The Supreme Court Database

The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1946 and 2013 terms. Examples include the identity of the court whose decision the Supreme Court reviewed, the parties to the suit, the legal provisions considered in the case, and the votes of the Justices.

The site includes documentation to help you start your analysis.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Will Pluto Remain A Dwarf Planet?

Further to our previous posts here and here, we report the following speculations as to whether recent discoveries regarding Pluto might lead to its reclassification. A more technical (in parts) but comprehensive overview of the issue awaits you here.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Trafficking in Persons Report 2015

Yesterday the U.S. State Department released this year's Trafficking in Persons Report, which reflects the Department's assessment of the human trafficking situation worldwide and provides a narrative for each country, summarizing and evaluating their government's progress in preventing trafficking, prosecuting suspects, and protecting victims.  The report also offers an excellent overview of the global causes of human trafficking within supply chains and in its various forms, including sex trafficking, forced labor, bonded labor or debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.  It includes statistics and provides links to related reports by the United Nations and other organizations.  This is a great resource for law students or anyone interested in research, practice, or advocacy related to human trafficking. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Good Luck on the Bar Exam!

You have worked and studied hard in preparation for the Bar Exam.  Today get to where you need to be tomorrow, exercise, have a good dinner and a good night's rest.

Good Luck!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Lady (Legal) Writer Blog

Looking for a good blog that provides tips for legal writing?  Try Lady (Legal) Writer blog, it provides posts on legal writing resources, writing tips, new publications, Q&A, information for 1Ls, and more.  Click here to access the blog.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

From the Lawyerist - How to Format an Appellate Brief

You learn about the content requirements of an appellate brief in law school, but how much time is spent on the formatting requirements?  To make it more confusing, format requirements vary from court to court.

The Lawyerist recently posted the article How to Format an Appellate Brief.  It offers a number of tips that can help the attorney properly create the document from the beginning instead of trying to format the document after it is written.

The article also demonstrates why you really need to go beyond the basics with Microsoft Word.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Stealth Surfing

Patrick Foto/Getty Images

If you want to prowl online with out leaving paw-prints, check out 5 Ways to go Totally Incognito on the Web .

Tips include how to keep Google from knowing everything about you and the latest on configuring your social media settings to maximize your privacy.

Hat-tip to Social News at About.com .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Pluto (Re)Visited

Years ago, we lamented Pluto’s demotion from a full planet to a so-called “dwarf planet”. Now, fast forward to 2015, when NASA’s New Horizons mission has recently approached Pluto, and determined that it is somewhat larger than was previously thought. Perhaps there is now slim cause to hope for Pluto’s reinstatement as a full planet?

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The History of British Slavery

The Guardian has a recent article "The history of British slave ownership has been buried, now its scale can be revealed."  It is a fascinating overview of the extent and depth of slaves and the slave trade in Great Britain. There were the widows who inherited a slave and rented out their slaves in work-gangs.  The highest rates of  slave ownership was in Scotland.  The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 formally freed 800,000 Africans. What is less well known is that the same act contained a provision for the financial compensation of the owners of those slaves, by the British taxpayer, for the loss of their “property”.

Much more is revealed.

The articles provides links to the Legacies of British Slave Ownership and which has a free online database of British slave holders.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tips for Lawyers Blog

Looking for a good blog that provides tips for lawyers?  Try the The Tips for Lawyers blog, it provides discussions on career moves, marketing; social media issues, coping with colleagues/clients and more.  To access the blog click here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat