United States

Federal Judicial Center

The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) is the education and research agency for the US federal courts. The site provides access to research on the federal courts and a selection of educational materials produced for judges and court employees. There is a catalogue of publications and videos produced by the FJC providing bibliographic records for each item. Some of the materials are made available in full text on the site. A section of the site gives information about the FJC's work with judges and court officials of other countries.

Organized Crime Research

Website focusing on organised crime in the United States and Germany produced by Klaus von Lampe who is assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. The site includes definitions of the term "organised crime" from the United States and other countries from around the world. Details of books, articles, reports and presentations by the author, many of which are made freely available in full text, can be downloaded from the site. There are reviews of books on organised crime and an annotated list of links to related sites.

A Primer on the Jurisdiction of the U.S. Courts of Appeals

Full text copy of "A Primer on the Jurisdiction of the U.S. Courts of Appeals" written by Thomas E. Baker of the Florida International University, College of Law and made freely available online by the Federal Judicial Center, an education and research agency for the federal courts in the United States. The primer was published in 2009 (and updated in 2023) and provides an "introduction to the complexity and nuance in the subject-matter jurisdiction of the U.S. Courts of Appeals".

Neurolaw and Criminal Justice

Online guide looking at forensic neuroscience and criminal justice in the United States written by Ken Strutin who is Director of Legal Information Services at the New York State Defenders Association. The guide was published on LLRX.com in December 2008 and provides an introduction to the debate around the use of neuroscience in criminal cases including brain scanning to determine if a person is fit to stand trial. The author provides background to the science and gives links to news sources including blogs, recent publications, research centres, journals and professional bodies.

State responses to immigration: a database of all state legislation

Online database of state legislation, relating to immigration, made freely available by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) in the United States. The database is a joint project of the MPI and the New York University School of Law (NYU). The database, which is under development, will provide access to all immigration-related bills and resolutions introduced in state legislatures. All immigration-related legislation for 2007 is currently provided.

LawCite

LawCite is an international case citator developed by AustLII, the Australasian Legal Information Institute. It is a searchable index to more than 5 million cases, journal articles and law reform reports from common law jurisdictions, including numerous Commonwealth countries, Ireland, the United States and Hong Kong; links to the full text are given, where available. Cases can be searched by citation, parties, court, jurisdiction and date. Journal articles can be searched by keywords in the title and author.

Nanotechnology: what is it and why do law librarians need to know about it?

Online guide to the legal aspects of nanotechnology written by Scott Russell who is Reference Librarian at Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. in Missouri in the United States. The guide was published in November 2008 on LLRX.com. The author gives an introduction to nanotechnology and links to articles about its use. There are also links to studies dealing with the risks associated with nanotechnology, which could lead to litigation, and to related intellectual property issues.

Jury Expert

Website of the free electronic journal, Jury Expert: the Art and Science of Litigation Advocacy. The journal is published by the American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC), a US-based organisation whose members work with attorneys in planning all phases of trial¨including discovery, trial preparation, and jury behaviour. The current issue is available together with previous issues back to May 2005.

Internet Law Treatise

Website of the Internet Law Treatise, a collaborative online project looking at the law relating to the internet. The project is no longer active, but the site remains available for historical purposes. The ILT initiative involved attorneys and law students and is hosted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a membership organisation concerned with the civil liberties issues surrounding technology.

How to read a legal opinion: a guide for new law students

Electronic article providing guidance on reading legal opinions written by Orin S. Kerr who is a Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School. The article was published in the Green Bag: an Entertaining Journal of Law in Autumn 2007 and is aimed at new law students in the United States. There are sections explaining what a judicial opinion is and looking at the caption, the case citation, who wrote the opinion, the facts of the case, the law of the case, concurring or dissenting opinions, common legal terms and types of disputes.

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