SCOTUS Hears Arguments About Prop 8 & DOMA

This week, the Supreme Court heard two landmark cases which may be pivotal to the future of marriage in the United States.  On Tuesday, the Supreme Court took up, Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban.  The California case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, was the first of two arguments. Today, the justices heard arguments on a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal law, in Windsor v. U.S.

Listen to the audio of these arguments or read the transcripts.

 The audio recording and unofficial version of the transcript of the oral arguments in the Defense of Marriage Act case (United States v. Windsor) are available here.

The audio recording and unofficial version of the transcript of the oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case (Hollingsworth v. Perry) are available here. 

Click here to read orders, case filings, and other information pertaining to the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 cases.  Click on each item to access further information.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

A Social Media Will: Have you thought about it?

The latest legality to hit social media is your legacy!  The idea of a social media will may seem strange, but it is something that even the US government is writing about.  Here at usa.gov you will find some guidelines for writing a social media will.  Other sites, such as The Atlantic and the Huffington Post, have written about what will happen to a twitter account, Facebook page and other social networking websites, after the account holder passes on.

As The Atlantic notes, "planning for your digital life after your physical life is no longer a strange niche behavior." And while is seems simple, it may not be. "Sounds good, but legally it's tricky territory." Read more about living in the age of social media here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Past Exam Archive

Hope everyone enjoys Spring Break!  Don't study all the time.

When you return for the final weeks on the semester and go into exam mode, don't forget that the Law Library hosts an archive of past exams from our faculty.  The easiest way to find the "Past Exam Archive" is to go to the Law Library home page and click on the "Students" link on the left.  The link to "Past Exams" is the top link.  You will be asked to login to the University Portal - usual network username/password - and it links directly to the past exam archive.

Not all of the professors make their past exams available.  If you do not see a folder with a professor's last name, we do not have any past exams for that professor. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Environmental Due Diligence Guide Report (BNA)

BNA's Environmental Due Diligence Guide Report provides a framework of environmental liability regulations in commercial real estate transactions, environmental disclosure, institutional controls, and developments affecting environmental due diligence.  Coverage begins from 3/18/1999 to present.

To access the Environmental Due Diligence Guide Report (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Then, click "Environmental Law" link
• Scroll down, click the "Environmental Due Diligence Guide Report (BNA)" link

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat