World Death Penalty Resources

Are you interested in where and how the death penalty is applied throughout the world and researching the death penalty as a foreign or comparative law topic?  A goldmine of country-by-country information--statistical data, background, and legal analysis--is available at the Death Penalty Worldwide website and in its Death Penalty Database.  Created by Professor Sandra Babcock, Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Cornell University Law School, in partnership with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the database is searchable by keyword and country. Searches can be further filtered by items such as crimes punishable by the death penalty, methods of execution, and treaties to which the country is a party.  Another good source of recent statistical information is Amnesty International's report, "Death Sentences and Executions, 2013," which includes a comparative international map. To find additional information and suggested sources for the criminal law and death penalty of particular countries, search for "death penalty" at the Foreign Law Research page of New York University's GlobaLex site. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research and Source Gathering: Australia

From my cozy spot near the Reference Desk, I've been watching many students face the challenge of their first source gathering assignment for one of the law journals. Among the most challenging sources to locate are cases, statutes, and law journal articles from foreign countries, including Australia, which is is a popular jurisdiction for authors treating family law and other social science-related topics.

To get off to a good start in understanding the landscape of the Australia's government and legal system, including the courts and legislatures of its states and territories, start with two of my favorite research guides: Researching Australian Law, by Nicholas Pengelley and Sue Milne, published on the legal research and technology site LLRX.com; and Update: A Guide to Online Research Resources for the Australian Federal Legal System with some Reference to the State Level, by Petal Kinder, Court Librarian at the High Court of Australia. This and many other country research guides are available on GlobaLex, the site of New York University's Hauser Global Law School Program.
       

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Business Environment Snapshots

The World Bank has combined its own data with that of other publishers to produce Business Environment Snapshots, a free internet resource providing a measurement and analysis of the business climate in 183 countries (or,"economies"), with links to the text of selected business-related laws and regulations. In addition to key data, including each country's rankings on criteria such as political risk, corruption, and Institutional Investor's country credit ratings, each snapshot includes an "Analytical Work" section of World Bank reports on the country published in the last five years.

For law students interested in locating statutes and regulations from Asian, African, South and Central American, Middle Eastern, or Eastern European nations, this is a resource not to be overlooked. The "Legislation" section draws from, and links to, World Bank's Doing Business Law Library, a free collection of business-related legislation from official sources where available (in English and other languages), along with some unofficial English translations.    

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

South Africa Laws Database

This fall the Oliver R. Tambo Law Library at the University of Pretoria announced the launch of a new free website, Laws of South Africa: Consolidated Legislation.  The Laws of South Africa database provides both current and "point in time" historical versions of South African laws and regulations in PDF.  Any reliable source of foreign law in English and PDF is welcome for law student research and source gathering, but this project, undertaken with the Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII), is special in showing how statutes such Marriage Act 25 of 1961 (latest version still in force) have changed over the years along with the dramatic changes in South African government and society.

The Laws of South Africa database is a work in progress. Not every statute and regulation has been added, but you will find both current and historical versions of legislation that affects citizens' lives most directly, from family law and wills to employment and the Companies Act.  Check it out. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Foreign Law Translations

Finding full, readable English translations of foreign case law and statues can be a challenge. One web site to keep in mind is Foreign Law Translations at the Institute for Transnational Law, School of Law, University of Texas at Austin. The selected legal materials in the fields of constitutional, administrative, contract and tort law  have been translated into English by legal specialists. The site is a valuable resource for French, German, Austrian and Israeli law. A disclaimer is quite clear in stating that the translations and documents "were prepared to assist students and teachers interested in foreign law. The collection makes no claim of being either complete or current, and should not be relied upon for the basis of a legal opinion or course of action without careful review of current applicable authority."  However, if a particular law, as passed, or the text of a court decision is what you need, you may find it here. Law students will also appreciate the French Legal Glossary and German Abbreviations, translating the names of foreign courts, legislatures, and legal terms.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Constitution by Crowd

Well, not exactly. But Iceland is bringing the general population (and followers around the globe) into the process of creating a new national constitution this summer, using the new social media. Iceland is soliciting citizen suggestions on the Constitutional Council website, where the most recent draft is posted in Icelandic, along with an English translation by Google Translate. A JURIST post has more on the process, which also involves Twitter and Facebook pages and a YouTube channel (in Icelandic), not only to facilitate comments but also to post interviews with delegates and live broadcasts of Council meetings. It's all part of the Council's stated intention to "open communication with the Icelandic nation" and give "the people an opportunity to participate in the formation of a new Constitution of the Republic of Iceland." A 21st century version of the constitutional convention has arrived.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Copyright Watch

While prowling the web this week, I was led to Copyright Watch, a newly launched website created by copyright experts from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Electronic Information for Libraries and other international groups. The focus of Copyright Watch is global, as it aims to be a comprehensive, up-to-date and user friendly online repository of national copyright laws and developments. Users can select a continent or browse for a country. The brief country descriptions include links to relevant international organizations of which the country is a member. In addition to providing quick access to foreign copyright laws and monitoring copyright developments around the world, the site and its blog will be updated to include proposed amendments and commentary from national copyright experts.

Copyright Watch is a great resource for foreign and comparative law research, and for anyone who wants to keep up with global copyright law and its impact on business and information access around the world.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Constitution Finder

Need to find the constitution of a particular country? Look no further than the Constitution Finder.
This handy site allows you to search by country and links to the country's constitutional text. It is a nice place to keep in mind when doing foreign law research.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat