Is the Federal Government Following its own Record Keeping Rules?
Posted by Maggie Stewart on Sep 19, 2008
A recent New York Times article hightlights the concern of the American Association of Law Libraries’ (AALL) and other groups that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is shirking its responsibility by declining to harvest federal agency Web sites at the end of this administration. The article goes on to say that as more and more government information is produced in a digital format many agencies lack a clear understanding or approach to preserving digital information.
New Longer Borrowing Time for Study Aids
Posted by Maggie Stewart on Sep 10, 2008
Study Aids such as Hornbooks, Nutshells and Sum & Substance Audio CDs now circulate for three days on the Delaware Campus (previously, you could only check them out for 4 hours at a time.) We hope the longer borrowing time will allow you to make greater use of these helpful resources. You can find the library’s collection of study aids in the Study Aids Room behind the Reference Desk. Study Aids are shelved to your right as you enter the room.
Ghostly Apparition Spotted in the Library
Posted by Maggie Stewart on Aug 28, 2008
Stately red robes viewed through the doors of the Special Collections Room in the Library. One hand rests on the podium, the other steadies a book – he seems to be lecturing. Is it the ghost of John Jay, co-author of the Federalist Papers and first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?
…. Or is it just an optical illusion reflecting the portrait of John Jay hung across the hall. Stop by the library and see for yourself. The illusion is most prominent at night and when the Special Collections room is dark.
Library Welcomes New Director
Posted by Maggie Stewart on Aug 13, 2008
The Law Library is pleased to welcome Michael J. Slinger, Associate Dean for Information Services and Technology, Director of the Legal Information Center and Professor of Law. Mr. Slinger comes most recently from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Ohio. He replaces former Legal Information Center Director Eileen Cooper, who retired in 2005, and Mary K. Marzolla, who has served as acting director since. More information can be found here.
New Journal Issues Have Moved
Posted by Maggie Stewart on Aug 11, 2008
The library is beginning a small renovation project to the area behind the Reference Desk on the Delaware Campus. Previously, this room (then known as the Open Reserve Room) housed the newest issues of all law journals as well as legal newpapers. These materials have been moved to the area between the reference desk and the student lounge. We have also moved some other materials into the stacks or reference area. The study aids (Hornbooks, Nutshells, Sum & Substance CDs, etc.) will continue to reside in this room. Please see a reference librarian if you have any trouble locating material that has moved.
New Look for Widener Blogs
Posted by Janet Lindenmuth on Aug 6, 2008
As you may have noticed our Widener blog pages have a new look. I’m writing this post in the doldrums of early August to try out the new software and see how everything works.
We’re all looking for forward to the return of our students and faculty. Hope you’re all enjoying your summer break!
U.S. Supreme Court Issues Opinion in New Jersey v. Delaware
Posted by admin on Mar 31, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued its opinion in the case New Jersey v. Delaware. This case was brought by the State of New Jersey when Delaware refused to grant permission to the energy company BP to build an Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on the Delaware River. A 1934 decision of the court found that Delaware’s jurisdiction covered the entire Delaware River up to New Jersey’s shore line. The LNG terminal would have been built on a pier that extended into the Delaware River.
The court found that New Jersey does not have exclusive jurisdiction over the area which allows Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act to stop BP from starting construction. The case is Original No. 134.
The report of the Special Master appointed to review the case can be found here.
A transcript of the Oral Arguments before the Supreme Court can be found here.
Today’s opinion can be found here.
Analysis of the case from BNA’s US Law Week is available here. [External link to US Law Week is only available to current Widener Law students, faculty and staff- off campus access requires users to input their name and Widener barcode number.]
U.S. Law Week: Circuit Splits- 4th Quarter, 2007
Posted by admin on Jan 2, 2008
BNA’s weekly newsletter, U.S. Law Week, is available electronically to
all Widener Law students, staff and faculty. Sign up online (here) for email delivery of this and other BNA titles by entering your email address and
selecting the titles you wish to receive.
U.S. Law Week is a current awareness service that focuses on a wide
variety of legal topics. Other BNA publications cover narrower topics
such as Environmental, Securities, Health and Family Law.
In this week’s issue of U.S. Law Week, the editors have created a chart
of notable circuit splits across the country. Circuit splits are a
great source of topics for seminar papers and other writing
assignments because they expose an unsettled area of law. View the
Circuit Splits report from the 4th quarter of 2007 here:
http://pubs.bna.com/ip/bna/LAW2.NSF/eh/a0b5e8n6z0
New Jersey v. Delaware
Posted by admin on Nov 26, 2007
The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on November 27,
2007 in the ongoing dispute between the State of Delaware and the State
of New Jersey. The issue is a boundary dispute brought in 2005 by New
Jersey who would like to allow the company BP to build a
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on the New Jersey side of the
Delaware River. Delaware opposes the construction of the terminal for
environmental reasons and claims the right to halt the project because
Delaware controls the entire river up to the low-tide mark on the New
Jersey side of the river.
A special master appointed by the court sided with Delaware in his ruling in April of this year.
The U.S. Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over disputes between states.
The case is Original No. 134, New Jersey v. Delaware. The special masterís report can be viewed online at:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/SpecMastRpt/SpecMastRpt.html
Briefs filed in the case can be found here:
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/dec07.shtml#newjersey2
Delaware Uniform Citation
Posted by admin on Oct 16, 2007
The Litigation section of the Delaware Bar Association has just released a new
booklet, Delaware Uniform Citation. According to the author of
the booklet, Blake Rohrbacher, it was produced with three objectives:
ï To clarify which citation format is actually preferred and used by Delaware courts.
ï To provide guidance on citing Delaware sources not addressed in The Bluebook.
ï To provide helpful information on Delaware sources and citations in general.
Read more about Delaware Uniform Citation on page 27 of the October
2007 issue of InRe: The Journal of the Delaware State Bar Association.
Download your own copy of DUC at:
http://www.dsba.org/SecComm/Litigation/PDFs/DE_Uniform_Citation.pdf