Washington Votes by Mail

Washington is one of only two states that votes by mail (Oregon is the other). Ballots and voters pamphlets are arriving this week.

If you want to put your ballot in a drop box, rather than a mail box, King County Elections has physical drop boxes located throughout the county. They are open 24/7 now until November 5, and from 12 am to 8 pm on November 6. in addition, ballot drop off vans will be available from 10 am-5 pm, Nov 2 through Nov 5, and 7 am-8 pm on election day. A van will be in the Northeast corner of Red Square on the University of Washington campus.

Locations and hours of ballot drop boxes and vans in King County are here. 


King County voters will receive two voters pamphlets - one from the County and one from the State.

Don't live in King County? The Washington Secretary of State's office has a list of county election departments here.
 
New to Washington State and still not registered? Although the online and mail registrations have passed, you can still register in person at the county elections departments until October 29.

Identifying Grey Literature: DocuBase database

The term, grey literature, is often used to refer to written material that is difficult to find through conventional channels because it is not published commercially or is generally inaccessible. However, these types of documents are often extremely valuable to legal researcher as they can include working papers, patents, technical reports and white papers from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks, research institutes and other public interest organizations.

A useful resource for identifying such literature is the online website, DocuTicker, which includes a database called DocuBase that provides not only an abstract for each document included, but also links to the full-text PDFs.  Each document is also tagged by source (e,g, Amnesty International), article category (e.g., Congressional Research Service) and source category (e.g., Think Tank), so it's very easy to browse their content for relevant material.

National Day on Writing

October 20 is the National Day on Writing.

"Says who?" you ask? Says the National Council of Teachers of English and the United States Senate (S. Res. 565), that's who.

Law students don't see themselves as preparing for careers as professional writers — but they are. Lawyers in practice areas that are heavily paper-based are writing (or signing off on) more pages in a day than a novelist hones in a week.

Cheryl Stephens, Lawyers Are Professional Writers: Get Used to It

The law library offers lots of resources to help you with your writing. See:

• Legal & General Writing Resources: Legal
• Legal & General Writing Resources: General
• Writing for & Publishing in Law Reviews: General Information (links to related guides)
• Legal Dictionaries
• Bluebook 101

Do you feel too busy to read a bunch of books about writing? Consider picking up some tips in bite-size pieces via email:

• Garner's Usage Tip of the Day (from Bryan Garner
• Daily Writing Tips (from a team of independent writers and editors who apparently support the site through advertising)
• A.Word.A.Day (from Wordsmith)
• #Word of the Day (from grammar.net)

If you like to play online games and learn at the same time, I recommend the Challenge at Vocabulary.com.

Equal-Jus.eu Database: Legal Materials Regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity from Around the World

The Equal-Jus.eu Database contains legal documents and references related to sexual orientation and gender identity from around the world.  It searchable by date, country, language, author and subject.  The types of material available include citations and/or the full-text of books, case-law, legislation, reports and websites.

The EQUAL JUS project is a part of the European Network for the Legal Support of LGBT Rights, which "seeks to combat homophobia and transphobia by moving from a general analysis of the fundamental rights as recognized by and within the EU and aims at reaching an increasing awareness among people that European citizenship includes a new dimension for protection of fundamental rights and a push for social inclusion of all individuals".

Christopher Columbus . . . Langdell!

Most people who mark Columbus Day think of Christopher Columbus, the entrepreneur, explorer, and exploiter whose trips to the Americas began a wave of European conquest and settlement that dramatically changed the world. (South Dakota has made the second Monday in October, the federal Columbus Day, Native Americans' Day. S.D. Codified Laws § 1-5-1.2. Washington State recognizes October 12 as Columbus Day, but it is not a legal holiday. RCW 1.16.050.)

Christopher Columbus Langdell. Source: Harvard Law Bulletin

But we're at a law school, so let's think about his namesake, Christopher Columbus Langdell, the dean of Harvard Law School in the late 19th century who dramatically changed legal education. 

Before his time, most people studied law in law offices; those who attended law school sat and listened to professors deliver lectures. Langell introduced the case method and the Socratic approach. He also standardized the curriculum. According to Daniel Coquillette, who is working on a history of Harvard Law School, Langdell saw many of his innovations "as a way of creating a legal elite based on merit, rather than power and influence." Langdell’s methods were so unpopular at first that many students left Harvard to enroll at Boston University Law School.

You can browse Langdell's 1871 Contracts casebook on HeinOnline. (If you're off campus, be sure to go through the off-campus access link first.) Sure, it's over 140 years old so it doesn't have the latest cases, but its structure will probably seem familiar to you.

Title page, A Selection of Cases on the Law of Contracts. Source: HeinOnline.

Here are some excerpts from Langdell's preface, in which he explains his thinking:

I cannot better explain the design of this volume than by stating the circumstances which led me to undertake its preparation.

I [began teaching] with a settled conviction that law could only be taught or learned effectively by means of cases in some form. . . . it was chiefly through my experience as a learner that it was first formed, as well as subsequently strengthened and confirmed. Of teaching indeed, as a business, I was entirely without experience; nor had I given much consideration to that subject, except so far as proper methods of teaching are involved in proper methods of study.

Now . . . I was expected to take a large class of pupils, meet them regularly from day to day, and give them systematic instruction in such branches of law as had been assigned to me. To accomplish this successfully, it was necessary, first, that the efforts of the pupils should go hand in hand with mine, that is, that they should study with direct reference to my instruction; secondly, that the study thus required of them should be of the kind from which they might reap the greatest and most lasting benefit; thirdly, that the instruction should be of such a character that the pupils might at least derive a greater advantage from attending it than from devoting the same time to private study. How could this threefold object be accomplished? Only one mode occurred to me which seemed to hold out any reasonable prospect of success; and that was, to make a series of cases, carefully selected from the books of reports, the subject alike of study and instruction. . . . [T]hough it might be practicable, in case of private pupils having free access to a complete library, to refer them directly to the books of reports, such a course was quite out of the question with a large class, all of whom would want the same books at the same time. . . .

Law, considered as a science, consists of certain principles or doctrines. To have such a mastery of these as to be able to apply them with constant facility and certainty to the ever-tangled skein of human affairs, is what constitutes a true lawyer; and hence to acquire that mastery should be the business of every earnest student of law. . . . [M]uch the shortest and best, if not the only way of mastering the doctrine effectually is by studying the cases in which it is embodied. But the cases which are useful and necessary for this purpose at the present day bear an exceedingly small proportion to all that have been reported. The vast majority are useless and worse than useless for any purpose of systematic study. . . . It seemed to me . . . to be possible to take such a branch of the law as Contracts, for example, and, without exceeding comparatively moderate limits, to select, classify, and arrange all the cases which had contributed in any important degree to the growth, development, or establishment of any of its essential doctrines ; and that such a work could not fail to be of material service to all who desire to study that branch of law systematically and in its original sources. . . .

Legal education has changed since Langdell's time. For instance, access to law school has opened up to women and people of color, and there are many opportunities for experiential learning in clinics and simulation courses. But his mark is still visible, in the classroom, in the curriculum, and in your homework.

Happy Columbus Day, and have a good weekend!

Online Doing Business in (Name a Country)

The International Finance Corporation and the World Bank have posted an interactive site for identifying and locating foreign countries' business laws.

The Doing Business Law Library site "is the largest free online collection of business laws and regulations. We link to official government sources wherever possible."

Users select a region or country from the "Choose Economics" option and then one or more types of laws. Clicking on "Create Report" will then reveal links to relevant documents.

This online source is a nice addition to the collection of multi-jurisidictional sets covering business topics, such as:

• Commercial Laws of the World, 1976-2004. K1004.15 1976 at Reference Area
• Price Waterhouse series Doing Business in . . .   HG4538.P74 at Classified Stacks
• Competition Laws of the Pacific Rim Countries, 1988-date. K3856.C65 1989 at Classified Stacks

Scan This: The Barcode Turns 60

This Sunday, October 7, marked the 60th anniversary of the issuing of patent #2,612,994 for the barcode by the U.S. Patent Office to Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver. The two friends reportedly sought a way to improve the grocery store checkout process. Their design was inspired by Morse code, simply extending the dots and dashes into lines, and the technology of movie soundtracks. Woodland and Silver's innovation has had a lasting impact in commerce and, perhaps more surprisingly, libraries.

If you're looking to find the text of a particular patent (say, #2,612,994) in a free and quick manner, you can always use Google's Patent Search or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Full-Text Databases.

Bonus trivia: A 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum was the first item with a barcode to be scanned. The transaction occurred at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio, on June 26, 1974. The pack is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Preparing for the Fisher v. University of Texas SCOTUS Oral Arguments

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares for oral arguments this week in the Fisher v. University of Texas case, many are starting to get curious: why exactly all the hype? Since the 2003 SCOTUS decision, Grutter v. Bollinger, the University of Texas has been using race as a factor in the admissions process. The problem with this, the petitioner argues, is that diversity is already considered and adjusted for via the state’s unique Top 10 Percent Law, and therefore the race-conscious admissions violate her right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. If Grutter is overturned by the Fisher case, then affirmative action in higher education will be greatly affected.

Because of this potential impact, I thought I would take this time to mention a few resources to get up to speed as the chatter increases in anticipation for the oral arguments set for Wednesday, October 10, 2012:

The first is a great new library guide that I had the pleasure of contributing to during a recent internship at the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas at Austin. This guide includes the key docket entries from each stage of the case, beginning with the Western District of Texas through the U.S. Supreme Court. You will also find links and PDFs of selected scholarly publications and news articles discussing both background and in depth elements of the case. There are also links to the text of this Top 10 Percent Law.

As always, the SCOTUSblog is a great website to consult on upcoming cases. The blog has some great coverage and also includes links to important court documents.

The Gallagher Law Library also maintains a couple of books that may be of interest:

• Patricia Marin & Catherine L. Hor, Realizing Bakke's Legacy: Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, and Access to Higher Education (2008).
• Timothy R. Johnson & Jerry Goldman, A Good Quarrel: America's Top Legal Reporters Share Stories from Inside the Supreme Court (2009) (for a fun read about Grutter).

I hope you enjoy the insight!

50 State Law Survey Research - NCSL Issues & Resources Page

Even though we have only just begun the quarter, it's never too early to begin preparing for future internships!

A common research project given to summer associates and interns is to conduct a 50 state / multistate survey of a particular legal topic.

One free online resource that you'll definitely want to keep in mind for this sort of work comes from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that provides research and technical assistance to state legislators and staff in all fifty states. As a result, their Issues and Resources page is a great resource to consult when you need to compare treatment of a legal issue across different states.

Topics covered include:

• Agriculture & Rural Development
• Banking, Insurance & Financial Services
• Budget & Tax
• Civil & Criminal Justice
• Economic Development, Gambling and Trade
• Education
• Energy
• Environment & Natural Resources
• Health
• Human Services
• Immigration
• Labor & Employment
• State-Tribal
• Telecommunications & Information Technology
• Transportation

Presidential Debate Tips

 If you're like me, you respect the right to watch two embattled politicians storm the party lines in front of a live audience but perhaps feel a little exhausted by the entire debacle debate cycle. With the first 2012 Presidential Debate coming up this Wednesday, October 3, at the University of Denver, the First Amendment Center has some handy tips for how to make the most of of watching this election season's televised debates.

This guide should enable you to come away from the debates a more informed citizen. Once you've seen the candidates hash out the issues, don't forget to register to vote! You still have time, but Election Day is fast approaching. For Washington voters, you may register up to 30 days before the election or 15 days if delivered in person to your local voter registration office.

So remember, remember, ahem, the 6th of November, as well as the words of Justice Black in Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17 (1964):

"No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined."

Stirring, yes? Register and vote!

A New Term & SCOTUSblog @ 10

As the Supreme Court begins its October Term 2012 today, I thought it would be helpful to direct your attention to SCOTUSblog, a great resource for everything happening at the Supreme Court, from full-text decisions to analysis and commentary.

As it turns out, today is the 10th anniversary of SCOTUSblog! As co-creator Tom Goldstein explains, the blog began "as a (failed) tool to advertise our law practice" but instead has become a dependable and oft-used resource for all things related to the Court.

In celebration of their anniversary and the start of the new term, SCOTUSblog has updated its pages on individual cases to display a chronological list of the contents of the Court's docket, with hyperlinks to the briefs in the case. This feature only improves this vital public service tool's efforts to increase access to matters related to the Supreme Court!

Intro to Supreme Court

Noted Supreme Court journalist Linda Greenhouse has a new book, The U.S. Supreme Court: A Very Short Introduction (KF8742 .G744 2012 at Classified Stacks). Law professor Lee Epstein says in this review (JOTWELL, Sept. 28, 2012) that it is "sophisticated, yet accessible." Epstein concludes her enthusiastic review:

If your students—undergraduate, graduate, or law—are looking for a brief introduction to the Supreme Court, as mine often are, this is the book to recommend. In addition to the riveting textual material, it contains a well-edited (and annotated) appendix of further readings. As for you Supreme Court junkies: don’t make the mistake of discounting it. I’ve been studying the Court for nearly thirty years and still learned new things, whether small factoids or different ways to think about an institution that, as Greenhouse rightfully notes, continues to “occup[y] a place in the public imagination.” (p. 87).

Catalog record. Publisher's page.


Other books by Linda Greenhouse:

• Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court journey (KF8745.B555 G74 2005 at Good Reads). Catalog record. Publisher's page.
• Before Roe v. Wade: : voices that shaped the abortion debate before the Supreme Court's ruling (Linda Greenhouse & Reva B. Siegel eds., 2010). Catalog record.

 Check out the video or transcript of Prof. Stewart Jay's conversation with Linda Greenhouse when she was the Gates Public Service Law Speaker May 3, 2010.

Latham & Watkins' Book of Jargon

The New York law firm, Latham & Watkins LLP, has published a series of practice area-specific glossaries that can be especially helpful to law school students and recent graduates.  Designed to assist members of the financial community in understanding terminology related to banking, capital markets and project finance, these searchable "books" are available both online and as iPhone apps.

Available titles include:

European Capital Markets and Bank Finance 
An Online Glossary of European-Specific Corporate Finance and Banking Terms

Global Restructuring
The Latham & Watkins Glossary of Global Restructuring Terminology

US Corporate and Bank Finance
 An Online Glossary of Corporate and Bank Finance Slang and Terminology

US Project Finance
An Online Glossary of Project Development, Acquisition and Finance Slang and Terminology

GAO Report Wins an Ig Noble Prize for Literature!

And now for some fun. An Ig Noble prize has been awarded to a government document:

LITERATURE PRIZE: The US Government General Accountability Office, for issuing a report about reports about reports that recommends the preparation of a report about the report about reports about reports.
REFERENCE: "Actions Needed to Evaluate the Impact of Efforts to Estimate Costs of Reports and Studies," US Government General Accountability Office report GAO-12-480R, May 10, 2012.