Latest & Greatest – A Union List of Appellate Court Records and Briefs: Federal and State

By Michael Whiteman & Peter Scott Campbell

Published by William S. Hein & Co., Inc.

KF 105.9 .W49 2017

We all like things that make our life easier, especially if they are things that save us time, money, or effort. In the case of this particular Latest & Greatest post, we have something that quite possibly satisfies all three. A Union List of Appellate Court Records and Briefs: Federal and State is a compilation of sources that a legal researcher can consult when trying to track down court records and briefs. The authors recognize that these resources can be quite valuable, yet quite difficult to locate, so they’ve done the tough work and compiled the addresses and telephone numbers of the clerks of court and court libraries and researched the availability and possible fees associated with accessing any electronic holdings of these documents. Arranged in four sections, A Union List of Appellate Court Records and Briefs: Federal and State includes pertinent contact information for the United States Supreme Court, United States Circuit Courts of Appeals, State Final Appellate Courts, and State Intermediate Appellate Courts.

Next time you are in the need of appellate briefs or records, consult A Union List of Appellate Court Records and Briefs: Federal and State first. It will make your job easier, and who doesn’t like that?

Latest & Greatest – Cross Examination: A Primer for the Family Lawyer

By Stephen Gassman

Published by the American Bar Association. Section of Family Law.

KF 8920 .G37 2017

Have a look in any law library catalog, and you’re bound to find dozens of references to books written by legal practitioners on the subject of cross examination. Cross examination is an art form and a skill that is highly-prized among litigators but one that is difficult to master. It is said that “practice makes perfect”; however, it is still worthwhile to know some techniques, rules, and even the “do this, but don’t do this” sort of guidelines to help lead the way. There is no magical shortcut to conducting a successful cross examination, but good old-fashioned trial and error and Stephen Gassman’s book, Cross Examination: A Primer for the Family Lawyer just might do the trick.

Beginning with what he terms as the “Commandments of Cross Examination,” Gassman launches into a discussion of the basic principles of conducting of what hopefully will become a successful cross examination. Providing simple suggestions such as "be brief" and "use repetition," the author outlines various guidelines to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls that could ruin what otherwise might have been a winning cross examination. There are situations, though, where it is advisable to not conduct a cross examination of a witness, and Gassman addresses some of those for you.

Other principles that the author enlightens his readers about are those of primacy and recency, both of which deal with timing, and the concept of looping, a tool used for emphasis. He also highlights some cross examination techniques like the use of trilogies, hints about body language, handling the witness with an inability to recollect, and overcoming the hearsay objection. Gassman also provides guidance on impeachment, preparing a witness for cross examination, and conducting cross examination of expert witnesses, including those used in child custody cases.

If you are seeking ways to improve your cross examination skills or are looking for help conducting that first cross examination, have a look at Cross Examination: A Primer for the Family Lawyer.

Latest & Greatest – Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

By Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik

Published by Dey St., an Imprint of William Morrow Publishers

KF 8745 .G56 C37 2015

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the oft-described unstoppable, passionate, and fiery United States Supreme Court justice, has become something of a cult figure among law students. Empowered by her rage at civil rights violations and the lack of gender equality, these students created a new persona for her, the Notorious R.B.G., and showed their appreciation of her by posting tributes on social media. From this media storm comes Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a new book by the law student who created the Notorious R.B.G. Tumblr and the journalist who interviewed Justice Ginsburg for MSNBC. An illuminating, yet humorous, look into the life, losses, and successes of this diminutive and, at times, underestimated jurist, Notorious RBG captures the essence of this remarkable woman who became only the second woman to serve on our nation’s highest court.

Always a champion of women’s rights and gender equality, Ruth Bader Ginsburg knew first-hand the difficulties that women faced in the workplace and in institutions of higher learning and the pressures associated with gender inequality. She was one of nine women in her class at Harvard Law School and had difficulty getting a job, even though she graduated at the top of her class from Columbia Law School. She was the first woman to teach full-time at Rutgers School of Law and later became Columbia’s first tenured female professor. While at Columbia, she even helped file a class action lawsuit against the university and continued to volunteer her time with the ACLU.

If it is true that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, then the legal writings of Ruth Bader Ginsburg can truly cut to the heart of an issue. Known for her dissents, Justice Ginsburg has always remained steadfast to her beliefs and her desire to correct injustices. Notorious RBG also features excerpts and analyses of some of Justice Ginsburg’s most significant briefs, opinions, and dissents:

  • Reed v. Reed, 404 U.S. 71 (1971) (a gender discrimination case in which a mother was not entitled to possessions owned by deceased son) ;
  • Struck v. Secretary of Defense, 460 F 2d 1372 (1971) (case in which an air force nurse refused to get abortion as required by Air Force regulations) ;
  • United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996) (case involving the refusal of Virginia Military Institute to admit women);
  • Gonzales v. Carhart, 550 U.S. 124 (2007) (case that upheld partial-birth abortion ban);
  • Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 550 U.S. 618 (2014) (an employment discrimination case based on gender) ; and
  • Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013) (case dealing with the Voting Rights Act).

 The authors also look into her sixty-year relationship with her beloved husband Marty, who passed away in 2010, her unlikely friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia, her ideological opposite, her perfectionism when drafting opinions, her workouts with her personal trainer, and, of course, those lacy jabots she wears on the bench.

There is so much more to Ruth Bader Ginsburg than meets the eye. Learn about her in Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and find out why she is such an Internet sensation.

By the way, in case you didn't know, today (March 15) is RBG's 85 birthday. How fitting that it comes during National Women's History Month.

Court News: March Madness Research Guide, Promoting Successful Brackets for All

March Madness has struck, and the Harris County Law Library has a cure. If you are a Houston Bar Association member who is participating in the Bracket Challenge, or just a college basketball fan in need of some guidance in completing your bracket, the Harris County Law Library can help! We have assembled a March Madness Research Guide with information and links to insider data from sports experts at ESPN, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, FoxSports, the Bleacher Report, and more. Get the inside scoop from experienced basketball pros, such as statisticians, researchers, and correspondents, as well as former players who know the game from the inside out. On the line-up are:

Chris Dobbertean: College basketball contributor and resident bracketologist at SBNation and editor of Blogging the Bracket

Reid Gettys: Part-time NCAA basketball analyst for ESPN, lead attorney for ExxonMobil, and part of the "Phi Slama Jama" era of the early 1980s, who participated in three Final Fours and had two national championship appearances. Follow him on Twitter @reidgettys.

Joe Lunardi: College basketball analyst for ESPN who is best known for creating Bracketology. He correctly predicted all 65 teams to appear in the 2008 NCAA Tournament and all 68 teams for the 2013 tournament. Wow!

Jerry Palm: Resident Sports Geek at CBS Sports and a pioneer in predicting the March Madness bracket and in understanding the tournament selection process. Follow him online at CBS Sports, NCAA Basketball.

John Rothstein: College Basketball Insider for CBS Sports and host of the College Hoops Today podcast, as well as a driving force behind Bleacher Report. Get the app here for Apple and Android.

Check out what these and other NCAA basketball experts have to offer in helping you build your bracket. Click on the image above to view the Harris County Law Library Research Guide for even more tips from the pros. Good luck, bracket hopefuls. May the best bracket win!