicked the "like" button on the Facebook page of Jim Adams, who was running against their boss, Sheriff B.J. Roberts, in 2009. Roberts won, and promptly fired all five, citing budget constraints, unsatisfactory work performance, and a lack of "harmony and efficiency" in the office. But Bland and his cohort contended it was liking Adams' Facebook page that got them canned."

The judge ruled that clicking the like button on Facebook isn't free speech.  But has the application of the law, or the applier, really caught up with technology?

"That's fine as far as it goes, say legal scholars, but the act of liking something on Facebook may be far more of a statement than the judge apparently realized. "Judges in general do not really understand Facebook," observes Eric Goldman, who teaches at Santa Clara University School of Law in Silicon Valley. He also directs the school's High Tech Law Institute and writes a blog on high-tech legal issues."

So, remember to be careful who you "like."

(Read more here at Your Facebook 'likes' can get you fired)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

iPhone J.D.

iPhone J.D. is a site for lawyers using iPhones and iPads published by Jeff Richardson, an attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana.  All right you know how to use your iPhones and iPads, but this site has some interesting posts on some of the technology trends.  Today's post is a review of the book Paperless by David Sparks. 

Suspect a lot of people are looking forward to an electronic casebook.  May arrive sooner than we think.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

NYC Green Book Goes Online

Since 1918 New York City has published the Green Book, its official directory--a compendium of information and contacts (staff, telephone numbers, web sites) for City agencies, departments, and services, along with other interesting facts and useful NYC information for residents and researchers.  As of yesterday, the Green Book has gone green in a new way.  It is now online and free.  The online version, which the City expects to become the primary version of the Green Book, is organized with tabs, is searchable, and will be updated on a continual basis.  There are many links to the City's web site, NYC.gov, for further information on departments and officials.

However, the online version is still a work in progress in some respects.  It lacks some sections of specialized information available in the most recent print version, the 2008-2009 Green Book, including the sections on the New York City Courts and the Supreme Court Libraries.  Our Library has a copy of the latest print Green Book in the Ready Reference collection behind the Reference Desk, as well as two copies available to law students in the Office of Career Services.  In June, a 2012 print edition of the Green Book will be available for purchase, but will be published in limited quantities. The City's press release has more information.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Federal Court Blocks Sweeping Illinois Eavesdropping Statute

 Over a half-century old, the state law makes it a felony for anyone to produce a recording of a conversation unless all parties agree. In particular, it sets a maximum punishment of fifteen years’ imprisonment if a law enforcement officer is recorded.

Critics of the law have argued that it infringes upon the rights of citizens to document law enforcement officials’ misconduct. Read more here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

UK Supreme Court Proceedings Available Live

Law from the UK's highest court streaming online in real time!

Et. Seq., HLS's Library Blog notes that, "Live streaming of the UK Supreme Court’s hearings and judgments began on May 16, via Sky News.

According to the press notice, the Sky News site provides links to the Supreme Court’s case summaries for those being webcast. Check the Court’s Sittings Page to plan your UKSC viewing, being mindful of the 5 hour time difference."  (Read more about the televised court proceedings here)

"On this page you can watch live the hearings of the UK Supreme Court, the final court of appeal in the UK for all civil cases and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland." (see Sky News UK Supreme Court page here)

Hat tip to BIALL Blog via HLS Library Blog.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Still time to tell us who should be the Employees of the Semester

There is still time to give us your input.  A survey will be resent to you soon asking you to nominate the "Employees of the Semester, Spring 2012".  Please let us know who you think should be recognized for their extraordinary work during the Spring 2012 semester.

 

You are requested to nominate 1 staff member and 1 administrator.

It does help us if you can provide a name,  although, we have figured out nominations from some pretty esoteric clues.

 

Please note that faculty members/professors – are not eligible.

The survey is anonymous and the input is greatly appreciated.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat