India: Legal Research Guide

News this week about India's tragic terrorist attacks reminded us that India is increasingly important as an international business and financial center. India is also an important part of the global legal community with a system rooted in our own English common law tradition. For law students, a great starting point for information and research help on India is "A Guide to India's Legal Research and Legal System," prepared by the Chief Librarian at the Supreme Court of India and just published in October 2008 by Globalex. Globalex, an online publication of the Hauser Global Law School Program of New York University, is dedicated to foreign and international legal research and offers expert guides for many countries and for topics of interest in international and comparative law.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Deane Law Library will operate under the following schedule:

• Wednesday, November 26: 7AM – 8PM
• Thursday, November 27 - Friday, November 28: CLOSED
• Saturday, November 29: Extended hours resume

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

How Congress Works: Resources from the House of Representatives Committee on Rules

Think you know how Congress works? Well, take a look at the How Congress Works site hosted by the U.S. House Committee on Rules for a complete overview of rules and procedures. Aside from links to rules, definitions, etc., there are CRS reports on legislative research and another on tracking current federal legislation and regulations.

This is an excellent reference site when engaged in any aspect of federal legislative research.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The pardoning of the turkey

It's not too late to cast your vote for the the National Thanksgiving Turkey. The lucky turkeys (the National turkey and an alternate) will be flown to Disneyland and to spend the rest of their lives in leisure.

If you are interested in statistics on clemency actions, such as pardons, the Department of Justice has a web page with statistical tables of clemency actions by administration.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Federal Register's Electronic Public Inspection Desk

Just in time for the Presidential transition period and the final regulatory rush (see yesterday's post), the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has announced an electronic Public Inspection Desk to provide free online access to all documents--new final regulations, proposed regulations, and notices--that will be published in the next day's Federal Register, and to some that are scheduled to be published at a later date. For 72 years, the OFR has been filing these documents for public viewing as legally required, but only at their Washington, D.C., location. Now anyone in the world with a computer can read, print and download these pre-publication version documents in PDF format, beginning at 8:45 a.m. EST each federal business day. Arranged by agency, all documents include both the time of filing and the date that the regulation or notice will appear in the Federal Register. Documents in the "Special Filings" list for a particular day were filed at times other than 8:45 a.m., such as later in the day on an "emergency filing" basis.

This is a site to bookmark and revisit as a law student and practicing attorney. It is invaluable for keeping on top of federal regulations affecting business, finance, health, energy, the environment, and other areas of public interest.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Midnight Madness???

Today is the day the Bush administration must finalize regulations in order for them to take full effect before President Bush leaves office. These so-called "midnight regulations" have been used by every president since the outgoing Carter administration, according to the Sunlight Foundation blog . For a more detailed explanation and discussion see Midnight Hour by Elizabeth Kolbert in the New Yorker.

This article will also give you a summary of the regulations that the Bush administration plans to adopt which range from implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act by not regulating a contaminant in drinking water, allowing loaded guns in National Parks to changes in how the Family and Medical Leave Act will be administered. For a full list, see ProPublica Midnight Regulations . Go to OMB Watch to find out how to track the status of any of these "midnight" regulations.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Identity Theft Resource Center

Identity theft occurs when someone steals personal information (often a Social Security number) from an individual, and subsequently impersonates that individual. It is one of today’s fastest-growing crimes.

The Identity Theft Resource Center is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the understanding of identity theft, as well as its prevention. The Center offers extensive information regarding the subject of identity theft, including templates of letters and forms for victims of identity theft to send to law enforcement agencies and credit bureaus.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

G20 Meets in Washington

The group of 20 leaders from major industrialized and developing countries known as the G20 met in Washington last weekend. In their final communique the Delegation agreed "to work together to restore global growth."

Click here for additional information about the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Justice Matters

The Justice Matters web site from the National Partnership for Women and Families is a good place to go if you are interested in legal issues related to women and families. The site monitors Supreme Court cases on matters such as workplace discrimination, equal pay and health care. I like the "cases to follow" feature for a heads up on upcoming cases on the Supreme Court calendar.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Radiohead Price Model Casebooks

Professors are experimenting with how students pay for two new intellectual property law casebooks. See a summary here. One is being offered as a pay-what-you-will download, with a suggested price of $30, and another is offered as a free SSRN download. Most students, however, will still have to pay for books next semester.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat