Legal Research
Oregon Legal Research 
Oregon, legal research, state law, law librarians, research
Post Frequency: 2.6/day Last Entry: November 20, 2009 at 19:17:00 Recent Entries: 834
Go to Oregon Legal Research, find other Legal Research blogs, or browse all law blogs.
Search
Posts
Oregon Court of Appeals: Firearms (Concealed Weapons) on School Property
Posted on November 20, 2009The Oregon Court of Appeals decided this case about a teacher who wants to carry a concealed handgun, while teaching, on school property. The decision is dated November 18, 2009:Jane Doe V. Medford School District (A137804)?Medford School District 549C adopted a policy that prohibits its employees from possessing firearms on school district property or at school-sponsored events...
Statutory Interpretation and Legislative Intent
Posted on November 20, 2009Think about this interesting debate (and nicely written blog post) while you?re reading the new book on Interpreting Oregon Law:?Judges Calabresi and Easterbrook Face Off on How to Interpret StatutesWhen interpreting statutes, does the Constitution require federal judges to act as agents of the incarnation of Congress that enacted the legislation or the present day Congress? That was the question before Judge Guido Calabresi of the U...
Oregon Supreme Court Defines ?Corrections Officer
Posted on November 20, 2009The Oregon Supreme Court : STATE v. TATE (SC S056904), 11/19/09?The issue in this criminal case is the proper interpretation of the term "corrections officer" as used in ORS 163.208(1),(1) which defines the crime of "assaulting a public safety officer" to include an assault on a "corrections officer...
Washington County (Oregon) Judge Gayle A. Nachtigal Inducted into NCSC Society
Posted on November 20, 2009NCSC Selects Judge Gayle A. Nachtigal for Warren E. Burger Society: Induction Recognizes Commitment to National Nonprofit Court Reform Organization"Williamsburg, Va. (Nov. 16, 2009) ? Judge Gayle A. Nachtigal of the Circuit Court of Washington County, Ore...
Grandfathered Livestock? Cash Cow Alpacas? Where? Oregon, of course
Posted on November 19, 2009I enjoyed this Oregonian story, not just because there are law library users amongst the parties, or because it takes place in this very interesting and creative place named Hillsboro, Oregon, but most of all because it is very funny. Don't we all love the book or the movie where the little guy manages to win, despite the odds, through sheer stubbornness and persistence, not to mention smarts?In this instance, it seems there were quite a few winners, and quite a few laughs - and even a peacock, about which I too know a little...
Social Security and Medicare Laws: Presidential Statements
Posted on November 19, 2009I was thinking, for obvious reasons, about previous Presidential statements on sweeping changes to the Health and Welfare (and happiness pursuit) of the nation:1) Presidential Statement on Signing the Social Security Act, August 14, 1935 (Roosevelt)?Today a hope of many years' standing is in large part fulfilled...
Special Historical Research Collections in Oregon
Posted on November 18, 2009An upcoming workshop on ?Local Treasures - Special Collections and Archives in the Portland Area? (presented by the Portland Area Library Association for Continuing Education), alerts us to these excellent research resources. I?ve reproduced the descriptions right from the program announcement:1) ?The Oregon Historical Society Research Library has gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of local, state, and regional history in the country, with holdings that chronicle the history of the Oregon Country from early exploration to the present day...
Oregon Supreme Court on Ballot Measure Titles for 66 and 67
Posted on November 18, 2009If you want to find the most recent Oregon Supreme Court Ballot Measure Title decisions on Measures 66 and 67, visit the OJD News/ Media Releases website and look for the November 13, 2009, release, a PDF document.1) The Media Releases will give you summaries of opinions...
Google Legal Scholar
Posted on November 18, 2009I had just posted about free legal information on legal publisher websites when this hit the fan. Actually, it hit the fan yesterday, but the wind will keep blowing for a while.It's too soon to tell where Google's offerings will fit into the vast world of legal research information and databases ...
Legal Publishers and Free Legal Information
Posted on November 18, 2009While looking at some social security practice materials at the James Publishing website I was reminded how many print and online legal publishers offer free legal information at their websites. These can be forms, blogs, musings on the law, case and legal topic analysis, and much more...
Oregon and the Uniform Collaborative Law Act
Posted on November 17, 2009State law school law reviews often ignore their own state?s laws and it drives me crazy. I can?t count the number of times an attorney has asked for an article on an interesting Oregon legal issue that is worthy of some attention, but alas.Try searching Oregon law reviews and what do you find? Not much, at least not in the past 30 years...
Interpreting Oregon Law: Good News and Bad News
Posted on November 16, 2009Good news: Our copy of the Oregon State Bar?s new release, Interpreting Oregon Law (edited by Hon. Jack Landau) has arrived - hurrah!Bad news: We now have to read it - yikes! (Wouldn't you really rather read this potboiler?)But it looks interesting, at least to the bookish amongst us...
Oregon 2009 Legislative Roundups
Posted on November 13, 2009The 2009 Oregon legislative session compilations are showing up in libraries and online (but don't expect the 2009 ORS for a 2-3 months yet. Codification is a long, painstaking process):1) The Oregon State Bar 2009 Legislative Highlights. (To purchase: Public Affairs: (503) 431-6376, toll-free in Oregon (800) 452-8260, ext...
Emergency Legislation Shortlist: 2009 Oregon Laws with Early Effective Dates
Posted on November 13, 2009The Oregon State Bar (OSB) has posted their Emergency Legislation Shortlist at their website:From the intro:?Bills Passed by the 2009 Oregon State Legislature With Effective Dates Earlier Than 1/1/10Although bills passed by the Oregon State Legislature normally have an effective date of January 1 of the following calendar year, several hundred bills were passed during this last session with an earlier effective date...
Challenges to Outdated Copyright Laws Heat Up
Posted on November 12, 2009Add these to thoughts (and blog posts) on the theory and reality of Free:1) Larry Lessig: A Call for Copyright Rebellion, November 6, 2009 (Inside Higher Ed)2) William Patry, Moral Panics and the Copyright Wars (author blog)3) Carl Malamud and Law dot Gov
New Book: Interpreting Oregon Law, 2009 edition
Posted on November 10, 2009The Oregon State Bar has released their Interpreting Oregon Law, 2009 edition, a welcome addition to any Oregon lawyer or law library collection.You can find an order form and sample table of contents at their new releases webpage or link to it from their main OSB Legal Pubs website.
Consumer Law: Student (College) Loans
Posted on November 09, 2009Who has your student loans? Can they be consolidated? What if I can't pay them?Liz Pulliam Weston?s column (which I read in the 10/18/09, Oregonian), and is also on her website, answered an interesting and tricky question about student loans. You may learn as much as I did about how to follow the trail of your student loans:1) Student loans in collections? Here?s where to find help, by Liz Weston2) It includes links to the FTC Debt Collection Resources, to FinAid, to Loan Consolidation Center, the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman, and others...
Lost and Found in Oregon: Finders, Keepers? Losers, Weepers?
Posted on November 05, 2009What do you do when you find something of value, e.g. jewelry, an electronic device, etc.? Can you keep it?You can always call the Oregon State Bar Information and Referral Service, or your local police or sheriff's department, but if it's "after-hours":Some interesting (and maybe even useful) sections of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) to read are under these Index headings:Lost Papers and Records and Lost PropertyI posted on a related subject a little while ago, but thought it might be useful for you to see these ORS sections on your obligations if you find something of value...
Oregon Lawyer Blogger: Small Business and Consumer Real Estate Issues
Posted on November 04, 2009A new entrant into the Oregon lawyer blogosphere: Ben Knaupp, aka Lawyer Ben.He?s been blogging about consumer and small business real estate issues with a recent focus on homeowners facing debt and foreclosure, with a recent 8-part blog series on Dealing with Foreclosure in Oregon.
Laughing at the Altar of Justice Bedsworth, the Marrying Judge
Posted on November 03, 2009For more than you may want to know about judges who perform marriages, but worth reading for the sheer joy of it:?Cash and Marry: Some little-known judicial history from the man who made it,? by Justice William W. Bedsworth:Excerpt: ??Dave doesn?t do weddings any more...
Superseded Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS): 1997 to 2005
Posted on November 02, 2009Visit Oregon Laws dot org to see the excellent and creative work Robb Shecter is doing with the current and the superseded Oregon Revised Statutes.Superseded ORS 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 (the 2007 is already on his website).I also love how easy it is to find ORS section annotations at Oregon Laws dot org Give it a spin...
OSB 2009 Oregon Legislation Highlights
Posted on November 02, 2009The Oregon State Bar 2009 edition of their Oregon Legislation Highlights arrived today and we?re very happy. It organizes by subject (or by legal practice area) over 400 bills and measures from the 2009 Oregon Legislative Session and is an invaluable research tool before and after the arrival of the 2009 Oregon Revised Statutes.
"Legal Sustainability": An Intangible Right and Obligation?
Posted on October 30, 2009Living Legally Sustain-ably (or sustain-fully) is about more than reducing our use of tangible resources. We need to pay equal attention to those intangible resources: truth, justice, equal opportunity, and legal health.Today?s Oregonian article about a visit to Portland by Myron Orfield and an October 2009 article in the Oregon State Bar Bulletin by Barry Woods, ?Advancing the new economy: Oregon lawyers embrace sustainability? nudged a buried thought, until I remembered (among other buried treasure) a June 2009 Oregon State Bar Bulletin article by Ritchie Eppink:1) ?A Case for public legal health: Are we missing something??Excerpt: ?? In this way, prevention and public education in the law fell into a gap that no one was clearly authorized to fill...
Oregon Public Records and Meetings Manual
Posted on October 30, 2009You can also find a searchable PDF copy of the 2008 Oregon AG's Public Records and Meetings Manual at the Public Resource?s Bulk Resource archive, courtesy of Carl Malamud.Previous OLR blog posts on this subject.Thank you to Professor Bill Harbaugh for the lead and the link.
Oregon Ethics Laws: VanNatta vs. Oregon Government Ethics Commission
Posted on October 29, 2009RE: 2007 SB 10 in the Oregon Supreme Court (not in the ORS, but you can find the enrolled bill at the Oregon Legislature?s website).I?m well overdue with my post about this case, but maybe I will be just in time if the Oregon Supreme Court hands down their decision soon...
Getting Relatives to Move Out: Oregon Landlord-Tenant Law
Posted on October 29, 2009We get this question fairly regularly:How can I get my relative to move out of my house? Help!It?s not really nice, or even very useful, for us to remind you that you let them move in, that you should have had a lease even if it was your nearest and dearest, or that you have too big a heart and trust FAMILY too much...
ORS 164.887 Declared Unconstitutional (Borowski): But Read the Fine Print
Posted on October 28, 2009One of the toughest lessons on the law for non-attorneys is that The Law is not black and white and that searching for The Law, or The Answer, in the texts of statutes and constitutions is only the beginning of the research adventure. Analysis, persuasion, persistence, and luck must also be stirred into the mix...
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Bulletin: Online-Only in 2010
Posted on October 27, 2009In case you hadn?t heard, the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Bulletin (the monthly updates to the OAR), will be online only, starting January 2010.The multi-volume Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) itself will still be available in print.Law and government documents librarians have been active for many years (especially the AALL Government Affairs office) on this issue of authenticity of government documents...
Researching Medicare and Medicaid Law
Posted on October 27, 2009This is mostly a reminder for me, and colleagues, but others might find it useful:A Few BASIC RESOURCES ON MEDICARE and MEDICAID LAW:1) CCH Medicare and Medicaid Guide2) Medicare and Medicaid Claims and Procedures, 4th, by Harvey L. McCormick3) Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse, 2009 ed...
2009 Oregon Legislature?s (Car) Towing Statutes
Posted on October 26, 2009Practice makes perfect?Each legislative session we see new laws about towing. Add these to updated local towing ordinances and we could probably write book on Oregon towing laws!We won't though (aren't you glad?), but can try to keep you updated, to a degree, if only to alert you to the fact that you should check both state and local laws on towing before deciding on your next course of action, that is, calling someone to complain, e...
The "Brothers" Tremaine / Tremayne: A Tale of Two Americas
Posted on October 25, 2009I?m sure I wasn?t the only one who noticed this on the front page of the print Sunday Oregonian Metro section.Coincidence is a fact of life, but it did give me reason to pause - and muse on names, class, lawyers (and those without lawyers), and clients...
Oregon Scam Alert: U.S. Census Scam
Posted on October 25, 2009You might not realize it but it?s Census Time Again. Wowsers! 2010, here we come. None of us can avoid the march of time, so don?t be mean to your elders or your youngers (so to speak). You too will one day be OLD (ha ha ha).Before I forget what I was talking about (!), here?s the news on the Scam Alert and the Census Scam:Use Twitter to track Oregon Scam Alerts, which links to this 10/14/09 news release:FAKE U...
Oregon State Bar: 30-Second Law School
Posted on October 23, 2009Law school in 30 seconds? Not quite, but close!Visit the Oregon State Bar?s public website for some fun lessons in the law. They answer questions like these and have lots of other useful information:1) If I co-sign for my son to buy a car, could I wind up paying for it?2) True or False: Oregon law gives you three days to change your mind whenever you buy a car...
California Legal Research Guide
Posted on October 23, 2009The Southern California Association of Law Libraries? (SCALL) Public Access to Legal Information Committee (PALI) has published the fifth edition of:Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians (2009). Thank the California law librarians for this - it represents a lot of extra work for some very busy people!
Northwest Small Business Law Blog
Posted on October 22, 2009Small businesses in Oregon and Washington have a lot of legal resources from which to draw information and advice. I?ve blogged about Small Business Law before and recently have been watching this latest entry into the field:Northwest Small Business Law Blog: Links, news articles, and original content regarding small business law in Oregon and WashingtonGive them a try...
Bankruptcy and Family Law: the Nexus
Posted on October 22, 2009I posted many years ago on this subject, more a note for myself than for readers, but I have had reason lately to update that post for all of us, with these new resources:1) The 2009 Family Law OSB CLE also has a couple of chapters on the subject.2) Bankruptcy and Domestic Relations Manual, by Hon...
Casemaker vs Fastcase: Closed vs "Open" Source
Posted on October 21, 2009Bob Ambrogi recently posted this to his website: Casemaker Fights Back Over Loss in Oregon (posted Thursday, October 01, 2009):"... I described the two as "in a head-to-head competition to win the loyalty of America's lawyers." That competition reached a critical juncture last month when the Oregon State Bar Association announced it was switching from Casemaker to Fastcase...
Art and Copyright Law and J.K. Rowling?s Harry Potter
Posted on October 21, 2009Copyright and art law through the eyes of a novelist (and a legal scholar):Gary Pulsinelli, Harry Potter and the (Re)Order of the Artists: Are We Muggles or Goblins?Excerpt:?In our modern, globalized world, conceptions of the ownership of property, especially artistic and cultural property, are continually being challenged and revised...
Kids Pro Quo (50 Most Powerful People): They Give as Good as They Get
Posted on October 20, 2009With apologies to the incomparable Edwin Newman (who first created Kid Pro Quo, the boxer who gave as good as he got, in his book, ?Sunday Punch?) and to Consequential Strangers authors (Melinda Bau and Karen Fingerman), who would rightly raise eyebrows at the ?most powerful? description of this list...
Oregon Condo Owners and Homeowner Association (HOA) Members: 10 Teachable Moments!
Posted on October 20, 20091) Do you know what your Condo Management Association is up to?2) Maybe you are Condo Management and want to know what you should be doing.3) Maybe you?re thinking about buying a condo and want to hear about HOA rights and responsibilities.Smart people love Forums and Meetings and Seminars! Here is a condo training opportunity just for you:Wilsonville HOA Law Forum: The HOA Survival Safari, Saturday, October 24th, 2009 9:00 a...
Law dot Gov: Maybe? Finally? Soon?
Posted on October 19, 2009An idea whose time has come, maybe, soon:Law.Gov: A Proposed Registry and Repository of All Primary Legal Materials of the United StatesPACER, CRS, eCourt, eFiling, caselaw, statutes, superseded laws, dockets, state, federal, international, etc., etc...
St. Helen's (Oregon): Landlords, Tenants, and Companion / Service Animals
Posted on October 19, 2009From the United States Attorney's Office, District of Oregon, Press Room, October 9, 2009, St. Helen's Landlord Settles Fair Housing Act Case "Ronald A. Lucas and R.A. Lucas Developments, LLC agree to establish procedures to allow assistance animals for physically and mentally disabled tenantsPortland, Ore...
Public Radio & Pledge Drive Aggravation: What is a National Treasure Worth?
Posted on October 19, 2009This might make you a little less aggravated about public TV and radio pledge drives (or not):Assuming they are correct, these dollar comparisons were stunning:How to Save the News, by William F. Baker, September 23, 2009 (This article appeared in the October 12, 2009 edition of The Nation...
Medical Marijuana and New U.S. Attorney Guidelines
Posted on October 19, 2009From the U.S. Justice Department blog:Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana, October 19th, 2009, posted by Tracy Russo:"Today Attorney General Eric Holder announced formal guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes...
Oregon Payday Loans and Lending
Posted on October 16, 2009The Portland Tribune ran an excellent news story on the current status of Oregon payday lending and on Internet payday lending (and lenders):Internet payday lenders flout new law: Oregon law capping rates ignored by many online lenders, by Steve Law, The Portland Tribune, Oct 15, 2009Excerpts:?? says he found the online rates were double the amount charged at his neighborhood payday lender, and he never proceeded with the loan...
Oregon Election 2010: Ballot Measures 66 and 67
Posted on October 15, 2009Do you want to read the official text of these ballot measures and get a head start on preparing for the January 2010 election?1) Visit the Elections Division?s searchable database and set your search criteria to 2010 and Qualified for Ballot. You'll be given a link to the full text of the measures...
Oregon Task Force on Effective and Cost-Efficient Service Provision
Posted on October 15, 2009Did you know that ... ?There is created the Task Force on Effective and Cost-Efficient Service Provision ??: House Bill 2920 (HTML or PDF) (Chapter 881, (2009 Laws): Effective date August 4, 2009)."... The task force shall:(a) Review opportunities to provide services in the most effective and cost-efficient manner;(b) Consider the ability of intergovernmental agreements, existing or new service districts and technology to achieve costsavings;(c) Encourage effective fiscal planning for counties managing the phaseout of federal forest safety net payments; and(d) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly anappropriate level of state fiscal support to counties...
Honest Services Law: Honestly, now!
Posted on October 14, 2009For the record:The ?honest services law? is 18 U.S.C. 1346, which is a federal (not state) law that is found in the U.S. Code. It has a complex and fascinating (to some) history and is not simply about "honest services." Honestly!?TITLE 18, § 1346:Definition of ?scheme or artifice to defraud?For the purposes of this chapter, the term ?scheme or artifice to defraud? includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services...
Oregon Employment and Labor Laws: Crime Victims, Holiday Pay, Non-compete Agreements, and More!
Posted on October 14, 2009Ever wonder about Oregon laws on:1) Meals and rest breaks2) Deductions from pay3) Student interns4) Domestic workers5) Apartment managers6) Employment at will7) Whistle blowing8) ReferencesYou could start with the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), admittedly not the most user-friendly of books, but then what statutory compilation is?I recommend instead that you start with either or both of these resources:1) Online: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) website Fact Sheets...
Forthcoming: New Legal Research Database: Bloomberg Law
Posted on October 12, 2009Bloomberg Law is set, later this month, to roll out its legal research database to compete, so we hear, with Lexis and Westlaw.Blog reports on the rollout include Above the Law, Advocate?s Studio, and Legal Research Plus (an early review).Expect many more posts as the actual rollout date approaches and passes...
Blogger Law: If Pixar Created ?How to Avoid Getting Sued on Your Blog? Video
Posted on October 12, 2009I also found a link to this video and many other excellent legal research and lawyer tips from Jim Calloway?s excellent Law Practice Tips blog:YouLaw: If Pixar Created a Law Firm VideoAnimating the law is truly a heroic exercise.
Ten Best Websites for Family Court Attorneys
Posted on October 12, 2009Some very useful research websites are referenced here:Ten Best Websites for Family Court Attorneys, September 18, 2009, by J. Benjamin StevensThe list includes ISP List, Meetways, Pipl, and FOIA Letter Generator, to name only a few.(Thanks to Jim Calloway?s excellent blog post (and his homepage) for the lead...
Searching Criminal Law in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
Posted on October 12, 2009Non-attorney legal researchers often assume that legal indexes will use the same terms (also known as keywords, subject headings, or simply words) we use in real life. But they don?t! Welcome to my world.(Databases also often refer to one search technique as "natural language searching...
Executions in Oregon and Beyond
Posted on October 12, 2009The Multnomah County Library?s book blogs (Furthermore and An Embarrassment of Riches) are addictive. Look under the September 17, 2009, Penalty of Death entry for links to two books about the Oregon death penalty.Other research guides to books and articles about the death penalty can be found from libraries and they link you to website, organizations, and to the law and history of the death penalty.
Wine Law: Behind the Bottle
Posted on October 11, 2009We just got our copy of this book on wine law. As you might imagine, the business of winemaking and wineries is full of law and business, plus the fun part, people, food, and wine.Book Review: The Little Red Book of Wine Law: A Case of Legal Issues, by Heather A...
Attend Parent University in Washington County (Oregon)
Posted on October 11, 2009Parent University in Washington County (Oregon)The Washington County Sheriff?s office is hosting a series of classes for parents. There is no specific class on When Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone? (the #1 question this blog gets, see here and here) on the agenda, but you can always ask the experts in the class...
Work You Can Believe In?
Posted on October 06, 2009I talk to lawyers wanting (and even managing quite successfully and happily) to leave the profession to become teachers (middle school seems the popular among ex-lawyers), legislators, small business owners, and even law librarians. I also know retired lawyers who are still practicing because they love the profession (but now like being selective about the cases and clients they chose to represent)...
What is a Financial Planner?
Posted on October 05, 2009The newspapers and cyberspace are awash in stories about ?financial planners.? Some manage their clients? money with the care of a mother bird for its fledglings. Other ?financial planners? manage their clients? money as if the clients had said, ?take it, my money is your money, do with it as you please - I don?t want it back...
Consumer Law: Complete Idiot?s Guide to Person-Person Lending
Posted on October 05, 2009I was reading a useful ?Travel Troubleshooter? column in the print 9/6/09 Oregonian Travel section, written by Christopher Elliot, ombudsman for the National Geographic Traveler magazine) and saw a reference to this book:Complete Idiot?s Guide to Person-Person Lending (and a blogger book review of it: Complete Idiot?s Guide to Person-Person Lending)Both the blog and the book had some very useful tips and background information...
Oregon and the AMA Guide to Permanent Impairment
Posted on October 02, 2009Every once in a while we get a question about which AMA Guide to Permanent Impairment Oregon uses. This website and chart say Oregon uses the 3rd Revised.The Oregon lawyers and claims administrators I talk to say this: Oregon uses standards based on 3rd Edition of AMA Guide to Permanent Impairment, however Oregon uses it own rating standards and really doesn't follow the AMA Guide...
Oregon Tax Amnesty Program Begins October 1, 2009
Posted on October 01, 2009Visit the Oregon Tax Amnesty website for details:?What is tax amnesty?Tax amnesty is an opportunity for taxpayers to file or amend tax returns in exchange for a waiver of penalty and partial interest.The Oregon tax amnesty program does not apply to taxpayers who already owe a tax debt, whether or not you?re making payments...
Justice Bedsworth, Fantasy Sports Judge
Posted on October 01, 2009Just in time to help us solve the Oregon sentencing and the Portland/Beaverton baseball stadium disputes:It?s a new month (October!) and the funniest judge in the country is still on the bench and online:"Judge-Mental: Beds is considering a career in virtual reality?Excerpt: "...
Government (dot gov) Websites
Posted on September 30, 2009There are many new federal government websites (and some that appear to be official government websites but are not, though they can be very useful too - just be aware of the difference). Here are some U.S. government websites I?ve visited recently:1) U...
Oregon Supreme Court Case Limiting Mandatory Measure 11 Sentences
Posted on September 29, 2009The Oregon Supreme Court case that limited mandatory measure 11 sentences and that garnered a lot of headlines and commentary in September, was:STATE OF OREGON v. RODRIGUEZ / BUCK (SC S055720), filed September 24, 2009:The decisions of the Court of Appeals are affirmed in part and reversed in part...
Veterans Pro Bono Program: Training for Oregon Attorneys: Oct 26, 2009
Posted on September 29, 2009The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program fall trainings are co-sponsored by the Veterans Law Section of the Federal Bar Association and supporting law firms. The trainings will be in Portland OR, Salt Lake City UT, Phoenix, AZ, and Washington, DC.(The Portland, Oregon, training will be on Monday, October 26, 2009, at Perkins Coie LLP...
The Law of Engagement Rings (with a side of ring-flingers and Oregon cows)
Posted on September 28, 2009Is the engagement ring yours, mine, ours, or theirs (e.g. creditors or charities)?This post is for those who want or need to resolve the Engagement Ring Dispute by delving into the Law (mostly Oregon), which, given what I?ve unearthed, isn?t that far from simply asking oneself, ?What would Miss Manners (or Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, or even George Mitchell) Do??Warning: Do not expect An Answer, at least not a simple one...
Consumer Sleuth: Engaging the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boy Within
Posted on September 27, 2009While you are channeling Your Inner Sherlock Holmes, you can also engage your inner Consumer Self-Help resourcefulness.The Oregonian?s Complaint Desk had an excellent story of how you can resolve a consumer mystery and find your missing mo-ped, by following the trail of a missing-in-action company, aptly named Knuckle Head (but still nice guys and not out to harm anyone - librarians love happy endings!)...
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines: New Edition
Posted on September 27, 2009Unshelved Comic Strip (published Sunday, September 27, 2009) features the book ?Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, 12th edition.?Don't you love it when you learn from comic book? (And, how about a comic book on copyright law, which I blogged about here...
Oregon Public Records and Public Meeting Manual: Online or Not?
Posted on September 24, 2009Records flap has ironic twist: Activists publish the state?s public records manual on the Internet over the Justice Department?s objections, by David Steves, The Register-Guard, appeared in print: Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009.Excerpt: ?Right-to-know advocates are defying Oregon?s attorney general by putting a restricted government document on the Web for everyone to see...
Where are the 2009 Oregon Revised Statutes?
Posted on September 23, 2009Just a reminder that the 2009 Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) will not be available in print or online until 2010.But you can still read the 2009 Oregon laws enacted by the Legislature and the Governor.(Note: Oregon "Effective Date of Legislation": "In accordance with ORS 171...
How to Find Missing Documents: Channeling Your Inner Sherlock Holmes
Posted on September 22, 2009It?s been a busy season for people (and librarians) wanting to find missing documents, from policies and certificates last seen 40 years ago to ones misplaced last month, from trusts, insurance policies, case files, and beyond.So, here are some important tips:1) Don?t panic, not now, and not as you keep crossing possibilities off your list...
Public Video-Conferencing Sites in Oregon
Posted on September 22, 2009I recently gathered information about where to find public video-conferencing sites around the state, for use by government and non-profit organizations. I?ve posted my list at the Washington County (Oregon) Law Library website.Look for the link to the guide under What?s New or under Other, at the bottom of the Legal Research Guides webpage.
Oregon Attorney General Public Records Manual
Posted on September 21, 2009I?ve been grousing for a while about the online absence of the Oregon AG Public Records Manual and others have done more than grouse!Open Up Oregon has links to PDFs for the full manual and the story behind their efforts. Hurrah!Thank you to Professor Harbaugh (and Carl Malmud) for his (their) efforts and for bringing me up to date...
Gorgeous Hubble Image Galleries
Posted on September 21, 2009If you want to put your life, your very existence, into perspective:Hubble Site GalleryHubble Site Wallpaper GalleryHubble Heritage Gallery ImagesPlanetary Society Blog
Database of Social Media Policies
Posted on September 21, 2009Database of Social Media Policies (thanks to iLibrarian for the lead)See also: U.S. Government social media policiesPrevious OLR blog post on public servants and social media policies.
Clocks Change November 1, 2009
Posted on September 18, 2009I am jumping the gun a bit (which I suppose is better than jumping the shark), but it never hurts to look ahead in traffic and in life. Besides, weren't you wondering, too?NIST: ?Standard Time begins each year at 2:00 a.m. (local time) on the first Sunday of November...
Dangerous Ideas: Criminals and Victims of Crimes
Posted on September 18, 2009Librarians are in favor of giving everyone a fair hearing (and reading). Let?s hope for more conversation and debate, however vigorous or passionate, and no shouting:1) Sometimes the Victim Is at Fault, Argues Rutgers?Newark Law Professor Vera Bergelson in New Book on Comparative Criminal Liability, September 10, 20092) Justice Stevens and the NRAThanks to Law in the News for the heads-up on these news stories...
Oregon Legislature: New 2009 Laws
Posted on September 18, 2009The August/September 2009 issue of the Oregon State Bar Bulletin (OSB) had a useful list of recent legislative bills that passed this past Legislative Session. It's a list that will come in handy until the full session summary reports roll in.This OSB list includes bills on estate planning (e...
Name Changes in Oregon: Fictional and Non-fictional (i.e. Real Life)
Posted on September 16, 2009Real Life Name Changes:1) Your Oregon County Circuit Court is the best place to begin if you need or want to make an actual name change. Many have name-change forms online or for sale at the Courthouse.2) For example, in Washington County, visit the Washington County Circuit Court webpage on Name Change for forms and information...
Constitution Day 2009 in Oregon
Posted on September 16, 2009Constitution Day is Thursday, September 17, 2009. I won?t be celebrating in my usual way, but will acknowledge the day by giving out free pocket U.S. Constitutions at the Washington County Law Library, in Hillsboro.For more information about Constitution Day:1) Constitution Day is Every Day, at the Law Librarian Blog...
Wordstock, Oct 11-13, 2009, at the Oregon Convention Center
Posted on September 16, 2009Save the date:Wordstock will be held October 11-13th, 2009, at the Oregon Convention Center, in Portland.Meet your favorite writers, visit the Book Fair, buy books, and sample the neighborhood restaurants (and find Portland neighborhoods further afield).
Washington County (Oregon) Increases Jail Visiting Hours
Posted on September 16, 2009We not only admire civil servants who come up with creative solutions that save taxpayers money, we especially love it when managers ask and listen to their front line staff members who often have the best ideas on how to improve service and save money!From the Washington County Sheriff?s Office"Expanded Jail Visiting Schedule: Social and Professional Visits - Effective September 1In an effort to stretch budget dollars during the economic downturn, the Washington County Jail implemented a new staffing schedule...
Multnomah County 2009 District Attorney Audit
Posted on September 15, 2009OregonLive, and other news outlets, reported on the recent Multnomah County District Attorney 2009 audit: Audit: Multnomah County DA's Office could communicate better with public, by Anne Saker, The Oregonian, September 14, 2009You can find a full-text copy of the audit: Multnomah County District Attorney: Data, Technology, and Communication with the Public, September 2009, and other documents, at the Multnomah County Auditors website - and here is a direct link to the report...
Oregon Court Fees to Change October 1, 2009
Posted on September 15, 2009Please read the information at the Oregon Judicial Department website (click on the What?s New link) and your county Circuit Court website for updated court fee information as quoted below:"Notice of State Court Filing Fee Changes - Effective October 1, 2009Notice of State Court Filing Fee ChangesEffective October 1, 2009Legislative changes in 2009 that become effective October 1, 2009, will significantly change some state court filing fee amounts...
The Eddie Haskell Lawyer
Posted on September 15, 2009This was worth passing on, even though there is no obvious Oregon connection. We have all heard about these types of lawyers (and other Eddie Haskells in our lives).From the Ralph Losey E-Discovery Team blog:Court Catches On To Feigned Attorney Cooperation and Client Pays the ConsequencesExcerpt: "...
The Art, Craft, Business, and Oregon Law of Tattoos and Tattoo Artists
Posted on September 14, 2009Tattooing is an art and a craft and a service and a profession. In Oregon, it is regulated.1) Advisory Council for Electrologists, Permanent Color Technicians and Tattoo Artists for Laws & Rules and Forms pertaining to the Tattoo Arts.2) There is an Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) and they have lots of information about piercing and tattooing safety...
Public Access to the Oregon Courthouse, Court Room, and Court Records
Posted on September 11, 2009"Are open-court efforts waning?," by The Editorial Board, Oregonian, September 09, 2009Excerpt:"In Oregon, news organizations still fight for public access, aided by the constitutionThe New York Times reported recently about the seeming decline in the efforts by news media organizations and others to keep the nation's courts open to the public...
Best Canadian Legal Research
Posted on September 10, 2009Legal Research Plus has a blog post: Best Guide to Canadian Legal Research (September 3, 2009, by Sergio Stone) that links to the, uh, Best Guide to Canadian Legal Research webpage.I?m the last person ever to agree that a self-selected ?Best? designation is of any use or value, except of course to put the cynics amongst us on guard from the start, but you can decide for yourself if the Best Guide ? really is ?The Best...
Business Directory Scams
Posted on September 10, 2009We hear they are at it again (or even still), so put your shields up - and alert anyone who answers the telephone for your business.FTC Sues to Halt Three Cross-Border Business Directory Scams?The Federal Trade Commission has filed suit to halt the illegal operations of three telemarketing boiler rooms in Montreal, Canada...
Susskind?s End of Lawyers: Annotated with Links
Posted on September 10, 2009Law librarian colleagues brought a Legal Informatics Blog post to my attention: Susskind on the End of Lawyers.There are a zillion links to commentary on the book. I found Carolyn Elefant?s 3/24/09 My Shingle blog post and Comments particularly interesting - and practical: And what it means for solos.
Free Directory Assistance Numbers (and Texting)
Posted on September 10, 2009Jim Calloway blogs about 3 free directory assistance numbers to program into your phone.I?ll add at least one more: your public library?s quick reference line. It will be useful only during those hours your public library has reference hours, but in some places that?s a lot of your working hours...
Beware the Fill-in-the-Blank Power of Attorney Form, Please
Posted on September 08, 2009If you?ve read the recent (last week, last year, last decade, last century) stories about relatives, caregivers, and others who are charged with theft, elder abuse, and other crimes against the fragile or elderly people they are allegedly caring for ?,If you ever wondered why public law librarians and lawyers go pale when people use Fill-in-the-Blank forms for things like Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives, to name only a couple ?,Here?s an excellent article from the Oregonian?s Brent Hunsberger?s It?s Only Money column (Sunday, 9/7/09, Business section, p...
Land Use, Oregon, and the U.S. Supreme Court
Posted on September 08, 2009This National Law Journal article about the case, Stop the Beach Renourishment v. Florida (S. Ct. Docket number: 08-1151) caught my eye:"Setting boundaries for property rights: The Supreme Court will decide whether Florida ran roughshod over beachfront landholders," by Timothy Sandefur, August 31, 2009Excerpts: 'The U...
Oregon Debt Collection Research Guides
Posted on September 08, 2009I recently posted about the King County (Washington State) debt collection research guides and woefully neglected to link my readers to the excellent OREGON debt collection legal research guides at the Lane County Law Library. Use their Research Guide Index to find Debt Collection and many other useful guides.
Legal Research Database Metrics: Jumping Over Recalcitrant Vendors
Posted on September 04, 2009Many years ago a teacher of management reminded his students that the people least in the loop, the ones who don?t know what is going on in their companies (or government agencies), are the ones at the top, its managers and directors. He, of course, had many excellent examples of this...
Oregon Small Claims Court, TurboCourt, and eCourt
Posted on September 03, 2009Some (maybe all?) Oregon courts are offering TurboCourt online document preparation for Small Claims litigants. I haven?t seen TurboCourt in action.Visit the Washington County (Oregon) Circuit Court website and their TurboCourt link. Or, visit your own county's Circuit or Justice Court to find out if they too have TurboCourt...
Debt Collection Lawsuit Research Guide
Posted on September 03, 2009The King County (WA) Law Library has an excellent: Debt Collection Lawsuit Research Guide. The state law links are to Washington State laws, but the other information and federal law links apply to everyone. There is also a podcast with additional information on this subject...
Book Binding in Oregon: The Monk Way
Posted on September 01, 2009Libraries don?t bind their own books and journals anymore, at least most of us. (Some rare book libraries do - book conservation and preservation is super-specialized and skilled work.)If you ever wondered about who does bind books (other than creative types who do it themselves), here?s a great story (from Oregon Business dot com) about a popular bookbinding operation for Oregon libraries and beyond: O Clients, Where Art Thou?
Finding U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs
Posted on September 01, 2009You might think that these are all online, but they are not! Here are the briefs research guides I use:1) Tried and true, if you are near a library with this print set: Gerhard Casper and Kathleen M. Sullivan, eds., ?Landmark Briefs and Arguments of the Supreme Court of the United States: Constitutional Law?2) Library of Congress guide3) Official U...
A Public Speaking Scam?
Posted on September 01, 2009From the Great Public Speaking blog, news of a scam (September 1, 2009, post):Public Speaking Scam: Beware of this email letter, **This letter is being emailed to numerous public speakers. The church knows of none such person or event. Please beware!**Curious.
One Flu Over the Top? ?Swine? Flu in Oregon
Posted on August 28, 2009If you want information about ?Swine? Flu and you want information that doesn?t SCREAM at your or PANIC you or otherwise make you a basket case (maybe related to this handbasket), check out your county health department?s websites. For example:1) Washington County2) State of Oregon Flu website3) See also these for more lessons learned (we hope):Are we morally ready for another great pandemic? Preparing for swine flu raises ethical issues ? including questions of who gets treated and who doesn?t, by Peter Korn, The Portland Tribune, Aug 27, 2009,and,Spanish flu epidemic hit Portland hard: Heavyhanded tactics might have created a backlash against rules, by Peter Korn, The Portland Tribune, Aug 27, 20094) Previous OLR Flu blog posts.
U.S. District Court of Oregon Cases NOT Available on a Free, Public Website
Posted on August 26, 2009Why should Oregon (and some other states) federal District Court cases be available only to people with access to paid subscription databases such as PACER, Lexis, Westlaw, etc.?With all the loose (i.e. uninformed) talk about ?it?s all online? and PACER possibly becoming free and open (with all those unredacted documents - maybe yours?), I expected to find all judicial opinions, or at least federal court opinions (they have bigger budgets than the states) online...
Oregon Condo Law and Lawyer Blogs
Posted on August 26, 2009The list of Oregon law blogs is growing. Check out Justia?s Oregon Law Blogs list and my own sidebar list of Oregon law blogs. Neither is absolutely complete and non-Oregon bloggers also write about Oregon law.I recently added to my sidebar list the NW HOA Law Center, which has an excellent blog where lawyers write detailed posts on condo and HOA legal issues...
Oregon Tax Court (don?t follow the yellow brick road)
Posted on August 26, 2009It takes skill to navigate a website, especially one chock-full of information and one under (re)construction.You might think that if you go to OJD Judicial Opinions and then select Tax Court Magistrate Division that you?ll get the Tax Court Magistrate Opinions...
100 Terrific Tips and Tools for Bloggers (especially Librarians)
Posted on August 26, 2009Has any librarian not linked to and blogged about this post on 100 Terrific Tips and Tools for Blogging Librarians? Most of these tips will be useful to anyone who wants to be a good blogger.Writers write about writing and bloggers blog about blogging...
Law Dictionary: Oregon Legal Glossary
Posted on August 26, 2009Check out the latest Oregon Legal Glossary at Oregon Laws dot org. It?s a fun, easy to navigate, and the sidebar list of links to other Oregon (and 9th Circuit) glossaries is super-handy.
Happy Hour in Oregon and More Difficulties with Legislative Drafting
Posted on August 25, 2009Hard on the heels of my last post on legislative drafting, we have another story and example:OLCC revisits restriction on happy hour ads, by Bill Graves, The Oregonian, August 20, 2009Excerpt: '... The happy hour restriction annoys restaurants and bars and frustrates state officials who question whether it's effective and find it difficult to enforce...
Without Clothes in Oregon: the Art and Craft of Drafting Legislation
Posted on August 24, 2009Naught vs. Naughtiness: The OLR blog is not prudish, but spelling out certain words on the Internet attracts attention from unwanted quarters, e.g. spammers and other undesirables, so forgive my word replacement choices - it is for my own sanity.This quote, in this article, Ashland city attorney to examine nudity ban (by the Associated Press, August 20, 2009) caught my attention:??Oregon does not have any laws restricting nudity or have a crime of indecent exposure...
Oregon Legal Research Guides: Traffic, Landlord-Tenant, Debt Collection and MORE!
Posted on August 21, 2009Take a look at the Lane County Law Library Index to Legal Research Guides. It?s excellent and will just get better and better. They link to useful legal research guides from Northwest law libraries:· Adoption· Oregon Administrative Rules· Bankruptcy· Obtaining Birth Certificates· Border Crossing Guide· How to Find Oregon Appellate Court Briefs · Consumer Information/Protection· Criminal Law and Procedure in Oregon· Debt Collection--Creditor's Rights· Foreclosure, Repossession and Liens· Oregon Forms· Landlord/Tenant· How To Find A Lawyer In Oregon· Oregon Legal Ethics· Researching Oregon Legislative History· Oregon Legislative Records· Medical Malpractice Issues: Research Sources· Name Changes in Oregon· Using the Oregon Revised Statutes· Finding Public Records in Oregon· Small Claims Court and Procedures· Traffic ViolationsAnd, if you?re a Northwest law librarian with a legal research guide not included in this list, let the Lane County Law Librarian know!Lane County Law Library Index to Legal Research Guides
Authority of State (Oregon) to Enforce Federal Funeral Service Regulations
Posted on August 20, 2009For a detailed description of the statutory and administrative framework for the regulation of funeral services, read this recent Oregon Court of Appeals case:Olson v. State Mortuary And Cemetery Board (A136781)Judge Landau: "... On review, petitioners advance eight different assignments of error, ranging from a challenge to the authority of the board to enforce federal funeral service regulations at all to arguments about the propriety of the board's interpretation and application of state and federal funeral service regulations in various particulars...
How to Find an Oregon Administrative Rule History
Posted on August 19, 2009Finding the history of a judicial opinion or a statute is relatively straightforward, if only because we do that research so often. This is not the situation when researching the history of a regulation or other administrative rule, especially at the state level...
Basic Oregon Legal Research Resources
Posted on August 17, 2009This is a shortlist of some basic, and frequently overlooked, Oregon legal research resources (and one non-Oregon title), for the new Oregon attorney or legal researcher. Most of these are in print version only, not online.You don?t need to buy these, but you should know about them...
Reading Saves Consumer Time, Money, and Lives
Posted on August 17, 2009Lots of people clip coupons, swallow pills, or spend hours scanning the "over-the-counter pharmacy" shelves at the store, without doing their homework first. How do you know that product is safe or if you really want that one rather than another one (or none at all)?Consumer, or shopping, homework doesn't just mean reading the ads or looking for "reviews" on the web...
Are Oregon County Counsel Opinions "Public Record"?
Posted on August 14, 2009In the late 70's through 1980's Oregon county counsel attorneys prepared formal opinions on significant issues, sort of like Oregon Attorney General opinions. These opinions were open to the public, but used infrequently because many were soon out of date and potentially misleading to those who didn?t work with these sorts of documents on a regular basis...
Training: Confidentiality, Paralegals, and other Legal Office Staff
Posted on August 10, 2009The Pacific Northwest Paralegal Association (PNPA) is offering this course:An ethics program, Confidentiality: A Responsibility of Legal Staff, presented by Beverly Michaelis, JD, of the Professional Liability Fund. The registration form is available at http://www...
Orphan Works: Best Practices Guide, from Archivists
Posted on August 07, 2009Law Librarian blog post: Orphan Works: A Statement of Best Practices links to the report (PDF) from the Society of American Archivists.There is another post about this on a July 22, 2009 post at the Library Law blog: At last! Guidance for users of Orphan Works(And while you?re at that blog, don?t miss Peter Hirtle?s July 5, 2009 post on: They Myth of the pre-1923 Public Domain)
Oregon Bicycle Survey: Have Your Say!
Posted on August 05, 2009BTA wants to hear from riders AND non-riders, so have at it.Act soon - it?s anyone?s guess how long the Survey will be kept up on the website.1) Portland Tribune story: Group seeks opinions on region?s bike issues: Bicycle Transportation Alliance conducting online survey, The Portland Tribune, Aug 4, 2009Or,2) Visit the Bicycle Transportation Authority website for more information and another link to the Survey.
Baseball Law!
Posted on August 05, 2009Who couldn?t use a book on Baseball Law? We sure could here in the Portland-metro area.A summary of what you?ll find in ?The Little White Book of Baseball Law,? by John Minion and Kevin Cole.My previous (and favorite) post on baseball, and don?t forget f/k/a?s baseball haiku.
Traffic (and Driving) Tips from Washington State and Oregon Traffic Legislation Round-up
Posted on August 04, 2009Driving canines, flip-flopping on the gas peddle, beating a breathalyzer (with a penny?), and much more --at Seattle911, a police blog.As little as we know about our own (Oregon) city or state?s traffic laws, we know even less about our destination city?s laws...
Oregon OSHA: Small Biz Safety Committees, Silica Dust Dangers, and Fall Protection Regulations
Posted on August 03, 2009Oregon?s Occupational Safety and Health Administration?s (OHSA) August newsletter is out.Three noteworthy stories:1) "A fine danger: Controlling silica dust, by Melanie Mesaros (page 4):Rustic stone fireplaces and contoured granite countertops may look beautiful, but workers creating such masterpieces face a real risk...
What if the Law You Find Online isn?t Really The Law?
Posted on August 03, 2009Some articles speak for themselves:From: Law - "Finding Accurate Law Text Online Nearly Impossible" (from the Indiana Law Blog):Excerpt: ?? It sounded easy. Federal Reserve Bank of New York?s counsel, Denley Chew, slapped down some $2 bills and challenged a room of lawyers and legal researchers with laptops and iPhones to find the authoritative text of the landmark Fugitive Slave Act online...
Justice Bedsworth Ponders Cereal Litigants
Posted on August 02, 2009It?s a new month (August!) and the funniest judge in the country is still on the bench and online:In ?A Ticket to Walk: Cap?n Crunch and the Other Terrorists? the good judge learns not to trust the law on the Internet, that cereals with the word ?fruit? (or even frute or froot) in their names don?t necessarily contain fruit, and that ?[a]ll that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to get too caught up in fantasy baseball...
Restaurant and Food (Safety) Law
Posted on July 31, 2009We?ve had a rash of restaurant and wait-staff questions, on subjects from music licensing, to tip-pooling, to "can a restaurant owner deduct credit card company charges from their wait-staff wages when a customer pays the bill with a credit card?" (The latter is definitely one of those ?just when you think you?ve heard everything? questions...
Locating Dissertations and Theses
Posted on July 30, 2009It is not unusual for someone to think it is easy to find a dissertation or thesis: sometimes it is, and sometimes not. ?The Internet Tubes? have made the search a little easier than in the past, but "they" (the Internets, that is) have complicated it in a few other ways, namely, if the document is not in the Usual (i...
Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules: August 1, 2009 Update
Posted on July 30, 2009The latest Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR) will be released August 1, 2009. You will find an online version of it at the Oregon Judicial Branch website.
Three-Strikes Laws and The Hunt for the Holy Grail
Posted on July 28, 2009I?ve always said that the smaller the footnote or the simpler the question, the more time it will take to find the footnote?s supporting document or a citable document to answer the question.We were recently asked how many states have three-strikes laws...
Citing Unpublished Opinions and Copyrights & Legal Briefs
Posted on July 28, 2009Legal Research Plus blog has had (at least) two very interesting posts this past week:1) Writing the book on citing unpublished and non-precedential opinions, July 27, 2009, by Paul Lomio:Excerpt: ?Today?s mail brought Volume 10, Issue # 1 (Spring 2009) of The Journal of Appellate Practice and Procedure...
Is a Small Wind Turbine in Your Future (or you backyard)?
Posted on July 24, 2009Building Codes Division proposes rule for quick approval of small wind turbinesExcerpt: "(Salem) ? In its continuing effort to be flexible with the onset of new technology and advance sustainability, the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (BCD), in conjunction with its Electrical and Elevator Board and the Oregon Department of Energy, has proposed a rule that would allow manufacturers to install small wind turbines quickly, yet safely...
Oregon Ranks 2nd in Digital (e) Governance Survey
Posted on July 23, 2009Assessment of State e-Government Services (from Law Librarian Blog):?The National Center for Public Performance and the American Society for Public Administration have released U.S. States E-Governance Report (2008) An Assessment of State Websites, which evaluates security, usability and content of state websites, the type of online services being offered, and citizen response and participation...
The Crocodile (or bobcat) Next Door: New (2010) Oregon Exotic Pets Law
Posted on July 22, 2009The Oregonian ran a story about the new law, 2009 SB 391 (HTML version), which will go into effect January 1, 2010: ?Exotic Pets: bad idea, soon to be illegal.? (Online version: New Oregon law will clamp down on exotic pet ownership), by Jacques Von Lunen, Tuesday July 21, 2009):Excerpt: ?The four cats hiss fiercely as we approach their enclosure...
Finding Death Records and Obituaries in Oregon (and beyond)
Posted on July 22, 20091) Check first with your local public library! Public librarians know how to find all sorts of genealogical information in print and online and have networks for asking other librarians when the specific question is particularly vexing.2) In Oregon, public libraries may have these subscription databases that you can search, sometimes remotely:a) America?s Obituaries and Death Noticesb) Biography and Genealogy Master Indexc) Ancestry Library has an Oregon Death Index...
Free PACER Federal Court Dockets
Posted on July 21, 2009More free legal information - hurrah! See King County Law Library blog, KCLL Klues:Free Federal Case Dockets OnlineFreeCourtDockets dot com provides free court dockets from PACER (except for the U.S. Supreme Court, whose dockets originates from their own database)...
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) in Oregon
Posted on July 21, 2009The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) affects every litigant, lawyer, and judge. Ignore it at your peril.Two SCRA laws that apply to Oregonians, one federal and one Oregon:1) SCRA (previously the Soldiers? and Sailors? Civil Relief Act (SSCRA): 50 USC Appendix Sections 501 to 596 (Public Law 108-189 as amended by Public Law 108-454 (2004))2) ?Linscott bill? 2009 House Bill 2303 (2009 Oregon Laws Chapter 83, (2009 Laws): Effective date May 8, 2009)For more information:1) Protecting the Protectors: The Crucial Details Every Lawyer Needs to Know to Safeguard the Rights of Those in Uniform, by Janine Robben, OSB Bulletin, July 2009...
Hiring a Lawyer: Clients and Lawyer Fees
Posted on July 20, 2009Having problems with the lawyer someone recommended to you or who you thought was recommended by an "online service" or a "best ever lawyers in the whole wide world" list?It is not enough just to get a recommendation for a lawyer who can help you with your legal problem...
Will Librarians Do Almost Anything for a Gold Book Cart?
Posted on July 17, 2009From the July 13, 2009, ATC, NPR story, Librarians Go Wild for Gold Book Cart:??.Five teams of librarians ? dressed in costumes ranging from Vikings to Elvis Presley ? competed for the coveted gold book cart. They marched in drill-team formation, equipped with metal book carts...
Student Loan Forgiveness: College and Professional Schools
Posted on July 17, 2009The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (and here) started July 1, 2009. There is more information, and links, at this Law School Academic News blog post. (Note: the program is not just for law students.)This is a very new program and I recommend you run a search for the most up-to-date information...
Creative Copyright Event at UO Portland, July 16th for Musicians, Artists, Writers
Posted on July 16, 2009This program is part of the UO Portland Summer Spotlight series.?Interested in how copyright law affects creative work? Itching to write your own version of copyright law? Curious to know how musicians and artists might talk to an entertainment attorney, and vice versa?Join the UO Portland Library and Learning Commons at 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 16 for ?Free Culture: Creating Copyright and Copyrighting Creation,? a lively discussion of copyright and the arts...
Oregon Same-Sex Couple: Right to Parental Status: Shineovich v. Kemp
Posted on July 16, 2009Media Release (July 15, 2009) summarizing the case.Oregon Court of Appeals case: Shineovich V. Kemp (A138013), filed July 15, 2009.Excerpt: ?In this action for declaratory relief, petitioner challenges the constitutionality of two statutes under which a married man is, by operation of law, deemed to be the legal parent of children born to his wife...
Debt Collectors, Oregon Consumer Law, and the National Arbitration Forum
Posted on July 16, 2009I?ve been working on a blog post linking to summaries of this Oregon Legislative Session?s consumer law accomplishments e.g. see the Oregon Live information, but got sidetracked by this story. Mandatory arbitration requirements have been a hot topic for a while amongst consumer law attorneys:From an Oregon attorney?s blog post about a lawsuit against the National Arbitration Forum...
Managing Email, Web 2.0, and Beyond: 20 Tips
Posted on July 15, 2009The tips at this post, 20 Tips to Manage your Online Social Life, which I linked to from iLibrarian, piqued my curiosity. They may pique yours too - or not.For me, it?s not so much my ?social life? that needs managing. I can do that perfectly well or at least to my own satisfaction...
10 Free Online Legal Research Databases: But, Mind the Gap
Posted on July 15, 20091) For an excellent lineup of free legal research databases, see Robert Ambrogi?s Legal.Online column: 10 Places to Get Free Cases: A Very Good Price, from the Oregon State Bar Bulletin, July 2009 issue. In 2 pages he gives links and pertinent information about each database's coverage and caveats...
Oregon Laws for Motor scooters, pocket bikes, mini-choppers or mini-motorcycles
Posted on July 14, 2009Tis the season, apparently, to climb onto an open-air motorized vehicle:There are state laws:1) ODOT, DMV, Pocket Bike Guide (PDF)2) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Index3) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Violations4) ODOT, DMV Vehicle Factsheet for Mini-motorbikes and Scooters5) Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)And there are local laws: Contact your city or county law enforcement agency (e...
Oregon?s Surgical Checklist and Medical Practitioner Bona Fides
Posted on July 13, 2009If you have surgery in your future, don?t think about lawyers and medical malpractice if something goes wrong ? think preventive, preemptive action, that is, BEFORE something goes wrong.Oregon?s Patient Safety Commission has a Surgical Safety Checklist webpage...
U.S. Supreme Court Cases Someone Will Ask About 7 Months from Today
Posted on July 13, 2009U.S. Supreme Court questions someone will ask about and that we will want to find quickly.These can all be found at the U.S. Supreme Court?s 2008 Term webpage:1) The ?firefighters? case, aka the ?new haven firefighters case?: Ricci V. DeStefano, 07-1428 (decided 6/29/09)2) The ?high school strip search? case: Safford Unified School District #1 v...
Escape from Custody in Oregon: Definition of ?Constructive Restraint?
Posted on July 10, 2009In a kinder, gentler world, the words ?you?re under arrest? without any accompanying cuffs or restraints may mean you?re free to head off with impunity at a measured pace to the nearest coffee shop, or tree top, but in Oregon the words ?you?re under arrest? means YOU?RE UNDER ARREST AND IN CUSTODY so stop calculating that escape route and forget about that Freedom Road Quickstep maneuver...
Trial Notebook for Pro Se Family Law Litigants
Posted on July 09, 2009Non-attorneys don?t often realize the amount of preparation that is required to prepare for a case, whether it?s researching, drafting documents, communicating with opposing counsel, appearing in Small Claims or Traffic Court, or before a judge in conference or at trial, and every interaction with the judicial system in between...
Paralegal Certification, Oregon Mock Exam, August 2009
Posted on July 07, 2009We all know how useful mock exams are - who wants to have take a test over and over again when it is possible to take a mock (aka practice) exam and learn your weak points, knowledge gaps, and how to cope with exam-jitters?!If you think mocking is only for losers, think again...
Oregon State Court Fees Change July 1, 2009
Posted on July 06, 2009See the explanatory memo at the Oregon State Bar (OSB):?Effective July 1, 2009, some state court filing fees will change due to 2007 legislative changes that become effective July 1, 2009, and the extension of the temporary filing fee surcharges through September 30, 2009, as provided in a 2009 legislative bill (HB 2287B)...
When Cheating isn?t Cheating: Public Speaking Tricks
Posted on July 06, 2009Just as there are some lotteries you don?t want to win (e.g. airplane crashes), there are also some cheats who aren?t really cheats - not the bad kind, at least.Ever wonder how good public speakers seem to talk without notes? While some really can, others have tricks...
GAO Reports on Reverse Mortgages
Posted on July 06, 2009Another reminder that there are no quick fixes or free lunches in the world of finance, law, consumer protection, or living a long and healthy life:beSpacific alerts us to two new GAO reports on reverse mortgage consumer protection issues:1) Reverse Mortgages: Product Complexity and Consumer Protection Issues Underscore Need for Improved Controls over Counseling for Borrowers, GAO-09-606, June 29, 20092) Reverse Mortgages: Product Complexity and Consumer Protection Issues Underscore Need for Improved Controls over Counseling for Borrowers, GAO-09-812T, June 29, 2009
Blogger Ethical Code and Toni Morrison?s Trustworthiness
Posted on July 06, 2009Journalists have ethical codes and so do librarians and lawyers. (Librarians also have a intellectual freedom codes, which might answer some of your question about why we can be so pigheaded).Do Bloggers Share an Ethical Code?, posted at attorney Donald Vanarelli?s blog, is worth reading:Excerpt: "According to a recent study published in the June 2009 edition of the New Media & Society journal entitled doing-the-right-thing-online-a-survey-of-bloggers-beliefs-and-practices, bloggers share a group of ethical principals...
Health Care (Medical) Advocates
Posted on July 03, 2009A May 2009 It?s Only Money column at Oregonlive ran an interesting set of stories on health care advocates and on how to challenge health care bills. The article included lots of self-help tips and links.Health care advocates can, among other things, scrutinize your medical bills for errors the same way legal billing auditors do (though mostly for clients with the money to pay to have their bills scrutinized)...
Bedsworth Tips his Hat (and his wit) to Jailbirds Who Fly the Coop
Posted on July 02, 2009It?s a new month and the funniest judge in the country is still on the bench and online:Justice Bedsworth, of the California Court of Appeals, returns in July 2009 with his not to be missed Criminal Waste of Space column in the Orange County Lawyer Magazine:"A Ticket to Walk: Beds takes a look at prison administration"Previous Bedsworth tales of woe and law can be found at May it Please the Court.
Oregon Curfew Laws, Expungment Guides, and More
Posted on July 01, 2009Summertime, and the living is - not so easy for parents of minors. See the Washington County (Oregon) Curfew Calendar.Check with your own city to find out its rules. For example, I typed the words Portland Oregon curfew laws into Google and got this link and this recent KATU story...
Oregon Attorney-Client Confidentiality: Privilege Can Survive Death
Posted on June 30, 2009Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin: June 2009: Duty of Confidentiality: Top 10 Myths, by Helen Hierschbiel, will be interesting for lawyer and client alike. It is another reminder to non-attorneys that you can?t learn the law from watching television shows or reading legal fiction, not that they aren?t fun and I highly recommend you keep enjoying both...
Cell Phone Law from the 2009 Oregon Legislature
Posted on June 30, 2009The Oregon cell phone bill that became law: House Bill 2377 (or link to the enrolled bill from here): Relating to use of mobile communication device while driving; amending ORS 811.507When signed, it will show up at the Governor?s webpage and, when given a Chapter number, as an Oregon Law...
Pardons (and Pardon Law) in Oregon and Beyond
Posted on June 29, 2009Trial Ad Notes has a post about a blog on Pardon Power.The practice of ?pardon law? is fairly specialized. Take a look at Pardon Power?s sidebar. Bloggers and researchers know how much work it takes to build a website like this!I have blogged before about getting a pardon in Oregon state court.
Traffic Photo Radar in Oregon
Posted on June 28, 2009Public law librarians get a lot of questions about traffic tickets, especially photo radar. Here's a very brief primer on the subject, the gist of which is, Talk to a Lawyer. They are the real experts.Most of the "speed measuring device" statutes, which include radar, are in Chapter 810 of the ORS , but you?ll also want to look at ORS 811...
PDF Search Engines - and Beyond
Posted on June 26, 2009If you are a simple soul, and only infrequently need more from your search engine than a blunt keyword search (Oregon legal research, for example), iLibrarian links to this post: 100+ Alternative Search Engines You Should Know.I especially liked the list of E-Book & PDF Search Engines...
How to Tell Your Oregon State or Federal Legislators What You Think
Posted on June 25, 2009This is a Quick and Easy Guide. More complicated ones exist, but it just doesn?t have to be that hard - and this way you have no excuse for not speaking out:In a Nutshell (example of a 4-step script follows):1) Who IS your legislator? One quick way to find out is to use this Find Your Legislator tool...
Oregon 2009 House Bill 2343 (Change to Rape Law) and Think Out Loud
Posted on June 25, 20092009 HB 2343 (also from the Legislature?s webpage). (Note, an engrossed bill has not yet passed both Chambers; an enrolled bill has and awaits the Governor?s signature.)Compiling a legislative history and determining legislative intent means going beyond what legislators say themselves, to looking at what people say to legislators...
Bar Exam Prep on an iPhone? You Betcha.
Posted on June 24, 2009The King County Law Library blog, KCLL Klues, has this post about Legal Applications for iPhones, and it includes a bar exam prep application, in addition to others on copyright law and student law. More to come, too, I expect. Who needs to go to the office anymore? Wowsers.
Special Education in Forest Grove, Oregon: U.S. Supreme Court
Posted on June 23, 2009The U.S. Supreme Court case on special education in Forest Grove, Oregon, is:Forest Grove School Dist. v. T.A., decided: 6/22/09, No. 08-305, which you can find at the Court?s opinion?s website, 2008 Term.
Oregon Pro Se Litigants and Attorneys Fees
Posted on June 23, 2009Can a self-represented (pro se) litigant claim ?attorneys fees??For a discussion of the meaning of attorneys fees in the context of a pro se litigant?s public records lawsuit, I recommend you read the recently decided (June 17) Colby v. Gunson (A133979) (2009)...
Effective Dates of Oregon Legislation
Posted on June 23, 2009From the Oregon Legislature Clerk of the House website:"In 1999, the Legislative Assembly adopted ORS 171.022, which reads, "Except as otherwise provided in the Act, an Act of the Legislative Assembly takes effect on January 1 of the year after passage of the Act...
Self-Help Oregon Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) Forms and Instructions
Posted on June 23, 2009Legal Aid Services of Oregon, among others, has created Oregon Forms Help:?This website is designed to help Oregon residents who wish to represent themselves in an uncontested divorce. Here you will find step-by-step instructions for filling out the Optional Statewide Family Law Forms prepared by the State of Oregon Judicial Branch...
Oregon Legislature: June 2009 Updates
Posted on June 23, 2009This story in the Statesman Journal is accompanied by a list of the bills ?In the Pipeline,? ?Still Brewing,? and ?In Limbo or Dead?:Measure 57 key to ending the 2009 session, Issue keeps budgets of public-safety agencies in limbo, by Peter Wong ? Statesman Journal, June 21, 2009...
Religion as Defense in Child Death: Oregon Statute
Posted on June 22, 2009Sleepy radio listeners have long muttered ?WHAT hour?? at radio announcers who say, ?it is 10 minutes past the hour.? (Would it be so hard to say, it is 10 minutes past 7 a.m. in San Francisco? Public radio listeners are smart enough to figure out what time it is then in Indianapolis...
Northwest Regional Legal Writing Conference in Portland - August 2009
Posted on June 19, 2009From the Law Writing Prof Blog:Northwest Regional Legal Writing Conference in Portland - August 28-29, 2009?Lewis & Clark Law School and the University of Oregon School of Law are pleased to announce their joint sponsorship of the 2009 Northwest Regional Legal Writing Conference...
Elisor, Desuetude, Misprision: huh?
Posted on June 19, 2009As is the case for any vocation or avocation, the law is filled with Words that make us go huh! in the night (but not with this huh and surely not to be confused with d?oh, unless you use the Word incorrectly while speaking to a judge in a crowded courtroom)...
Free Help (and Money) at the Beaverton (or Your) Public Library
Posted on June 18, 2009If you remember that Abbie Hoffman?s Steal This Book was about how to get Free Stuff, and stuff for free (beg, borrow, and steal), this blog post from the Beaverton (Oregon) City Library is better, much better - and you?ll stay on the side of the angels...
Right to Honest Services: 18 USC 1346
Posted on June 18, 2009I just saw that the print edition of the National Law Journal has a cover story about 18 USC 1346:DOJ may rein in use of 'honest services' statute: Fraud statute up for review was key to many convictions, by Lynne Marek, June 15, 2009I can write 18 USC 1346 without even looking at the article...
SALC Race for Justice in Portland: Battle of the Law Firms!
Posted on June 17, 2009This is Race for Justice weekend (Saturday, June 20, 2009), to raise money for the St. Andrew Legal Clinic (SALC), which serves low-income Oregonians in family law matters.The Race for Justice really is a challenge! It?s a battle of Oregon law firms:1) Bronze Sneaker Traveling Trophy!2) Prevailing Parties!3) The Markowitz Challenge: Bragging rights are on the line!4) The Coulter Cup Family Law Challenge!And more!?Making a Difference: SALC helps bridge the gap for families who do not qualify for Legal Aid and can not afford to hire a private attorney...
Oregon Marriage Licenses and other Vital Records (with a side of baby names)
Posted on June 16, 2009If you get your marriage license in one Oregon county and get married in another, where can you get a certified copy of your marriage license 30 years later?This is a slightly different question from the one I answered a little while ago: How do I find out if someone in Oregon or Washington is married? But the research is similar - and the following information also applies to Domestic Partnership records...
Oregon Justice Courts (and Justices of the Peace)
Posted on June 16, 2009Cutting public sector budgets is a complex enterprise. Sometime cutting $$ out of a budget means cutting 2, 3, or 20 times the original $$ cut, e.g. when you cut a budget item and lose the matching funds or when you cut ?officers of the state? positions (e...
Oregon Council on Civil Rights
Posted on June 16, 2009The first meeting of the Oregon Council on Civil Rights is in July 2009:The mission of the OCCR is:· To study and monitor the causes, effects and solutions of unlawful discrimination in Oregon;· To consider legislative and agency proposals and actions;· To foster communication, goodwill, cooperation and conciliation among groups interested in civil rights across the state, and between these groups and the state; and· To advise the commissioner, and other interested state agencies or officials, on policies and procedures related to the education and enforcement of civil rights...
Update to ?Leaving Children Home Alone in Oregon?
Posted on June 15, 2009In addition to my new Kids Home Alone in Oregon legal research guide and my rather lengthy previous post, from January 13, 2009, I add these:1) A corrected link to the ?What is the legal age for leaving a child home alone?? information at the Clackamas County Juvenile Department FAQ...
Medea in Oregon: Maternal Filicide
Posted on June 15, 2009If recent heartbreaking events in Portland, Oregon haven?t sent those of literary or legal mind to the library or online to refresh your memory of the story of Medea (and other filicide tragedies), then you haven?t been paying attention:1) Libraries will have multiple versions of the original tale...
Be an Oregon Queen (or King) of SHIBA: Senior Health Insurance
Posted on June 15, 2009In Oregon, SHIBA, for Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance, assists Medicare beneficiaries and those going into Medicare through all the hoops of Medicare and the options that can lower out of pocket expenses for health care. Staffed by highly trained volunteers supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as State Department of Human Services, they are available for one on one consultation, group presentations and classes to help people make informed decisions...
Oregon Legislative Bill Tracking via Oregonlive
Posted on June 11, 2009Liz alerts me to the Oregonlive Track a Bill service. For the average Jo(e), it sure is easier to use (though not more comprehensive) than the Legislature?s (official) bill tracking webpages, though the Oregonlive service will be around only as long as Oregonlive is around, which is why librarians want governments to preserve and protect government information on government websites...
Bad Drivers: Tailgaters, Rear-enders, and Self-Defense Strategies
Posted on June 10, 2009The Oregonian?s Test Drive blog on Commuting had this article, ?How to escape the scourge of the tailgater,? posted by Joseph Rose, The Oregonian June 08, 2009.The actual statistics also match with my impressions from a while ago, when I looked at jury verdicts and rear-enders...
iPhone Scam Alert: A Little More "Caveating" Amongst the Emptors, Please
Posted on June 09, 2009If you haven?t heard about this iPhone Scam Alert, in the newspaper, online, from the Oregon AG?s office, and beyond, then you need to think about ratcheting up your news tracking. This scam is not the worst out there, but if you?re not hearing daily about some food or product recall or scam, then you can?t complaint about the world going to hell in a handbasket...
Oregon Attorney General Opinions and Letters of Advice
Posted on June 08, 2009Non-attorney Oregon legal researchers frequently overlook Oregon attorney-general opinions. Not every legal problem will require a search of attorney general opinions, but you don?t want to miss this research resource when it is relevant. (Other states also have AG opinions, and so does the U...
More Free and Low-Cost Legal Research Tools
Posted on June 05, 2009An excellent, and fast, tutorial on free and low cost legal research tools is available from the Duke University law librarians: The Unexploded Cow?s Guide to Legal Research.My previous posts on free and low-cost legal research are here and here (with additional imbedded links).
To Google Square is Human, to Bing Divine?
Posted on June 04, 2009beSpacific reminded me to try out Google Squared, which is very interesting. I foresee it being useful for kids and parents doing homework and maybe even for medical and health related questions - maybe. I?m not so sure about legal research. I entered Oregon Legal Research, but all I got was: "Google Squared couldn't automatically build a Square about oregon legal research...
Oregon Authors and Writers
Posted on June 04, 2009It has been said that lawyers are frustrated writers. Well, so are most writers! Visit Oregon Authors, a new website that also has links to Oregon writer and reader groups.As for law library blogs (and bloggers are writers if nothing else), there are 185 of us already, blogging professionally as law librarians (mostly).
Prison Legal News
Posted on June 04, 2009Even in the world of zines and social networking, there is still a kind of Periodical Underworld, which isn?t as under the world as it used to be, but it?s still not quite mainstream.Here is an AP story that I found through Google News, about the Prison Legal News (PLN):Ex-con's magazine focuses on advocacy, prison life, by JOHN CURRAN, May 24, 2009...
Patent and Trademark Depository in Oregon
Posted on June 03, 2009I bet you didn?t know there was a Patent and Trademark Depository in Oregon. Well, there is!It?s hosted (and we thank them!) by the Lewis & Clark Boley Law Library, in SW Portland.Another recent blog post about patent law, from beSpecific: Anatomy of a Patent Case.
New 2009 Oregon Laws
Posted on June 03, 2009It?s hard to keep up with all the new laws coming out of Salem. Here?s a news story from KOHD News describing how Governor Kulongoski signed 24 bills into law on June 2, 2009 - just try reading those in one day!You can find other bills signed into law at the Governor?s website...
When Public Records Laws Trump HIPAA (Nebraska)
Posted on June 01, 2009I saw this story at a May 17, 2009, PI Buzz blog post (3rd paragraph) and thought I?d blog about it here given the strong (ish) public records laws in Oregon. The link is to a Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press post.Excerpt: ?The names of individuals buried in a state cemetery are death records, the Nebraska Supreme Court said today, ruling that they must be released in accordance with the state's open records law? ...
Don?t Remove that Mattress Tag!
Posted on May 31, 2009You have to love law librarians and others who go where others fear to tread (e.g. the journalist who forced open some MP (Member of Parliament) records about their taxpayer funded expenditures).Mary Whisner, at the Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington, has posted a link to her article about the Law Behind the Mattress Tags (101 Law Libr...
Good News Needed: Portland Upside (online newspaper)
Posted on May 29, 2009Have you seen the Portland Upside newspaper yet? It?s not just ?good? news; it?s interesting, fun, and inspiring news (and it's online for those who can't find a print copy). The cover story of the first issue is about a group of unemployed people who are doing productive work to keep themselves in the loop, sane, happy, and strong, physically and mentally...
Starting a Business in Oregon: Legal Research
Posted on May 29, 2009We meet a lot of people who want to start a business but don?t know where to begin.Entrepreneurs with great ideas don?t always have good business sense, but they can acquire it - or find business partners who have it. And even if you have good business sense, you still need to know the law...
Can I file for punitive damages on an Oregon small claims case against a business?
Posted on May 29, 2009This question came from a reader who came upon the Oregon Legal Research blog while doing some research.About Oregon small claims court and damages: Judges and mediators in Oregon small claims courts have a fair amount of discretion when working with plaintiffs and defendants on resolving their disuptes...
Claymation and Legal Research
Posted on May 28, 2009I went to the Amazing World of Claymation exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society and, of course, saw the legal research angle! Wouldn?t any law librarian?So, you may ask, what does legal research have to do with claymation?Quite a lot, if you want to make a business (or any money) out of the art and craft of claymation...
Free State and Federal Bill (Legislation) Finder Service
Posted on May 27, 2009WisLaw blog reports on BillFinder, a free service from StateScape. Whether you?re reading, drafting, tracking, or merely surfing new legislation, it?s a powerful little tool, for no cost. Amazing.Try it out: BillFinder
Oregon Last Will and Testament: Free, downloadable forms?
Posted on May 26, 2009Are there free, online, downloadable, official forms you can use to write a legally enforceable Oregon will?Sorry, but the answer is no, at least not if you want your will to do what you intend and be legally enforceable. Oregon wills, and other estate planning documents, are not Wash & Wear, Click & Go, One-Size-Fits-All, or Eat and Run...
How do we organize a constitutional government to prevent abuse of power?
Posted on May 22, 2009This is not a rhetorical or even a political question. It is a school assignment! Hurrah for teachers, especially those who try out their own assignments before handing them over to their students (and their students? parents).Librarians get to help answer students' reference and research questions, public librarians more than law librarians, but we (Oregon law librarians, that is) also often have the opportunity and honor to pitch in to help students answer their law-related questions, especially when the question comes through L-net, the Oregon statewide online reference service...
Oregon (and other State) Courts: Official Dictionary
Posted on May 21, 2009The Oregon Judicial Department?s (OJD) 2002 Style Manual specifies the Webster?s Third International New International Dictionary (unabridged ed. 2002) as the court?s ?official? (non-legal) dictionary. (Many, possibly all, state appellate courts specify an official dictionary...
Worldcat?s "Copyright Evidence Registry"
Posted on May 18, 2009Determining Copyright Status is not unlike the search for the Holy Grail. Here is an updated list of resources:1) WorldCat?s Copyright Evidence Registry2) See also, from LLRX: ?Can Collaboration Solve Copyright Status Questions? The WorldCat Copyright Evidence Registry,? by Roger V...
Six Words, ?Seventeen? Syllables, Baseball in 150 Words ? Legal Reference in Under 141 Characters?
Posted on May 15, 2009We have haiku and we have six-word stories - and we have Baseball in under 150 Words (and don't forget Rafe Esquith?s beautiful 132-word description), so why should we all be wailing about 140 character Tweets? (And, here (from Future Lawyer) is one reason to know how to Twitter...
Duck, Duck, Go dot com, Oregon Authors, and Oregon Maladies - All Online
Posted on May 15, 2009I attended an L-net (Oregon Library Network) meeting last week and in addition to catching up with other ?virtual reference? librarians, I learned about these:1) The search engine Duck duck go dot com is useful for adults too, and not just because there is no advertising...
Oregon Attorney General and Legislative Leaders: A Cheap and Easy Challenge
Posted on May 14, 2009?Oregon AG Public Records and Meetings Manual? and Superseded ORSsMy Oregon public law librarian ?Please, sir, I want some more? Wish List is not long:1) Superseded Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS). Is there a reason why the Legislature cannot put the superseded ORSs on the Legislature?s Bills and Laws website? Do they know how important superseded statutes, laws, and calendars are to lawyers (and to their clients)? They (superseded ORSs) are priceless! Ask any lawyer, especially after Gaines...
The Greenest of Green People Donate Their Organs
Posted on May 13, 2009Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ? your body.Margie Boule?s May 12th, 2009, column in the Oregonian reminded me that donating organs is about as Green as a Green Person can get (though maybe not this Green Person).When it comes to organ donation, they're passionate about their lives' work, by Margie Boule, The Oregonian, May 12, 2009For more about organ donation:1) Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank2) Donate Life Northwest3) Oregon DMV
Where is the 2009 ORS? Hold Your Oregon Horses ....
Posted on May 12, 2009This is the time of year when we start getting questions from people wanting the 2009 Oregon statutes or laws.This is also the time of year when we explain:1) The 2009 Oregon Legislature is still in session and unless there is a serious emergency requiring immediate legislative action, no 2009 Oregon legislation will have an effective date (click on Other Information) before July 1, 2009 and likely not before January 1, 2010:"Effective Date of Legislation: In accordance with ORS 171...
Oregon Consumer Law 2009 Legislation: Lemon Laws and Auto Repair Shops
Posted on May 11, 2009If you want or need to track Oregon consumer law legislation, here are two recent bills that may be of interest. And, here is the press release: Senate votes to strengthen Oregon?s Lemon Law, another tool for tracking legislation (and part of a law?s legislative history, though who knows if copies of the press releases are always put in the bill files)...
Social Media Policies - and a $70,000 Multnomah County Job
Posted on May 10, 2009?Social director? used to be viewed as a job for the boss?s wife or a job for paid ?social butterfly.? but the 21st century ?social media? director has education, imagination, writing skills, and respect. The life of a PIO will never be the same again...
Oregon?s Smokefree Workplace Law, What happens when people violate the smoking ban?
Posted on May 10, 2009The questions about complying with Oregon?s Smokefree Workplace Law (2007 SB 571, 2007 Laws Chap. 602) are thick on the ground, or in the air.As is true with a lot of new laws, no one is completely sure how this law will all play out in real life. A lot of planning went into its drafting, and now that it has gone into effect, people are still asking those ?what if? questions...
From ?Legisprudence? to ?I Have to Move My Car?
Posted on May 07, 2009I like looking at new law book catalogs, especially those with the scholarly books I don?t get to see or read much anymore. Some people dream of bigger houses, faster cars, expensive jewelry, extensive travel. I am one of that other group who dream of more time to walk, read, sleep, perchance to eat -- in a nutshell, I dream of a little more leisure time (who doesn't!)...
Positive Law, Codification, and Peanuts (i.e. Linus)
Posted on May 07, 2009KCLL Klues posted this Positive Law and other U.S. Code Mysteries a little while ago and it reminded me that some of my own readers are new to legal research and also curious about such things. What IS positive law anyway?No, positive law isn?t law in your favor, but that's not a bad guess...
Oregon Federal Public Defender Wins ABA 2009 Silver Gavel Award
Posted on May 05, 2009Steve Wax, Oregon?s Chief Federal Public Defender has won the 2009 American Bar Association (ABA) Silver Gavel Award for his book, ?Kafka Comes to America: Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror.?
Publisher Confidential: What Librarians Want Publishers to Know
Posted on May 05, 2009I like this: Publisher Confidential. Writers might find it useful too.It?s from the creators of Unshelved, who have been talking, and listening, to public librarians for a long time. You can download Publisher Confidential (PDF), free!Law librarians could probably add a few more pages, but we?re not as restrained as the public librarians featured in Publisher Confidential...
Oregon Legislative History, Interpretation, and Intent: Post PGE v BOLI (1993)
Posted on May 05, 2009For a lesson on how Oregon has heretofore interpreted legislative history (and intent) - and how they will do so henceforth:Oregon v. Gaines (SC S055031), April 30, 2009??The question presented -- i.e., whether defendant's conduct, as described, constituted a "means of * * * physical * * * interference or obstacle" within the meaning of ORS 162...
Oregon Constitutional Convention? Two Opinions
Posted on May 05, 2009The Oregon State Bar (OSB) May 2009 Bulletin poses the question: ?An Oregon Constitutional Convention??James Westwood weighs in, YES, we do need a new constitution:Excerpt: ?The Oregon Constitution hardly deserves the name, and not just because it is fouled by scores of items and thousands of words that belong in a statute book, if anywhere...
Oregon Renters / Tenants in Foreclosed Housing: 2009 SB 952
Posted on May 05, 2009Today?s Oregonian has an editorial by Oregon Senator Bonamici and Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish about Senate Bill: 2009 SB 952 (A-Engrossed) in PDF or HTML:Excerpt from the editorial: Renters, too, can face the hit of foreclosure:?Losing a home to foreclosure can be devastating...
Criminal Justice in Oregon: Enhanced Probation Probation
Posted on May 04, 2009Re: Oregon 2009 HB 3264Oregon looks at tougher probation for lesser crimes, by Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian, Sunday May 03, 2009:Excerpts: ?Gov. Ted Kulongoski wants to use $13.5 million of Oregon's federal stimulus dollars to create an enhanced probation program for repeat property and drug offenders who might otherwise face prison under Measure 57...
ORS 153.058: Citizen Initiated Citations in Oregon
Posted on May 04, 2009For those of you tracking citizen?s arrest cases:Oregonian article: Parking-law bulldog drops a case: Citizen citations - Attorney Eric Bryant ticketed officers in prohibited zones, May 02, 2009, Aimee Green:Excerpt: ?An attorney who sparked a widespread debate about whether police officers who aren't responding to emergencies need to follow parking laws has dropped his latest fight...
Justice Bedworth Reaches a Certain Age with Definite Misgivings
Posted on May 01, 2009Justice Bedsworth, of the California Court of Appeals, returns with his, not to be missed, column in the Orange County Lawyer Magazine:?It?s Alright Ma (I?m Only Bleeding): ?After 28 years of filling this space, Beds suddenly notices he?s aging,? by Justice William W...
Love the One You're [Working] With: Solo Practice of Law
Posted on May 01, 2009I really like this post at MyShingle about how you sometimes can?t know what you are capable of, or what you will like or not like, until you find yourself having to do it. It seems to go without saying, but it doesn?t! We know this is true of food (just taste it, please), sports (just play a little), avocations (mustard of the month, anyone?), but it is also true of work...
Oregon Swine Flu Information Center
Posted on April 30, 2009The State of Oregon has set up a Swine Flu website, with links to guides, local resources, and more.There are, of course, other national and international sites you can visit for information, including the CDC , WHO, and PandemicFlu dot gov.Previous post on The 2009 Flu.
Perils of a New Washington County (Oregon) Law Library Website
Posted on April 30, 2009The newly redesigned Washington County (Oregon) website is up and running, however ?One of the many perils of migrating to a new county webpage is that links from this Oregon Legal Research blog to research guides on the Washington County (Oregon) Law Library?s (WCLL) webpage will be misdirected...
More Free and Low-Cost Legal Research Tools
Posted on April 29, 2009An excellent, and fast, tutorial on free and low cost legal research tools is available from the Duke University law librarians: The Unexploded Cow?s Guide to Legal ResearchMy previous posts on free and low-cost legal research are here and here (with additional imbedded links).
Oregon Home Ownership Preservation Event (re Foreclosure): May 2, 2009
Posted on April 29, 2009An event in the Portland metro area (previously blogged about), open to all Oregonians, to assist people who facing possible foreclosure:Home Ownership Preservation EventFREEOpen to the publicSaturday, May 2, 200910 a.m. to 7 p.m.Portland Memorial Coliseum300 Winning Way, Portland, OR 97208Free parkingOn the TriMet MAX line, Rose Quarter Transit CenterTo register, please click here or call (in Salem) 503-947-7854 or 503-947-7068...
One Flu Over the Health Care Abyss
Posted on April 28, 2009Government website on the flu: PandemicFlu dot gov. Also, from the CDC , WHO, Wikipedia and beyond, learn about Endemics, and pandemics and Epidemics.Those of you who have read some histories of the Flu of 1918 (as opposed to reading just headlines), or some of the less overwrought news (e...
Art and Law: the Intersection (via Maira Kalman)
Posted on April 27, 2009If you missed the Maira Kalman and Justice Ginsburg May it Please the Court (and Pursuit of Happiness) illustrated article, from the New York Times, 4/23/09, catch it now.If you were wondering about Maira Kalman, try her webpage or Wikipedia entry. She also has a presentation at the TED conference, a source of much other inspiration (about which I blogged a while ago).
Oregon Interest Rates: How Much Can They Charge?
Posted on April 24, 2009A question frequently asked in law libraries: What is the highest interest rate imposed on debts allowed by Oregon law?Here is my 2009 (before the end of the current 2009 Legislative Session) answer to the general question, when it comes to me via email...
Buying, Selling, Merging and Closing a Law Practice in Oregon
Posted on April 24, 2009We?ve been getting excellent feedback on the ABA?s ?Buying, Selling, Merging and Closing a Law Practice?.When law partners part amicably, they may find that a how-to book is useful, but when they part less than amicably, they must have a book, forms, checklists, and sometimes more - a referee maybe?In Oregon, attorneys also have the incomparable PLF staff members who advise Oregon attorneys on all sorts of legal practice, and getting out of practice, issues...
Oregon House Bill "Wordle" Cloud
Posted on April 23, 2009I saw the link to Wordle at a Jim Calloway blog post and decided to try it out with the text of a bill in the Oregon Legislature. Here is what Wordle does to it: 2009 HB 2813.Wordle has some interesting uses, perhaps for writers who want a check on what their article, story, or other writing reveals about their use/overuse of certain words...
Peeps in the Law: Sweet
Posted on April 22, 2009We all need a little bit of comic relief and today's suggestion comes to you from the lawyers and law librarians behind: "Top 3 ?Peeps in Law? Entries" from the ABA Journal Law News Now, Apr 13, 2009,by Molly McDonough.Don't forget to click on the Peeps in Law Gallery for contest entries...
Consumer Law News and Advice in Oregon
Posted on April 22, 2009The Oregonian?s Business section of the daily print paper has had such good consumer law and small business stories and information lately that I?m wondering why they call it Business, rather than Law or Working or Buying & Selling. (I?m sure one of their readers or reporters could come up with something better - naming newspaper sections is clearly not my bailiwick...
Oregon Lawyer Newsletters, Journals, and Newspapers
Posted on April 20, 2009I don't generally put Works in Progress up on this blog, but I get questions about these publications and have been working on the following list in my spare time. But it?s slow going - spare time is a rare gift. It may be useful even in its draft form:OSB Section Newsletters (periodic): This is only a partial list...
Digital Rights Management, End Users, and the FTC
Posted on April 20, 2009Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Town Hall / Conference on DRMGiven how complex EULAs are (to the tune of whatever EULA wants, EULA gets), we don't get enough questions about them from the public. (Librarians are always agonzing over them, law abiding souls that we are...
When Lawyers Sue Legal Publishers: Contracts and/or Ethics?
Posted on April 16, 2009This is an interesting story:Law Professors Seek Injunction over 'Sham' Treatise Supplement, by Shannon P. Duffy, The Legal Intelligencer, April 16, 2009.Excerpt: ?An ugly dispute has erupted between West Publishing and two law professors who claim they were falsely identified as the authors of an annual supplement to a treatise on Pennsylvania criminal law even though they had nothing to do with writing it...
Mexican and other Foreign Court Records Indexes and Databases
Posted on April 16, 2009PI Buzz has a post, with Comments, about a Mexican court records database: Mexico Court Record Index Online.Finding other countries? court records databases doesn?t appear to be that difficult in a Google World, however, you should always try and talk to people who use those databases professionally to find out the pitfalls, the shortcomings, the strengths, and the alternatives...
Oregon Nonprofit Leaders Conference April 27-28, 2009
Posted on April 16, 2009Visit the Oregon Nonprofit Leaders Conference website for more information. And look at their sponsors and their resource lists too.Meet with grant makers and grant writers, learn about managing staff and finances, and meet with others who have the same questions you do...
More Pigs (and Cows) and the Law
Posted on April 15, 2009An Oregon county law library colleague found the ?pig? case we were looking for (previous pig post), except it turns out to be cows, not pigs - yoinks!(In everyone's defense, the students thought they were looking for a case about foreseeability or proximate cause, not res ipsa loquitur - and a pig and a gate and The Law - or so their instructors told them...
Pigs in Law and Literature
Posted on April 14, 2009During a recent search for an old Oregon case* (at least we think it is an Oregon case - and even that it is old may be debatable), a colleague sent me a link to this news story about some feral pig legislation working its way through the Oregon Legislature: HB 2221 (PDF or HTML):Man vs...
What if the Beneficiaries of Your Estate Get Divorced?
Posted on April 13, 2009People seeking to divorce often don?t realize how entwined their lives have become, with each other and with the law. It?s hard enough to deal with finances (and the dreaded QDRO) and ?telling the children,? but what do you do when the benefited children get their own divorces, and the will doesn?t specify what share, if any, the ex-spouse gets?A recent article in the April 2009 issue of the OSB Estate Planning and Administration Section newsletter (previous issues of the newsletter are free online) addresses some of these issues and looks at some recent Oregon cases:?How to Avoid Unintended Consequences of Estate Planning in Dissolution Court,? by Lisa Bertalan and Melissa Lande.
Who are "the people?" What does it mean to be ?born in the U.S.A.??
Posted on April 08, 2009Who are ?the people? the U.S. Constitution keeps referring to? (Notice how no one has taken up the Wiki Answer challenge to this question.)This is not an uncommon question in public libraries, law libraries, and in government documents libraries (even after the 2008 election)...
Misappropriated Dongles?
Posted on April 08, 2009When you read documents with phrases like this, ?ISPI misappropriated the dongles,? is it any wonder that people want to return to darker ages (before computers and maybe even before electricity!) or want desperately to flee into the forest, or hide inside a beer, for a long while until the madness settles down?I?ve been reading, in a rather desultory fashion I admit, news about the (not yet final and not the only digital book project on the planet (see Open Content Alliance story in NYT)) Google Settlement and drifted from the excellent Library Law blog to Rebecca Tushnet?s posts on the subject (which is where the dongle discussion came from)...
License to Print Money? Researching Marijuana Taxation Law, History, and Practice
Posted on April 08, 2009A recent bill in the Oregon Legislature, 2009 HB 3274 (HTML or PDF), and a question from a patron, started me thinking about what my research strategy might look like if I had to draft legislation on this subject or if I had to argue for or against taxing marijuana sales (medical marijuana or other uses, if any)...
ORS, Mendeleev, Roget, Tufte, and You?
Posted on April 06, 2009I blogged a little while ago about a new website for the Oregon Revised Statutes. In the old days (pre-Web old days) you needed serious money, organization, and infrastructure to set up a publishing business so even if you had a better mousetrap, or a statute compilation, you probably cooled your jets and went off to practice law instead of building your own database...
Blogging, Commitment, and Legal Cartoons
Posted on April 06, 2009Blogging is a commitment - it?s not a civil (or criminal) commitment, although it sometimes may feel that way, but it?s still something to take seriously (and I also believe civilly), assuming you the blogger want to be taken seriously. You need to blog regularly to keep up the momentum, your own and your readers...
Death, Taxes, Bar Exams, and Access to Justice in Oregon
Posted on April 06, 2009The Feb/March 2009 issue of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin has an interesting editorial by Oregon attorney John Gear: A Better Beginning:There is no shortage of commentary on the life, death, and value of bar exams (including bar exam humor from Blawg Review), but that is as it should be...
Legal Notices and Service by Publication in Oregon
Posted on April 05, 2009Attorneys know about legal notices, service by publication, or other publication requirements, but what about us normal people?! What are we to do?Here is a little guidance, but I also recommend you ask the judge (if it was a judge who told you to publish a legal notice) or consult an attorney...
Justice Bedsworth Tackles Bovid Jurisprudence
Posted on April 01, 2009Justice Bedsworth is no Edward Albee (and we?re glad of that), but both can have you scratching your head(s) for reasons that become clear this month with the Justice?s column:Poof, The Magic Goat Man: ?This is what we get when the governor appoints an English major...
?Are you a licensed Oregon attorney?? is a Yes or No Question
Posted on April 01, 2009Check Your ?Attorney?s? Bona Fides! (Don't be an April Fool.)?I thought he was a licensed attorney.??I thought a paralegal could advise and represent me.??He said he knew Oregon law.?If you hire someone who claims to be an attorney, or who hedges when asked, trust your instincts, because when your instinct detects hedging, your instinct is often a whole lot sharper than you are at the moment...
Can you Copyright a Tweet?
Posted on April 01, 2009No, this is not a Twick or Tweet April 1st post?:It was only a matter of time before someone would ask if a Tweet could be copyrighted. I?ll let the lawyers discuss this, but for now this is only a matter of First Impression. I?m sure more discussion will ensue...
A Lease of Your Own: Renting a Room in Someone?s Oregon Home
Posted on March 31, 2009Welcoming a renter into your home is a serious matter, whether that person is a friend, family member, or stranger. Becoming a tenant in someone?s home is equally serious. Make sure there is a lease.Do you want to draft a Lease of Your Own?1) There are "fill in the blank" forms, online and in print, but ...
Oregon Comcast Late Fee Class Action Lawsuit
Posted on March 31, 2009For those who think that the wheels of (in)justice (as the case may be) grind slowly, here?s an example. (And for those of you with small children in your lives, think about those bus wheels going round and round, round and round, round and round, ?. For the rest of us, think of Jarndyce vs...
Think, Research, Listen, Speak: Cesar Chavez is a State Holiday Today, Somewhere
Posted on March 31, 2009Forget Eat, Pray, Love or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. My mantra is fast becoming:Think, Research, Listen, Speak.The arguments, legal, profound, profane, insane, in Portland, Oregon over naming a street after Cesar Chavez reminds me how quickly many of us are to speak (or comment on blogs) before doing the research...
Model COBRA Subsidy Notices
Posted on March 25, 2009The World of Work blog has a post on Model COBRA Subsidy Notices, and links to relevant DOL websites. This is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (see also from Recovery dot gov).
Book: "Law and Magic"
Posted on March 25, 2009Some law books just look as if they?d be more fun to read than others:Law and Magic, by Christine A. Corcos??Topics include alchemy in fifteenth-century England, a discussion of how a courtroom is like a magic show, stage hypnotism and the law, Scottish witchcraft trials in the eighteenth century, the question of whether stage magicians can look to intellectual property to protect their rights, tarot card readings and the First Amendment, and an analysis of whether a magician can be qualified as an expert witness under the Federal Rules of Evidence?? (link to publisher website)Or would you rather read the one I saw many years ago in a law library far, far away...
Oregon Power of Attorney ?Form?
Posted on March 24, 2009Public law librarians frequently (sometimes it seems daily) get the question: Where can I find a Power of Attorney form (and preferably one online)?Please don?t try to short circuit this important, critical, legal protection. Here?s a sample response to the question:I don?t meant to sound lawyerly or librarian-ly(?), but it depends on what you mean by ?standard form,? what kind of power is being granted, who the parties are, what state everyone lives in, etc...
GPO Access Migration to FDsys
Posted on March 24, 2009Gallagher Blogs reports on the migration of federal information from GPO Access to FDsys:?You might already be familiar with GPO Access, the website of the U.S. Government Printing Office, which provides free electronic access to the official documents of all three branches of the federal government...
Pro Se (self-represented) Litigant Service in California, Washington, and Oregon
Posted on March 23, 2009Our neighbors to the north (Washington) and south (California) are often a step or two ahead of us when it comes to legal information and legal service to the people. (We are ahead in other ways (and don't fare too poorly on the free legal service front), so please don?t read this post as anything but Legal Research News - it?s not an arms race...
Resources for Homeless Veterans in Oregon
Posted on March 23, 2009The Outreach and Referral System for Veterans will be expanding in Washington County, Oregon."Currently, all Veterans in our community can access VA benefits, services and assistance in completing discharge documentation (Form 214) through the Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services (503-846-3060) and access employment training and resources through the Veterans Employment Representative (503-681-0219) at Worksource Oregon Employment Division...
Guides to Free and Low-Cost Legal Research Tools
Posted on March 23, 2009Law school libraries are excellent sources of legal research guides. You can find many of them with a quick Google search using your topic keyword and then simply adding the words ?research guide.? Another useful search word is ?pathfinder.?This Guide to Free and Low-cost Legal Research is from Georgetown Law Library...
More Free Oregon Legal Information
Posted on March 23, 2009This class for Landlords only: Landlord Study Hall 2009Previous Oregon Legal Research blog posts about free Oregon legal information, here and here and here.(And for those of you of a certain age or of a certain frame of mind, remember Abbie Hoffman?s Steal This Book, which, of course you can find free on the web...
Underwater Logging Laws in Oregon
Posted on March 22, 2009If public law librarians had a motto, it might be:We don't make it easy, but we try to make it possible.This underwater logging reference question came to us (the 3 Oregon county law librarians who answer email legal reference questions for L-net, the online Oregon Statewide Reference Service)...
100 Uses for Pocket U.S. Constitutions
Posted on March 20, 2009I frequently get calls from people looking for U.S. pocket constitutions and I happily refer them to our various sources, including this one, which is having a sale!But it occurred to me that I should start a 100 Uses for Pocket U.S. Constitutions list...
Oregon Legislative Summaries from Previous Sessions
Posted on March 20, 2009In our continued exploration of the Oregon Legislature, in particular the information on their website, don?t forget the Committee Services webpages. Click on Committee Services Publications for, among other things, previous session summaries. You can find full session publications or view these reports section by section, e...
Foreclosure Rescue Scams (and a fake HUD Website)
Posted on March 20, 2009The Oregon State Bar (OSB), Winter 2009 issue of the Debtor-Creditor Section newsletter (online only to section members) has a sobering article by Oregon attorney Terrance J. Slominski:?Foreclosure Rescuers: Good Samaritans or Scam Artists?? with a description of 4 categories of foreclosure scams, including: Sale-Leasback, Equity Stripping, Loan Modification, and Stealing the Home...
Airbags on Airplanes: Brace Yourself
Posted on March 18, 2009We ask a lot of that airplane seatback in front of us. It has to be a tray, a TV, as far away as possible (and not sticky), and now it might soon contain an airbag.Here?s a story from the always interesting Popular Mechanics website: Airbags on Planes: Will a New FAA Regulation Pave the Way for Airbag Seatbelts, March 12, 2009...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS): New, Free, Legal Research Database
Posted on March 17, 2009Give a big welcome to a (relatively) new entrant in the Oregon legal research database field of players: Oregon Laws dot org. It?s a legal research database designed and powered by law students (our future!). I like it so far - and its associated blog too...
Starting a Business in Oregon
Posted on March 17, 2009We meet a lot of people who want to start a business but don?t know where to begin. Entrepreneurs with great ideas don?t always have good business sense, but they can acquire it (usually) - or find business partners who have it.Before you plonk down the first month's rent on a store front, or invest in any alleged money-making endeavor (especially if it eats), read the Starting a Business guides from the Oregon Corporation Division...
Authors and Lawyers and ?Book? Contracts
Posted on March 17, 2009Owning the copyright is not enough. You have to protect it.If you write books and publish them, in paper or online, through a publisher or by yourself, you need to learn how to protect your copyright interests. Let your imagination be your guide. Who would have envisioned these events? Don't leave it to the science fiction and fantasy writers to imagine life, and publishing, in the future...
Oregon Local Court Rules
Posted on March 17, 2009One day I'm going to blog about the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of legal research, though I'll put it more in terms of the Expensive, the Impossible, and the Obscure. For now, I'll limit myself to writing about The Boring, but Necessary: Court Rules (which have nothing to do with the popular saying, "Librarians Rule" :-)Court Rules run the gamut from the statewide Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure and Uniform Trial Court Rules and more, all of which you can find at the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) website, under Court Rules...
Oregon Constitutional Convention or Task Force?
Posted on March 17, 2009A 2009 HB 2620 to rewrite the Oregon Constitution has been introduced, by Representative Chuck Riley:A summary from the Legislature (html or pdf):?Provides for constitutional convention in 2011. Establishes qualifications for delegates, number of delegates and manner of electing delegates...
A Day for (Oregon) Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Posted on March 17, 2009In Washington County (Oregon), April 2, 2009:?Day for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: 37,536 Oregon children live with their grandparents"In Oregon, over 20,000 grandparents have stepped forward to raise children because their parents struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, domestic violence, divorce, unemployment or military deployment," notes Deborah Letourneau, Program Coordinator for Washington County's Family Caregiver Support Program of Disability, Aging and Veteran Services...
Oregon Landlord Training
Posted on March 16, 2009The Portland metro-area Landlord Training has set its Spring 2009 class dates. This is 8-hours of specialized training - and it?s free!Excerpt: ?Program Information: Since 1989, this nationally recognized program has taught over 13000 Portland-area owners and managers how to keep illegal activity out of rentals, maintain property in compliance with City maintenance regulations, and partner with City services/programs both to provide habitable housing and protect their residential property investment...
Oregon Courts Remain Open on Fridays (except for March 13)
Posted on March 13, 2009Update: In case you haven?t heard (anyone?), the Oregon Courts will remain open on Fridays, except for Friday, March 13th, 2009. Stories about this are at all news outlets, radio, TV, newspaper, and online.See the Legislature's press release about this good news...
Don?t Treat Your Lawyer Like a Button
Posted on March 13, 2009The very funny title leads into a very, very interesting blog post from BlawgIT. I love it also because it ties in with what law librarians say all the time:Don't Treat Your Law Librarian Like a Lawyer! Law librarians know and teach legal research. If you have a legal problem, ask a law librarian how to research it...
Two (maybe 3!) More FREE Legal Research Databases
Posted on March 13, 2009A post at the King County Law Library blog reminded me to update my own sidebar list of ?Legal Research - Free? list with ALSO -- see Legal Resources On-line: Check This Out:?American Law Sources on-Line (ALSO) provides free legal resources online. This website includes information about law libraries, federal courts, bar associations, legal forms, and government websites?...
Access to Justice in Oregon (with an antipasto of Firefighters and Drug Courts)
Posted on March 13, 2009Two news articles that ran this week in the Oregonian shared a theme that I wish would carry through to another story I?ll tell in a separate blog post. Before getting to that, I?m talking about these two stories:1) Multnomah County's drug court faces budget ax, by Aimee Green, The Oregonian, Tuesday March 10, 2009?A county department that funds a world-recognized drug rehabilitation program is offering to sacrifice it to help balance Multnomah County's budget...
Public Sector, and Public Servant, Blogging and Blogosphere Issues
Posted on March 10, 2009I?ve been talking a lot lately with others about public sector blogging and I thought it might be useful to start posting about the issue.(And, some of the best, and most productive, discussions I?ve had have been with the people at the Multnomah County Library who drafted these: a) Social Software Policy for Multnomah County Library Users and b) Blog Comment Guidelines)Blogging issues that arise in the Public Sector World include technological, budget, practical, policy, politics, and literary ones, and, of course, legal questions and puzzles...
Sheriff or Police Search and Seizure Inventories
Posted on March 09, 2009We are occasionally asked if we have police or sheriff?s inventory checklists of property seized. I suppose some libraries somewhere have printed checklists, but for the most part the general research rule is:Each jurisdiction has its own procedure and you usually need to look in the code (the city code, county code, state police regulations, etc...
Foreclosure Prevention Event at the Memorial Coliseum (Oregon)
Posted on March 06, 2009May 2, 2009: Foreclosure Prevention Event at the Memorial Coliseum (Oregon)If you haven?t quite grasped the magnitude of the foreclosure problem, notice that this is a foreclosure ?event? (not a "meeting," a "presentation," or "seminar," but a foreclosure EVENT) that is being held in the Memorial Coliseum, which has a seating capacity of over 12,000...
Fedtime 101: Leveling the Playing Field with Ex-con Coaches (aka jailhouse lawyers)
Posted on March 01, 2009The Meaning of "Illegal Gambling": Why Legal Definitions Matter
Posted on February 26, 2009You might not have read this chapter book, Frindle, by Andrew Clements, but ...Lawyers aren?t the only ones who want to know Definitions, Words & Phrases, and the Meaning of it All (and even the Meaning of Liff itself). Non-attorneys frequently ask us to show them where a word or phrase is defined, surely one of the hardest things a law librarian has to explain to a pro se litigant...
Oregon Historical Society Library Closing
Posted on February 26, 2009Oregon Historical Society Library ClosingA librarian colleague brought this to my attention:?Researchers needing to access OHS collections before then should make plans immediately?. Due to budget cuts, the Oregon Historical Society Research Library will be closing on February 28, 2009...
Reserve Your Child?s Domain Name - Now? (With a side of SEO)
Posted on February 25, 2009From Jim Calloway?s Law Practice Tips blog, link to: Site of the Week: The Invent Blog®, and find this provocative suggestion: Purchase Your Kid?s Domain Names (and their nicknames, maybe, while you?re at it? :-)It?s not enough to feed, clothe, school, and love them ?...
Landlord and Property Manager Training in Washington County (Oregon)
Posted on February 25, 2009On March 14, 2009, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m:The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Westside Crime Prevention Coalition is offering an 8-hour training class help landlords and managers protect property from illegal activity, learn to properly screen prospective tenants, and gain an understanding of landlord rights and responsibilities...
Pocket U.S. Constitutions on Sale
Posted on February 25, 2009Our source for our most popular pocket U.S. Constitutions is having a sale: 100 for $30: http://www.nccs.net/ (the National Center for Constitutional Studies).(Constitution Day isn't until September, but I like to think ahead :-)We get pocket U.S. Constitutions from other sources too, but these are the most popular ones and excellent value.
Criminal Background Checks on Employees and Volunteers
Posted on February 24, 2009A recent story in the Portland Tribune (and many other similar ones lately) reminded me how many questions law librarians get from people who think conducting background checks is a quick, easy, cheap, and routine thing to do ?on the Internet.?Volunteering ...
How to Find a Lawyer in Oregon: Free, Low-Cost, Licensed
Posted on February 24, 2009In addition to the usual source, Oregon State Bar (OSB) Information and Referral Service, don?t forget there are other sources of referrals. For example:1) For attorneys who specialize in elder law issues.2) For attorneys who specialize in nonprofit issues...
Filing for Bankruptcy without an Attorney
Posted on February 23, 2009Information on bankruptcy for people who do not have lawyers is available from a U.S. Court website, Filing for Bankruptcy without an Attorney. (You can also link to the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Oregon.)Thanks to the Lane County Law Library Newsletter for the lead!
Foreclosures: Trail of Tears (but for whom?)
Posted on February 23, 2009Was it Kierkegaard who said: "Life is lived forward but understood backward??In any case, the sentiment comes to mind when reading this article reprinted in Sunday?s print Oregonian Business Section:?Three words fend off foreclosure: Produce the note,? by Mitch Stacy (AP)(Use Google and the search words, mitch stacy foreclosure, to find the article today, which is not yet findable on Oregonlive...
Following a House Bill in the Oregon Legislature: Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Posted on February 20, 2009Legal research is seldom quick and easy, but it sure is interesting. If you are at all inclined to dip your toe(s) into the Oregon Legislative process, here's one way to start. Let's say you want more information about a bill that was mentioned in a recent news story...
Who?s Regulating the Regulators?
Posted on February 18, 2009In my law library we not infrequently refer people to state (or federal) regulators, whether the question is about professional licensing, premises inspections, or other service within the purview of a government regulator.But who regulates the regulator? This is not a new question and in fact has probably been around since there was anything to regulate (including the oldest of the oldest of professions)...
Peanut Product Recall Continues
Posted on February 18, 2009The list of peanut products affected seems to grow every day. Please keep up with it if you eat or if anyone you love eats, especially if you eat any processed food: the FDA website
Washington State Supreme Court Briefs Now Online
Posted on February 17, 2009KCLL Klues reports that Washington State appellate court briefs from June 2006 forward are now online.For Oregon appellate court briefs, see the guide on How to Find Oregon Appellate Court briefs. (And see here for more information on appeals in Oregon courts...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #15 (Article IV, Legislative Department, Sections 7-9)
Posted on February 13, 2009Links to Previous Bites can be found here at, "Oregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far"Today: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #15 (Article IV, Legislative Department, Sections 7-9) copied from this version at the Oregon Legislature's website)ARTICLE IVLEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT?...
Lawyer Billing, Agita, and the Absence of A [Year?s] Best Legal Writing Compilation
Posted on February 12, 2009This recent post at f/k/a will take you to previous ones on lawyer billing, all worth reading. It will also take you to a definition of agita, a condition not unknown to those of us who don?t get a chance to get it all out of our systems (though blogging does help)...
Missing Bodies and Death Declarations (with a side of road kill and zombie debt - oh my!)
Posted on February 08, 2009How do you declare someone dead when there is no body?I should probably save this for a Day of the Dead post, but, appearances notwithstanding, I?m blogging about Legal Research and the Living so ... full speed ahead. (Previous posts about road kill & zombie debt...
Hyperlinking, Newspapers Disappoint Us, and the Oregon National Guard
Posted on February 06, 2009It won?t be the first time (nor the last) that I connect dots in a way that makes your eyes cross, but work with me here:(First, here is some comic relief from Courtoons (thanks to Jim Calloway for the lead!).Now, full speed ahead:Once upon a time (pre-web days), one of my favorite ways to teach legal research, especially administrative and legislative research, was to hand out a copy of a newspaper article (on a current hot topic) where reporters would cite to a dozen or more government documents...
Peanut Recall Includes ?Organic? Items
Posted on February 06, 2009Woe unto you (and salmonella is definitely a woe) if you're not checking this list regularly. New recalled products are added daily:Link here for the FDA?s database of peanut contaminated products.Previous posts here and here.
What Happens When Your Oregon Lawyer Dies?
Posted on February 06, 2009First things first: If your lawyer dies, call his/her law firm. If your lawyer dies and the law firm has died too (e.g. if the lawyer was a solo practitioner) and you want to know what happened to your case files, if the law firm no longer exists, or any other similar scenario occurs ? call the Oregon State Bar (OSB): 503-684-3763...
Oregon Probate Law: Unsecured Creditors, Non-probate Property, and Appealability
Posted on February 06, 2009?Rights of an Unsecured Creditor to Recover from a Decedent?s Nonprobate Property,? by Daniel C. Re and Hurley Re, in the January 2009 issue of the OSB Estate Planning and Administration section newsletter (previous issues online).Another article in the same issue: ?Appealability of Decisions in Probate and Trust Proceedings,? by Philip N...
Oregon and Electronically Stored Information
Posted on February 05, 2009Willamette Law Review (Winter 2008, vol. 45, no. 2) has this article: ?A Last Vestige of Oregon?s Wild West: Oregon?s Lawless Approach to Electronically Stored Information," by Leroy J. Tornquist & Christine R. Olson.(This article is not yet at the Willamette Law Review website, but will be, eventually...
Measure 37 and 49 Commentary
Posted on February 05, 2009Researching legislative history can sometimes require more than plowing through dusty hearing transcripts. Guides to legislative history and intent always suggest searching the secondary literature, e.g. newspaper and journal articles that are written before the legislation is passed, shortly thereafter, and reflective articles long after the law has been enacted:Willamette Law Review (Winter 2008, vol...
U.S. Senator Reid and Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown
Posted on February 04, 2009If you think federalism means that in the United States the federal government operates independently of state government, or vice versa, see this blog post for an interesting civics lesson:Isaac Laquedem?s take: Harry Reid gives Kate Brown an unexpected power over the United States Senate
Keeping Up With the Judiciary in Oregon: Willamette Law Online
Posted on February 04, 2009For many of us, keeping on top of federal case law is a lower priority than tracking changes to our state?s laws. But we still like, and need, to stay in the loop, especially since these cases affect our day-to-day lives as much as our own state laws do: family law, criminal procedure, employement law, etc...
Oregon Attorneys Gone Wild: Free Legal Information and Advice
Posted on February 02, 2009Oregon, and especially the Portland-metro area, is awash in lawyers talking about the law to all and sundry - for no charge. (You don?t even have to buy them lunch - how much better than that can it get?)There are pedestrian and bicycle legal clinics, bankruptcy clinics, small business legal clinics, homebuyer clinics, patent law programs (e...
Does Your Lawyer Know What Metadata Is?
Posted on February 02, 2009I hear far too many lawyers say, ?I don?t understand technology. I do just fine with the telephone and my legal assistant.? This is a far more dangerous situation than ?I don?t need no stinkin? email.?As a public librarian, I?m in favor of self-help and I know my way around a law library, but I?m also smart enough to know when to hire lawyers (and doctors)...
Justice Bedsworth Gets Education: Via Planet Mercury and the Donner Pass
Posted on February 02, 2009Justice Bedsworth welcomes you to February 2009, via the heat of August 2008 (LOL!):MCLEmentary: ?Beds has to forego a forgettable knowledge seminar.?, by Justice William W. Bedsworth:Excerpt: ?The National Judicial College is located in Reno, Nevada...
Free Legal Information and Education in Oregon
Posted on February 01, 2009Oregon and especially the Portland-metro area is awash in lawyers talking about the law to all and sundry - for no charge. There are pedestrian and bicycle legal clinics, bankruptcy clinics, small business legal clinics, homebuyer clinics, patent law programs (e...
Sailboats Can Be "Floating Homes" in Oregon
Posted on January 30, 2009The OSB Real Estate and Land Use Digest, vol. 30, no. 5, December 2008) discusses Ramsum v. Woldridge, 222 Or App 109, 192 P.3d 851 (2008):Excerpt from the case:"EDMONDS, P. J.Defendants lived on their sailboats at Eagle's Cove Marina, where they rented moorage slips from plaintiff, the owner of Eagle's Cove...
More Stunning Peanut Recall News
Posted on January 29, 2009More news today on the peanut recall front, from the Washington Post, in a rather stunning announcement:Every Peanut Product From Ga. Plant Recalled: FDA: Toss Out Anything Made in 2007-08By Lyndsey Layton, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, January 29, 2009; Page A01Excerpt: ?In one of the largest food recalls in history, the Food and Drug Administration asked retailers, manufacturers and consumers yesterday to throw out every product made in the past two years from peanuts processed by a Georgia plant at the heart of a deadly nationwide outbreak of salmonella illness?...
What Peanut Paste (butter) Recall?
Posted on January 29, 2009I still run into people (parents! yikes!) who say,?what peanut paste (or butter) recall?? Duh.** FDA website and here and here.** CDC website and here and here.Maybe we still need paper boys (and girls) running through the streets shouting out headlines: PEANUT PASTE RECALL! READ ALL ABOUT IT! DON?T EAT YOUR PEANUT PASTE!In any event, don?t eat products with peanut paste in them without doing a little homework...
Metro (Oregon) Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol
Posted on January 29, 2009For your inner-detective/sleuth ... bet you didn't know this could be a career - and maybe a darned interesting one for some!Metro?s Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol?Metro's RID Patrol tackles the problem of illegal dumping in multiple ways: cleaning up dump sites, investigating evidence found at the dump sites, issuing citations to the guilty parties, investigating haulers that are illegally dumping and working with communities that need education and help to reduce dumping in their neighborhood...
Obama?s ?Difficult Tasks? and Lawyers Who Need Web Sites
Posted on January 29, 2009As President Obama has said, ?... there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.? (Inaugural Address, 1/20/09) ...My view (below) is from the perspective of a law librarian and of someone who hires lawyers, so think of me as a Super (and maybe very annoying) Client, but who also talks to hundreds of people who are trying to find the right lawyer:Two things lawyers who want to make a living (as lawyers) should never say, but that I hear said every day:1) ?I don?t have an email address...
Popular Mechanics and the Law (worst case scenarios, limousines, and plane crashes)
Posted on January 23, 2009I?m thinking about adding Popular Mechanics website to my list of places to visit weekly.Interesting, and well written, stuff. Take a look:1) Worst Case Scenarios2) Presidential limousines, history of3) Sully?s (US Air plane) landing
Libraries, Peace Processes, and Equal Access
Posted on January 23, 2009If you know anything at all about Columbia, this article will be a fascinating counterpoint:Libraries sow urban peace in Colombia, by Andrea Domínguez 14/01/2009Excerpts: ?According to Prada, Bogotá libraries have become an important tool for social equality, they are open to all regardless of their social, economic or cultural background...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #14 (Article IV, Legislative Department, Sections 2-6)
Posted on January 23, 2009Links to Previous Bites can be found here at, "Oregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far"Today: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #14 (Article IV, Legislative Department, Sections 2-6, copied from this version at the Oregon Legislature's website)ARTICLE IVLEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT? (previous sections found in this Small Bite)2...
Does Your Car Repair Shop Give You an Estimate Before Making Repairs?
Posted on January 23, 2009It should and you can always refuse to do business with them if they don?t (and put it in writing, please). But that?s too easy. There needs to be legislation requiring them to do this!For a public policy wonk there are few things more fun than watching the Bills Go By...
WHO Surgical Checklist: This SOP May Save Lives and Lawsuits
Posted on January 22, 2009The stories (e.g. here and here) we?ve been reading recently about the surgical checklist from the World Health Organization (their Safe Surgery Saves Lives Challenge) have some of us wondering why all surgical teams aren?t required to use them.Even under the extreme emergency of ?birds in engines,? the pilots of that plane that landed in the Hudson pulled out their own checklist...
Project Gutenberg, UGC, and Librarians
Posted on January 21, 2009If you?ve ever wanted to contribute to Project Gutenberg, this article will be helpful (and fun to read if you like creating UGC (user generated content)):U-Content: Project Gutenberg, Me, and You, by Nicholas TomaiuoloAnd it includes an interview with Michael Hart, one of the original open sourcers (or maybe I should say sorcerers, since it is really is magic)...
50+ Ways to Track Website Traffic
Posted on January 16, 2009From iLibrarian, link to the 50+ Ways to Track Website Traffic story.
Credit Freezes and Credit Reports in Oregon
Posted on January 16, 2009I was reading the September 2008 Consumer Reports and their story, "ID Leaks: A Surprising Source is Your Government at Work," reminded me that I wanted to post about their Consumer?s Union ?How to Protect Yourself? guide, their Financial Privacy Now website...
When Do I Have to Vacate My House After the Oregon Foreclosure Auction?
Posted on January 14, 2009Lots of people think that answers to legal question are online. Hah!Law librarians and lawyer know that few, if any, answers to legal ?questions? are ?online.? "Laws" are online (e.g. the ORS), but answers to legal problems are not; answers require research, study, synthesis, conclusions, negotiation, more research, study, and great leaps of faith, not to mention luck...
"Kids Turn" in Washington County (Oregon)
Posted on January 13, 2009We get regular requests for the Kid's Turn phone number, so here it is: 503- 846-0665.This is a parenting program used in Washington County (Oregon).You can read more about parenting classes and related Oregon family law matters here and here and here and here.
Leaving Children Home Alone (in Oregon) - Update
Posted on January 13, 2009Some who just left me a Comment on my previous leaving children home alone post asked if there were any laws ?about 2, 3 or 4 children being left in one home alone that are just friends or days alone or over night alone??I wish there was a simple answer, but there is not...
(Soon to be) President Obama Inauguration Sites and Schedules
Posted on January 12, 2009On this deeply moving and historic day ?We will be fairly low-tech in my Law Library on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, with the TV tuned in. Laptop users can connect through our wireless service:Inaugural information and schedules of events:1) Presidential Inaugural Committee site2) From the Senate website, including the weather report3) U...
Pedestrians: Learn Your Rights at Willamette Pedestrian Coalition Clinic
Posted on January 12, 2009The Willamette Pedestrian Coalition is sponsoring a Pedestrian Legal Clinic. Visit the WPC?s website for dates, times, locations of the clinics.The WPC also has information about grants to enforce crosswalk safety laws and lots more at the website. (It's also a very nice website - easy to read and navigate...
Oregon Robot Theft (kidnapping?)
Posted on January 12, 2009Poor little robot! First it?s stolen (kidnapped?) and then it?s drowned (murdered?)?Update (January 11, 2009): Deputies Recover Stolen RobotPIO: Sgt. Bob RayOn January 11, 2009, Washington County Sheriff?s Deputies recovered a stolen robot from Commonwealth Lake in the Beaverton area...
Oregon Legislature, 75th Session, Convenes Monday, Jan. 12, 2009
Posted on January 12, 2009Oregon Legislature, 75th Session, Convenes Monday, Jan. 12, 2009:1) Welcome new and returning legislators2) Find Your Legislator and Send Email to Your Legislator.3) Follow, and search, legislation being considered.4) Watch and/or listen to hearings (they?ll be going digital soon)5) Learn about the Legislature?s website and the legislative process.
U.S. Constitution, 17th Amendment: Election of Senators
Posted on January 11, 2009In case you were wondering about the 17th Amendment (from here):Amendment XVIIThe Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures...
Job opening: Law library assistant (part-time), Hillsboro, Oregon
Posted on January 11, 2009Position: Part-time Law Library Assistant, Washington County Law Library, Hillsboro, OregonDeadline for applications: 1/30/09Application URL:Washington County Human Resources Department (or http://tinyurl.com/yr7qr7)The Washington County Law Library is seeking candidates to fill a part-time paraprofessional position in the county law library...
Special State Criminal Courts for Veterans
Posted on January 07, 2009I read an interesting story in the National Law Journal (12/22/08, vol. 31, no. 17, p.1) about special state courts just for veterans. It?s free on their website (thank you NLJ!):Courts for veterans spreading across U.S.: Wave of vets in courts trips alarm,? by Lynne Marek, December 22, 2008:Excerpt: ?State criminal courts devoted to U...
Deep Web Research 2009
Posted on January 06, 2009LLRX dot com also has this info-packed article: Deep Web Research 2009, by Marcus P. Zillman, December 28, 2008.
RefDesk dot Com: A Good Place to Explore
Posted on January 06, 2009If you haven?t explored RefDesk dot com recently, take a tour, from their site map or their FAQ, from their Ref Site of the Day, or however else you want to wander.
Avatar abuse: Bedsworth Ponders the Divorce-Criminal-Sentencing Law Nexus
Posted on January 04, 2009Justice Bedsworth welcomes you to January 2009, with a legal puzzle of almost, hmm, biblical proportion.Excerpt: ?? Ms. Doe(4) closed the book on Chopin and Haydn one day and fired up the computer for a round of monster-battling, only to receive the disconcerting news that her virtual spouse had divorced her avatar...
Setting Up Business as a Debt Collector in Oregon
Posted on January 04, 2009We occasionally get questions from people who want to set up business as debt collectors. It?s a tough business and I recommend an apprenticeship first, but who am I to stop the dreamers who want to set up shop, in the food business, in retail, in debt collection, in private investigation, or any other small business endeavor...
Confused About the Google Book Publishing Settlement?
Posted on December 31, 2008LLRX dot com has a December 2008 article that may help you disentangle the settlement agreement: A Guide for the Perplexed: Libraries and the Google Library Settlement
The Mensa Constitution
Posted on December 31, 2008Did you know that Mensa has a Constitution (linked to from their Other Resources page)?I wonder if Densa does.
Oregon and Public Records: OMB Watch and OpenUpOregon
Posted on December 30, 2008Have you seen this Moving toward a 21st Century Right to Know Agenda from OMB Watch (Recommendations to President-elect Obama and Congress)?See also the professor who Commented on my post, Oregon Public Records Law Disclosure and Email: about how the DOJ website can be less than helpful, though I am optimistic that 2009 will bring improvements...
Legal Help for Pro Se Litigants from the Oregon State Bar
Posted on December 30, 2008The Oregon State Bar (OSB) Information and Referral Service can refer you to an attorney who will handle your case OR they can refer you to a coach. The OSB is exploring more unbundled (aka limited scope) legal assistance options. In the meantime, you can phone them and ask for an attorney to help you with:* Small Claims Coaching* Pro Se Coaching* Document Review(I previously posted about unbundling, limited scope legal assistance, and lawyers fees here...
Opt Out of Receiving Paper Phone Books (in Oregon)
Posted on December 30, 2008Information and phone numbers from the DEQ News Release:Resolve to Opt out of Phone Books in 2009Excerpt from news release:??Contact phone book publishers to opt out or reduce your phone book order. For DEX/Qwest, go to dexknows.com and select "Directory Options" at the bottom...
Oregon Constitution: Wikisource, Wikiproject Oregon, and More
Posted on December 29, 20081) The Oregon Constitution has been wikified, but not just here (or the Ballotpedia version or this Indopedia version) but also by the good people at WikiProject Oregon who are wikifiing the Oregon Constitution, creating a Wikisource edition.2) How to Find the Most Current Additions to the Oregon Constitution:a) Given our rather interesting (you can?t make me use those other adjectives that spring to mind) system of amending the Oregon Constitution, I thought a few remarks on finding the most current version of the Oregon Constitution might be in order:b) The version at the Oregon Legislature?s website does not now (as of this date) include changes to the Constitution made in Special Sessions...
Clackamas County?s Four-Day Work Week and Sheriff?s YouTube Debut
Posted on December 26, 2008One doesn?t think of Clackamas County, Oregon as being on the cutting edge, but sometimes ?.1) Four-day work week: A lot of the country is watching how Clackamas County's one-year experiment with a four-day work week fares. For some (e.g. commuters), it?s a winner, but not for all:Clackamas County government's four-day workweek draws protests, by Peter Zuckerman, The Oregonian, Thursday December 25, 2008:Excerpt: ?Clackamas County's four-day workweek skirts state law and punishes the struggling real estate industry, according to critics of the county's new schedule...
Home on the Internet: Facebook, Service, and the Australian Courts
Posted on December 26, 2008An interesting (but not earth shattering) case from Australia: the court (Master Harper) allowed a mortgage lender to serve the homeowners ? at their Facebook page.Find stories on the web, using these search words (or others of your choosing): australia court service mortgage facebook CanberraMake sure you read at least a few stories out of Australia, not just the U...
Oregon Media Shield Law (and Bloggers) Case Documents
Posted on December 24, 2008My previous post, Ayyoub, Clackamas County (Oregon) Blogging Case, and SCRIBD, did not identify the documents that I uploaded to SCRIBD about this case. They are:1) Judge Redman, Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge, Pro Tem September 30, 2008, decision2) Order Denying Plaintiff?s Motion to Compel3) Plaintiff?s Motion to Compel Production of Documents from Webhosts4) Third-party The Portland Mercury?s Opposition to Plaintiff?s Motion to Compel5) Plaintiff?s Motion to Compel6) Civil Subpoena Duces TecumRe: 2007 ORS 44...
?When pizzas are outlawed only outlaws will have pizzas?
Posted on December 24, 2008Another reason to read Bruce Schneier on Security ? the (often) dark humor of the people who Comment on his blog. See, for example, this post Food in Defense of a Crime and the Comments. (The Comment I quote in the title field was posted at 7:44 on 12/22/08...
Funeral Law in Oregon
Posted on December 23, 2008It's not enough to sort out the papers, the wills, the taxes, the trusts, the long-lost relatives; you also need to think about burial and funerals. The law has a long reach.Where to begin if you want to know about funeral law?1) The place to begin your research is the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board?s webpage...
Oregon Public Records Law Disclosure and Email
Posted on December 19, 2008On the Internet, strongEverything is Public/strong. emRepeat often.br //embr /Yes, we all live and will probably die, by email and other electronic communications, but you can also think about the words emPrivacy/em, emConfidentiality/em, and emPublic Records/em (emand maybe also the word Exemption/em)...
Food Liability Law
Posted on December 19, 2008The a href="http://www.foodliabilitylaw.com/"Food Liability Law Blog/a has some interesting posts, including this one that features an Oregon and Washington public health officer: a href="http://www.foodliabilitylaw.com/2008/12/articles/food-litigation-tips/is-it-a-really-foodborne-illness/"?Is it Really a Food-Born Illness?/a?br /br /a href="http://www...
Ayyoub, Clackamas County (Oregon) Blogging Case, and SCRIBD
Posted on December 18, 2008I don?t get too many opportunities to work through my ?what I want to learn today? list (emmy/em a href="http://www.linkedin.com/"emLinkedIn/em /aemsite is languishing ? sigh/em), but 12/18/08 was a a href="http://www.scribd.com/"SCRIBD /aday (emor more accuately, a SCRIBD 30 minutes/em) span style="font-size:85%;"(I really just like saying emSCRIBD, SCRIBD, SCRIBD :-)/embr //spanbr /In honor of a href="http://www...
Severe Weather Shelters around Oregon
Posted on December 17, 2008This unusual, and persistent, cold, ice, and snow will be with us for a while. In a href="http://www.co.washington.or.us/cgi/home/washco.pl"Washington County /a(home to a href="http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/law_lib/law_lib.htm"my library/a), you can view a a href="http://www...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #13
Posted on December 17, 2008Links to Previous emBites/em can be found here at, "a href="http://oregonlegalresearch.blogspot.com/2008/10/oregon-constitution-in-small-bites.html"emOregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far/em/a"br /br /strongToday/strong: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #13: emArticle IV, Legislative Department, Sections 1-1b/em (emcopied from /ema href="http://www...
Volunteering in Portland, Oregon
Posted on December 16, 2008If you want to volunteer your time (vs. your money) but have only a few hours or days, here and there, don?t forget about this website for the Portland Metro Area: Hands On Greater Portland.
AARP Bylaws: Getting Trapped in the Web
Posted on December 16, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:If you are looking for AARP bylaws, either the national ones or for the Oregon Chapter, please contact AARP directly. The Washington County Law Librarian does not have them.A couple of years ago, in response to a patron?s request, I sent out an email message to colleagues on a law librarian listserve asking if anyone had found an online source for AARP bylaws...
Legal Resources for Oregonians with Disabilities
Posted on December 12, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:We came across this Oregon Department Human Services website, with a variety of legal links on the following topics:1) Planning2) Power of Attorney3) Wills & trusts4) Guardians & Conservators5) Finding an elder law attorney6) Disability issuesServices for Seniors and People with DisabilitiesMore on these issues here and here and here.
Portland (Oregon) Tuba Christmas: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Posted on December 12, 2008If you?ll allow me to go off-topic for a moment, the Portland Tuba Christmas (see here also) event is Saturday, December 13th, 2008.This is definitely a Do Not Miss event for everyone ? and I mean everyone ? at least everyone who likes to laugh. We might even have snow!
Oregon Revised Statutes vs. Oregon Laws
Posted on December 11, 2008I?ve blogged about this before (here), but it is worth mentioning again (in different words) ? we get lots (and lots) of questions from people who would not have questions at all, or their legal reference questions would be quite different, if they understood the following...
Pro Se Litigants: Acting as Your Own Lawyer
Posted on December 10, 2008The King County Law Library blogs about More People are Acting as their Own Lawyers, linking to this story:?More people acting as their own lawyers: Courts clog up as Americans represent themselves, even in complex cases,? updated 2:28 p.m. PT, Mon., Nov...
What Does One Do With a Bouncing (NSF) Check?
Posted on December 10, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:This question comes to law librarians with a variety of different back stories, but the gist of the question remains:Question: What DO you do with a check that keeps getting returned for insufficient or non-sufficient funds?Answer: Believe it or not, sometimes the answer is simple...
Oregon Landlord-Tenant Law: Habitability Questions
Posted on December 08, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:Rental property Habitability questions can be separate from Repair questions for landlord and tenants, but the two can overlap, as you might imagine.Habitability questions we hear in the law library can be a broad as: what does a habitable apartment looks like? Or, as specific as: does an apartment have to have a window large enough for me to climb out?There are a number of excellent sources of information on Oregon landlord-tenant law, online (e...
Marketers of Mystery Shopper Scam Settle with FTC
Posted on December 05, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:See the press release at the FTC: Marketers of Mystery Shopper Scam Settle with FTCExcerpt:?An operation that lured consumers with promises that they could earn big money as trained and certified ?mystery shoppers? has agreed to pay $850,000 to settle charges of deceptive marketing and contempt...
Paralegals are not Lawyers, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Posted on December 05, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:Hot on the heels of yet another law library patron asking me to refer them to a paralegal instead of a lawyer (and we never, ever refer anyone to paralegals (aghhhh) or to specific lawyers ? just lawyer referral services) and my posting the other day about Liability for Lawyer Referrals, I read this decision by the Oregon Court of Appeals, Wythe v...
Liability for Lawyer Referrals in Oregon
Posted on December 03, 2008Law librarians never make referrals to individual lawyers. Never. Never. Never. But, others can and do. Lawyers do and can, friends can and do. (And the best bartenders often have the best recommendations - they hear it ALL - but you still have to check the attorney's bona fides!) The Oregon State Bar (OSB) Referral and Information Service can and does make referrals to individual attorneys...
Oregon Debt Collection Woes and Rogues
Posted on December 02, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:The flurry of debt collector news stories this past week leads me to post a few of the places to start your research if you have unpaid bills and debt collectors contacting you ? and if you want to speak out to your state legislators (just in time for the beginning of the 2009 Oregon Legislative Session)...
Wrongful discharge and retaliation claims in Oregon
Posted on December 02, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:There is an interesting article in the Fall 2008 Litigation Journal, The Diminishing Viability of Wrongful Discharge Claims, pp. 6-9.(I also want to express my gratitude to the members of the OSB Litigation Section for making this newsletter freely available online...
Oregon?s Death with Dignity Law: A Ten-Year Review Article
Posted on December 01, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:The Neuroethics & Law Blog reports on (and links to) this article: Ten Years of ?Death with Dignity? in the New Atlantis.The New Atlantis (a Journal of Technology & Society) article is here.I posted previously on Oregon?s Death with Dignity law here...
It?s not Easy Being Judge or a Marmoset or Pregnant in the Carpool Lane or ? Snowball?
Posted on December 01, 2008It?s also not easy to do the right thing for a man and his monkey.The Tyranny of Small Laws: Beds illuminates the way too difficult life of a compassionate bench officer (by Justice William W. Bedsworth):Excerpt:'G.K. Chesterton said, ?When you break the big laws, you do not get liberty...
Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy, in Oregon and the Nation
Posted on December 01, 20081) I just came across the American Bar Association?s Ten Steps to Protecting the Legal Rights of Breast Cancer Patients, including their Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy Project initiative.2) In Washington State, the Bar Association has released a resource guide (the link from this article may not work, in which case, link to the resource guide here)...
Oregon Road Kill Law
Posted on November 28, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:There are a lot of questions law librarians respond to that we would never, ever in a million years blog about, but others are, uh, fair game. This is one of them:Q: Are there laws about road kill, what we can do with it, what happens if we come upon it, etc...
Appealing Your Case in Oregon: Legal Research Resources
Posted on November 28, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:(This is a companion blog post to the previous ones on Writing (and Finding) Oregon Appellate Court Briefs and on Filing and Drafting Oregon Appellate Court Documents.)We?re working on a more comprehensive research guide of resources for people who are [contemplating] appealing their cases to the Oregon courts of appeals, but in the meantime, look for these at your law library...
Oregon Supplemental Local Rules and Legal Forms
Posted on November 25, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:This is a follow-up to my previous post for those of you looking for Oregon legal forms.Another important place to look for official, court-sanctioned, Oregon legal forms will be in the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Circuit Court Supplemental Local Rules (SLR)...
Pardon Me, but How Do I Request a Pardon from the Governor of Oregon?
Posted on November 24, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:How does one request a pardon? I wish I could say, ?let me count the ways.? But I can?t and highly recommend you talk to your lawyer, if you have one, or that you call the Oregon State Bar (OSB) to find a lawyer who can advise you (or read this How to Find a Lawyer in Oregon guide, which also links to the OSB)...
Water Law in Oregon
Posted on November 24, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:It can been said that future wars will be over food and water, especially water. The future is here and the wars are on, though for some (not all) that war is only between people wielding lawyers rather than swords:Navigating Water Law in Oregon, by Janine Robben, in the November issue of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin, is a good read...
Oregon Foreclosures
Posted on November 21, 2008Now if only we could stop looking to Congress to come to our rescue (Congress? To the rescue? Good grief!) from the stock market fearmongers and foreclosure doomsayers (and yes, Congress does have a role in fixing some problems, but so do we!) -- but let?s also keep moving along with a little education and self-help of our own:In my previous post on foreclosures in Oregon, I mentioned that the Oregon State Bar (OSB) was about to release two new Legal Links programs...
Writer Woes: Publisher Scams and Bankrupt Publishers
Posted on November 21, 2008Writers have excellent online and professional organization resources (including libraries!) for researching the publishing business, but two topics a lot of writers don?t think about, until it?s too late:1) Publishing scams (see, e.g. Writers Beware, from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc...
Small Business Legal Advice
Posted on November 20, 2008I read this Small talk blurb in the Thursday, October 23, 2008, Oregonian, and found some good advice and resources for small business owners:Excerpts from Small talk:??Many small-business owners believe you should never go it alone -- you should always have a support system, whether it consists of financial advisers, mentors, fellow entrepreneurs or consultants, to guide you...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #12, Article III, Distribution of Powers
Posted on November 20, 2008Links to Previous Bites can be found at, Oregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far.Today: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #12, Article III, Distribution of PowersARTICLE IIIDISTRIBUTION OF POWERSSec. 1. Separation of powersSec 2. Budgetary control over executive and administrative officers and agenciesSec...
"Understanding Attorney Fees" Booklet from HALT
Posted on November 19, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:HALT has a new (free and downloadable) booklet on Understanding Attorney Fees: So You Can Keep Legal Costs Down. You can also link to it from the HALT homepage and from their Legal Information Clearinghouse webpage...
Copyrighting Legal Documents
Posted on November 17, 2008The flux is at it again. You know, when some relatively rare topic arises in conversation and then it comes up again and again. (I blogged about the flux a long while ago, here, but I was in a chatty mood so it's a longer post than you might be up for...
Service Animals and the Law: Update
Posted on November 14, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:I posted recently about Service Dogs (and other animals) and in a recent Saturday?s Oregonian (11/8/08) there was a letter to the editor with a link to another resource on Service Animals:1) U.S. Department of Justice: type in service animal (singular) or service animals (plural) for different results...
Social Security Numbers: Privacy and Protection
Posted on November 14, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:Law librarians often get questions from patrons about their Social Security Numbers. Here is an interesting report:King County Law Library Klues blog post on Social Security numbers.
Legal Writing: Et al, Serial Commas, and Latin Words Bans
Posted on November 13, 2008I was trying to decide if et al needed a serial comma ? and I came across this:In Bournemouth, England at least, ?plain language? means you can?t use these: E.g., bona fide, and more (etc. too)Excerpt from the story at Newstin dot com: Town halls ban staff from using Latin words, in case they confuse immigrants:?Bournemouth Council, which has the motto Pulchritudo et Salubritas - meaning beauty and health - has banned staff from using 19 Latin words Town halls have banned employees from using Latin words on documents because they could confuse people who don't speak English as their first language...
Blog Search Engines
Posted on November 13, 2008In case you haven?t already seen this: Blog Search Engines, by Ann Smarty at Search Engine Journal.Thanks to iLibrarian for the lead.
Truck Drivers, Traffic Stops, and Oregon Trucker Weigh Stations
Posted on November 13, 2008From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:Public law librarians get the darnedest questions. It?s not so much the questions themselves, but that people think that we have answers to their questions. We don?t! But we like that people think about us when trying to solve their problems...
Oregon Family Law Resources:Collaboration and Beyond
Posted on November 10, 2008The Oregon family of ?family law attorneys? comprised of lawyers, judges, the state bar, family law facilitators, and others is amazing. This family works so well together. They may not think they do, but from this law librarian?s desk, I am grateful for all the family law resources they make available to client and pro se litigant alike...
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Posted on November 10, 2008If you use the OHS research library, mark your calendar with the info below. If you?ve never visited OHS and their library, you?ve missed an Oregon treasure. Plan a trip during the upcoming holiday season when there are so many other events drawing you to downtown Portland...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #11 (Article II, Sections, 18-24, Suffrage and Elections)
Posted on November 09, 2008Links to Previous Bites can be found here at, "Oregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far"Today: Article II, Sections 18-2418. Recall; meaning of words ?the legislative assembly shall provide?22. Political campaign contribution limitations23...
Churchill not Reagan? ?Trust, but Verify?
Posted on November 06, 2008Ye old, ?trust, but verify? cliché that many, most, attribute to Ronald Reagan, and that one hears way too often nowadays, surely goes back much further than Reagan, and likely even further back than the first place I read a version of it. It is certainly a turn of phrase that could easily be lifted (as have most of all our best lines :-) and used in other contexts, not excluding election campaigns:Winston Churchill?s, ?The Hinge of Fate,? 1950, Houghton Mifflin edition, page 687:??...
Gentlemen, Ladies ? Start your Resumes: the Plum Book is (almost) Open for Business
Posted on November 06, 2008It?s almost Plum Book time again (see also here for links to previous Plum Books). If you?ve ever thought about becoming a belly-of-the-beast public servant (appointed) and working in Washington D.C. for a new Presidential administration, now is the time to get your resume out and buffed up...
Nebraska?s Safe Haven Law and Oregon Parents
Posted on November 03, 2008Maybe it?s my bent sense of pathos and bathos, but I?ve found Nebraska?s safe haven law dilemma both incredibly heartbreaking and (darkly) humorous. The sadness is for both the parents and the children. The humor is reserved for the legislature that crafted this law with enormous Unintended Consequences...
Investigating Social Networks
Posted on November 03, 2008Visit the King County Law Library blog, KCLL Klues, for a research guide on Investigating Social Networks.This is a logical companion guide to their other skip-tracing and public records guides, which you can find here and that I posted about here.
Justice Bedsworth Feels The Pain of Cops and Prosecutors (but the dog gets fed!)
Posted on November 03, 2008Justice Bedsworth, of the California Court of Appeals, returns with his, not to be missed, November column in the Orange County Lawyer Magazine:?Is That a Kielbasa in Your Pocket? Time for year-end awards to be passed out. Here?s the first one?:??God, in Her wisdom, has seen to it that the Yankees still haven?t won a pennant in the 21st Century, so we know that there are some fronts on which the forces of evil and sloth have been reduced to a holding action...
Is Your Oregon License Plate behind Your Windshield (on the dashboard)?
Posted on October 31, 2008If your answer is yes, you might want to read this case from the Oregon Court of Appeals, filed 10/29/08.You can also see a judicial exercise of statutory interpretation at work. What does it mean that a registration plate be displayed "on the front * * * of the vehicle"?And, the next time you complain when the law librarian says, in response to your legal question (ahem, your legal problem), ?IT DEPENDS,? you might understand why...
Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals receives the 2008 Distinguished Service Award
Posted on October 31, 2008From the media release:?David V. Brewer, Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, recently received the 2008 Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest awards presented by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to a person who has made longstanding contributions to the improvement of the justice system and who has supported the mission of the National Center?...
Law of Unintended Consequences (or, beware of what you vote for)
Posted on October 30, 2008I enjoyed this timely story in today?s Portland Tribune: OOPS! Portland?s good intentions often have unexpected results, by Peter Korn, the Portland Tribune, Oct 30, 2008Excerpt: ??Economists call it the Law of Unintended Consequences, otherwise known as the Law of You Never Know...
How do I find out if someone in Oregon or Washington is married?
Posted on October 30, 2008You might think this is an easy question to answer. But it?s not!Oregon Vital Records needs to know in which county the license was issued. So, in Oregon, if you want to know if someone is married, you might need to check county by county.It?s no better in Washington State...
Section 1983 Litigation
Posted on October 30, 2008Speaking of Washington State, visit the King County Law Library website if you want a good starting place for learning about Section 1983 litigation (i.e. 42 U.S.C. §1983), take a look at their Section 1983 Civil Right Litigation Research Guide.
Oregon Dogs: Therapy, Assistance, and Companion Dogs
Posted on October 29, 2008Today?s print Oregonian story, The definition of service animals grows to include animals that provide companionship to their owners, by Andy Dworkin (The Oregonian, Tuesday October 28, 2008) reminded me that I hadn?t yet posted this blog-post I?ve been working on...
Free Online Legal Research Database: Public Library of Law (PLoS)
Posted on October 29, 2008We love all the hoopla about Public Resource dot com and their commitment to making the law accessible to all, without cost (or too many bells and whistles we don?t always need).However, there is another legal research database that does almost the same thing, but seems quite happy to stay quietly under the radar:The PLoL is a portion of the Fastcase database, and is offered freely by their owners...
"State-by-State Time Off to Vote Law" Chart
Posted on October 28, 2008Findlaw has a nifty State-by-State Time Off to Vote Law chart.(Thanks to Jim Calloway?s Law Practice Tips blog for the lead!)
More on Oregon Foreclosures
Posted on October 28, 2008Add the following to my previous post on Foreclosure research.A USA Today story on Oct. 24, 2008, Programs are available to help struggling homeowners, by Anna Bahney and Barbara Hagenbaugh, tells of these national programs: Hope for Homeowners, Hope Now Alliance, Bank of America, and Indymac Federal Bank, and has web links to all...
State Court Associations Galore
Posted on October 28, 2008Look at this list of state court and related associations. It takes a lot of expertise and networking to manage our courts. And this list doesn?t even include them all (e.g. Center for Legal and Court Technology), nor the state bar associations or the state, court, and county law librarian organizations that partner with them...
Turn Your Clocks BACK, November 2nd, 2008
Posted on October 27, 2008From NASA: Back it up, Commander, Back it up!!(Can you go backwards or up or down in space? Or on earth, for that matter?)On Sunday, 2 a.m., November 2nd, 2008, the clocks are turned back to 1 a.m - Hurrah! (Or is it Fall Forward instead of Fall Backward :-P) See Time and Date, which asks and answers:?In which direction does the clock move in the fall?The clock moves ahead (thus, losing one hour) when DST starts, typically in the spring, and falls back one hour (thus, gaining one hour) when DST ends in the fall...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #10 (Article II, Suffrage and Elections, Sections 11-17)
Posted on October 27, 2008Links to Previous Bites can be found here at, "Oregon Consitution in Small Bites: So Far"Today: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #10Article II, Suffrage and Elections, Sections 11-17ARTICLE IISUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS11. When collector or holder of public moneys ineligible to office12...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Posts So Far
Posted on October 27, 2008Previous Small Bites of the Oregon Constitution:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #5 (Bill of Rights, 21-30)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites #7: Bill of Rights, 40-42)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #8 (Bill of Rights, 43-45)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #9 (Article II, Suffrage and Elections, Sections 1-10)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #10 (Article II, Suffrage and Elections, Sections 11-17)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #11 (Article II, Sections, 18-24, Suffrage and Elections)
U.S. Constitution-Free Zones
Posted on October 27, 2008I?ve been hearing about the Constitution-Free Zone of the United States but haven?t yet done any follow-up research, partly because I?m annoyed.Here is the map and here is the ?Fact Sheet.? What annoys me is that it is missing some facts I would like to see, in fact need to see and that it Creates Work for me when the authors don't include the facts...
Free 30-day Password to Fastcase (Oregonians only)
Posted on October 26, 2008I have a few extra Fastcase pilot project passwords to give out. (The application is at our webpage ? at the bottom of the page, or here is the direct link.) You do not need to be an attorney to be eligible for this trial.Washington County (Oregon) residents (and litigants with cases in Washington County courts) get priority but if passwords remain, other counties' residents will be eligible, so send in your application, and tell me why you would like to participate...
CA County Law Library Wins Library of the Year Honor
Posted on October 26, 2008GPO Library of the Year: San Bernardino County Law LibraryIt?s pretty special in my world (where public law libraries are constantly under threat of losing funding) for a county law library to win such a national award. Congratulations to Larry Meyer and his incredible staff at the San Bernardino County Law Library for winning this award...
An Actual Paperless Law Office
Posted on October 26, 2008Many talk a lot about a paperless office, but few actually succeed in creating one. These two lawyers not only talk but teach the rest of us about the paperless law office: CLE seminar on Paperless Law Practice.See Ernie the Attorney?s 10/16/08 blog post about how this CLE came about, Upcoming CLE on Digital Workflow, and see his earlier post on paperless = mobile, which might make a lot of you say, ?aha! Now I get it!? (I almost forgot I already posted about it here! (See, isn?t a blog useful? :-))
Food Allergy Resources in Portland-Metro Area (and beyond)
Posted on October 26, 2008The Oregonians? West Bureau ran a story by Dana Tierney in their Thursday, October 16th, 2008, print Washington County Weekly insert, ?Food allergy group is nothing to sneeze at.? There was an interesting local resource featured, as well as the usual national ones...
Oregon Supreme Court and Vehicle Insurance: redefines, inter alia, the word ?repair?
Posted on October 24, 2008(inter alia)Today?s story in the Oregonian, ?High court backs pickup owner over insurer,? is more interesting than the headline might lead you to believe.The case it refers to is: Gonzales v. Farmers Insurance (S054486):Excerpt: ?? This is an action on an automobile insurance policy...
Oregon Foreclosure Legal Reference Questions
Posted on October 23, 2008Legal Research Tip: When doing your research, remember, keep notes on who you talked to and when (even what time!), what was said, what website, book, or brochure you looked at, who you want to contact next, etc.And away we go:GENERAL INFORMATION ON FORECLOSURE:1) My previous blog postings on foreclosure here and here (with the sub-prime primer) or on developers/builders going under...
Mailed Oregon Election Ballots Require 59 Cents Postage!
Posted on October 22, 2008You ballot is heavy and requires more than a 41 cent stamp!Here?s an excerpt from the Register-Guard story, One stamp isn?t enough Long ballot needs 59 cents of postage, Oct 21, 2008 09:12AM?Lane County elections chief Annette Newingham thinks voters shouldn?t have to put stamps on mail-in ballots in federal elections...
Check Your Oregon Voter Registration Online!
Posted on October 22, 2008Ballots have been mailed. If you didn't get yours, check your registration or phone your county election office.Yes, you can check online to make sure you are registered to vote. Link to the Elections Division.(I last posted about this here.)
Oregon Building Codes Revisited: Fire, Mechanical, and More
Posted on October 18, 2008Public Resource dot com has started putting various state building, fire, mechanical, etc. codes online, at their codes dot com site.Keep an eye on the site ? and on everything else they are doing at Public Resource dot org ? very exciting.(But, please, be sure to check with your own jurisdiction?s code enforcement staff...
Paralegals in Oregon: Joining and Job Postings
Posted on October 17, 2008Did you know that there was a Pacific Northwest Paralegal Association (PNPA)?The association offers members training and networking opportunities. PNPA members and employers of paralegals can also make use, for no cost, of their Job Bank.If you have questions, look at their Contacts Us list.
Oregon Supreme Court: DEX Liable in Fraud / Misrepresentation Case
Posted on October 17, 2008KNEPPER v. BROWN, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC SURGERY;and AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LIPO-SUCTION SURGERY, INC., Defendants, and DEX MEDIA, INC., fka U S WEST DEX, INC., (docket # A128550; S055155), decided 10/9/08?Before, De Muniz, Chief Justice., and Gillette, Durham, Balmer, Walters, and Linder, Justices...
More on Filing and Drafting Oregon Appellate Court Documents
Posted on October 16, 2008My previous post on Oregon appellate court briefs should perhaps have been prefaced with links to materials on the appellate process itself, that is, to all the materials at the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD).1) From here, you can get to these, and many other documents:a) Oregon Appellate Court Style Manualb) Court Rules and Rule Amendments2) From here, you get even more, including links to Rules and Fees and Sample Forms...
2008 U.S. Supreme Court Case on Crack vs. Cocaine
Posted on October 16, 2008Moore v. U.S. (docket # 07-10689) (Decided October 14, 2008)(There are times when a blog is just a place to keep notes on a case someone may ask about immediately after I have forgotten its name :-)
Call for Submissions: 2009 Oregon Appellate Almanac
Posted on October 16, 2008Speaking of the Appellate Courts, there is a call out for submissions for the 2009 edition of the Appellate Almanac. Details are at the OSB Appellate Practice Section homepage; the announcement reads:"CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2009 APPELLATE ALMANACThe Executive Committee of the Appellate Practice Section of the Oregon State Bar is seeking submissions for the 2009 edition of the Oregon Appellate Almanac...
Oregon Senator Biographies on Wikipedia
Posted on October 15, 2008Wikiproject Oregon has this story: Local Politics and Wikipedia?Wikipedia now covers all Oregon state senators!WikiProject Oregon just hit an exciting milestone: with Esprqii?s recent addition of a brief biography of Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, Wikipedia now has an article on every current member of the Oregon State Senate...
Laws of Winter Driving
Posted on October 15, 2008Winter Driving and other Traffic Laws at Oregon State Police website:1) Winter Driving Guide homepage (and brochure)2) Move Over, It?s the Law brochure
Writing (and finding) Oregon Appellate Court Briefs
Posted on October 15, 2008This blog post is written primarily for the new appellate court brief writer, either the new lawyer or the pro se litigant.Not all materials on briefs writing are online (surprise, surprise), so be prepared to visit an Oregon law library:1) OSB ?Appeal and Review? (loose leaf) (from the Oregon State Bar or an Oregon law library)2) Various CLE course materials on the Oregon appeals process (titles vary from law library to law library depending on collection size and purchasing decisions)...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #9 (Article II, Suffrage and Elections)
Posted on October 15, 2008Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #5 (Bill of Rights, 21-30)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites #7: Bill of Rights, 40-42)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #8 (Bill of Rights, 43-45)Today:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #9 (Article II, Suffrage and Elections, Sections 1-10)ARTICLE IISUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONSSec...
What's a Dollar Worth?
Posted on October 15, 20081) "What's a Dollar Worth?" on the homepage of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.2) Also at: Purchasing Power of Money in the United States from 1774 to 2007 from Measuring Worth dot com.3) And then there is the Currency Converter at Oanda dot com...
Immigration Lawyers Write Haiku ? Laugh With Them!
Posted on October 10, 2008More than one lawyer I know is an avid reader of poetry and prose and they will all appreciate the Kurzban?s haiku contest winners and contestants.Samples:Big toe is throbbing.I dropped Kurzban's upon it.A weighty treatise.-by David N. Simmons, Denver, CONot much to look at,Yet so much knowledge inside,Sexy after all...
Washington County (Oregon) Nov 2008 Election Information
Posted on October 10, 2008The Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) has posted for all to see a terrific Elections Information web site.The deadline for voter registration is nigh (or October 14th, whichever comes first :-)
Rin Tin Tin in a Litigious World
Posted on October 09, 2008If you think the news is all about Presidential (so to speak) elections and economic meltdowns - think again!A pooch to protect: Rin Tin Tin's latest film doesn't sit well with Daphne Hereford, and if she has her way, the star's next drama could be in court, by MARY FLOOD, Copyright, 2008 Houston Chronicle, Oct...
More on Oregon Election 2008 Ballot Measures
Posted on October 09, 2008Think Out Loud is jumping feet first into discussions on upcoming Election 2008 ballot measures (and I just got my voter's pamphlet in the mail yesterday - a wonk's delight!):1) Measure 58 will air on Thursday, October 9th, at 9 a.m. (yes, I meant to post this earlier, but when you are two people serving a county of 500,000+, other duties can take priority over blogging)...
Registering to Vote in Oregon
Posted on October 08, 2008?You have until 5 p.m. October 14th to register.?*If you?ve moved, want to change your party affiliation, or don?t get your ballot (not mailed until October 17th), PLEASE contact your County Election Office for specific instructions!-- In my business (public law library wonkery) I see reminders about voting everywhere I turn, but not everyone is so blessed...
Schoolhouse Rock and Legislative History?
Posted on October 08, 2008How does one teach about the Three Branches of Government? Let us count the ways:1) Schoolhouse rock-away2) Ben?s Guide to U.S. Government3) The Oregon Legislature Way
Teen Parents and the Law
Posted on October 08, 2008It?s tough to find reliable information on this topic, and public librarians are asked these teen parenting questions more than law librarians generally are. But I was looking for something else the other day and ran across these resources from the OHSU teen health webpages:1) Teen Parents dot org2) Multnomah County Health Department Connections Program for Young ParentsI'll try and do a more complete research guide on teen parent legal issues in the future, but in the meantime, call a public law library or OSB Problem Solvers if you have questions now.
Online Law Blues: Life Without Lawyers (and Law Libraries)?
Posted on October 06, 2008Inter-Alia is one of those blawgs that I almost never miss, though its guru, Tom Mighell, sure makes it easy to catch up on past posts and newsletters if you get swamped and miss an issue or a posting, or two or three.A entry from the Oct. 5th, ILRW, contained this tidbit, which is a good follow-up to my post on Let?s (Not) Kill All the Law Libraries (and my own follow-up), arguing that if ?the law? really was ?all online,? then why would we need lawyers?Verbatim from Tom Mighell?s Internet Legal Research Weekly, Oct 5th, 2008:Tractis https://www...
More "Let?s Kill All the Law Libraries": Virtual Law Libraries and Chief Justice Roberts
Posted on October 03, 2008To continue my Oregon Legal Research blog post on Let?s Kill All the Law Libraries ?.What?s a ?Virtual Law Library?? Lots of people throw the term around, but who knows?!* Could it be Justia? The Public Library of Law? Would it be Findlaw? Could it be LexisOne?* Those are all free...
Oregon Revised Statutes, Copyright Dispute, and Legal Research
Posted on October 03, 2008Jack Bogs Blog points us to a NYT story, the latest on public access to law and the Oregon dispute:He fought the law and ? he won.I posted about this Oregon Revised Statute dispute here and here.Caveat emptor: if you research ?the law online,? please make sure you have the current, official, corrected, authentic, and updated laws of the jurisdiction...
Unsafe at Any Speed ?Beds has found a danger Ralph Nader missed?
Posted on October 03, 2008Justice Bedsworth, of the California Courts of Appeal, returns with his October column in the Orange County Lawyer Magazine: Unsafe at Any Speed ?Beds has found a danger Ralph Nader missed?And you thought it will be hard to top last month?s column, Just Another Day in the Monkey House!
Is Your (Oregon) Developer or Lender Going Under?
Posted on October 03, 2008Are you wondering if the builder of that house or development you just moved into is going to declare bankruptcy or otherwise disappear before you finish painting your new kitchen?I?m still waiting on some calls back from a few experts for more information, but here is what has been recommended to me so far (not all of the following will apply to your specific situation, so use your judgment):1) Don?t assume the worst, at least not at first, but do your research, soon...
Let?s Kill All the Law Libraries
Posted on October 03, 2008For the past 20 years, at least, law school deans, legislators, law firm managers, lobbyists, jail and prison managers, among others, have been asking why their organizations need law libraries, and heaven forbid, law librarians. After all, "isn't all the law online?"My brief response is:1) No, it?s not all online; only a fraction of it is, and most of that is just online versions of (allegedly official and current) primary sources and a lot of very bad ?legal advice?...
Do You Need an Umbrella Today?
Posted on October 03, 2008What a great blog! Umbrella Today?Who said blogging had to be complicated, at least not in its presentation, though, maybe (often) terribly complex in its execution.Thanks to Tom Mighell?s Inter Alia for the link to a great laugh and charming blog.
Check Your Oregon Voter Registration Online
Posted on October 01, 2008Link to the Elections division, www.oregonvotes.orgThe Hillsboro Argus ran this story, Sept. 30th, 2008: Check Your Voter Registration Online:Excerpt from Argus:?Secretary of State Bill Bradbury announced Thursday Oregon voters can now check their voter registration status online...
Oregon 2008 Election Ballot Measure List: October Update
Posted on September 30, 2008So far, the best (unofficial) place I?ve found to get a complete list of ballot measures is at Ballotpedia. If you type the word into the Ballotpedia search box you?ll likely be linked to this page.Official sources (and my previous ballot measures post here):From the Oregon Secretary of State, Election Division:1) August 1st, 20082) Changes and updates will be posted here...
Banned Books Week: a ?Kafka Comes to America? Book Talk
Posted on September 30, 2008Banned Book Week event:Café Banned, at the Multnomah County Library, features a talk by the Oregon Public Defender, Steve Wax, who will talk about his book, Kafka Comes to America (also available at other libraries and bookstores).
Who Owns the Money Hidden in the Walls -- After the House is Sold?
Posted on September 26, 2008Oregon Court of Appeals opinion:SOLLARS v. CITY of MILWAUKIE (CV06020213; A132996) (decided 9/24/08)Excerpt:?Before Landau, Presiding Judge, and Schuman, Judge, and Ortega, Judge.ORTEGA, J.Reversed and remanded with instructions to enter judgment directing City of Milwaukie to release funds to plaintiff Sollars...
Cheap and Efficient Bus Travel, on the mid-Atlantic Corridor No less
Posted on September 26, 2008Great story from the NYT about bus travel: Jet Set, Meet the Bus BunchAALL will be meeting in D.C. next year ? how about some side trips to Baltimore, Philly, New York, and Boston?
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #8 (Bill of Rights, 43-45)
Posted on September 26, 2008Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #5 (Bill of Rights, 21-30)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites #7: Bill of Rights, 40-42)Today: Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #8 (Bill of Rights, 43-45):43...
Drunk Driving Fatalities in Oregon (and other states) in 2007
Posted on September 24, 2008Press release from the U.S. Department of TransportationAlcohol Impaired Driving Fatalities: report from Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
Lawyer Trust Accounts: How Safe Are They if the Bank Fails?
Posted on September 24, 2008From Jim Calloway?s Law Practice Tips blog:In a possible era of bank failures, what about the safety of a lawyer's trust account?Excerpt:?It has been a wild month so far in the financial markets and it doesn't appear that the roller coaster has come to a complete stop yet...
Self-Help: Towing Problems in Portland, Oregon
Posted on September 24, 2008Here?s a story about a man who was wronged ? and how it took him 5 months to right the wrong.(We see a lot of people in the law library who want quick fixes for the wrongs done to them. It?s a hard lesson for them to learn -- that fixing many wrongs can take time, persistence, patience, and forbearance, and sometimes all to the power 10...
Google News (and newspaper) Archive
Posted on September 24, 2008Have you tried out Google News Archive yet? Interesting, promising, and maybe a little irritating. Give it time. (Here?s more about it.)
Ethics Rules for Oregon Lawyers Serving on Corporate Boards
Posted on September 23, 2008New and experienced lawyers alike wonder about these issues and the The OSB Bulletin?s Aug/Sept 2008 issue has a terrific primer on the subject:Managing the Dual Roles: The Ethics of Serving on Corporate Boards, by Helen Hierschbiel:Excerpt: ?It is increasingly common for lawyers to serve on the boards of directors of for-profit and non-profit corporations...
Where Does Federal Digital Information Go When The Lights Go Out?
Posted on September 23, 2008I thought some of my readers might be interested in this recent post on AALL?s Washington Blawg about Saturday?s New York Times article on the loss of federal online information:In Digital Age, Federal Files Blip Into Oblivion, by Robert Pear, published: September 12, 2008?Robert Pear of The New York Times succinctly describes the enormous challenges of preserving the vast array of federal online government information in an article published on September 13, 2008, entitled, ?In Digital Age, Federal Files Blip into Oblivion...
Zombie Debt: Know Your Statute of Limitations and Other Debt Collection Laws
Posted on September 22, 2008We?ve been getting a run of questions from people who want to know the statute of limitations on their consumer debts, but the length of this blog post got away from me once I realized how interesting (and relevant!) this subject is in these tumultuous days of "lendor industry meltdown," though the little guy, once again, may be getting short shrift...
Traffic Law: How to Beat (or Transcend) Your Ticket
Posted on September 18, 2008My blog post about How to Beat Your Ticket has been very popular and now, with the generous help of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin editors, writers, and lawyer contributors, I am sure to surpass that value with this new post.The OSB Bulletin?s Aug/Sept 2008 issue has an, I dare say phenomenal, article on traffic law: Traffic School: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know, by Janine Robben...
Nolo Blogs about: Estate Planning and Home Buying Tips
Posted on September 18, 2008Public law librarian bloggers just have to love Nolo Press, especially Nolo Blogs. They do so much of our work for us! (But not all of it, I may say ? and a good thing too :-)Check out the latest info at the Nolo Blog, on Estate Planning (especially the blawg post on cleaning out the clutter (which may be another person?s treasure!), and on Real Estate Tips (especially the post on, wait, they are all interesting!)).
How Do I Find Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Briefs?
Posted on September 18, 2008A complete answer to this question depends on where you live. IF you are in a city with a federal court library or, lucky you, in a city where a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Library is located, you may have a few other options.You may also have access to the U...
Oregon Social Service Safety Nets
Posted on September 18, 2008I posted here with information about people wanting to know if there were laws prohibiting utilities from turning off power or water (Power to Children and the Poor). In the post and in the comments I made it clear that we sometimes have to become quite assertive when seeking assistance...
Can I tape record a conversation without someone knowing it?
Posted on September 18, 2008And a couple other variations library reference staff hear a lot:Is it Lawful to Record Someone Without their Knowledge?Can I tape record a conversation without someone knowing it?Can I videotape someone without getting their consent?Does Oregon have any eavesdropping laws?Two recent stories in the news will give you an idea why there is not always a simple answer...
Library Book Censorship and Challenges in Oregon
Posted on September 18, 2008The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse is the first place to begin if you want to start researching censorship issues in Oregon schools and public libraries. Annual reports and other resources are available through their website.
"I can't remotely use this law journal": Technology (and reference interviewing) in the Law Library
Posted on September 18, 2008In the good old days (uh, maybe not so good), this statement meant something very different from what it means today. In fact, it could be a test of how reference desk-qualified you are. Those library staffers who don?t see both meanings need some retraining...
Free Pocket U.S. Constitutions in Hillsboro (Oregon)
Posted on September 16, 2008On Wednesday, September 17th, 2008: Get your free pocket U.S. Constitution (3 different selection to choose from!) at Laura the Law Librarian?s Constitution Day celebration. (Yes, once again I?ll be handing out pocket U.S. Constitutions at the Washington County Courthouse, from Noon to 1 p...
Daycare Licensing in Oregon: Parents, Providers, Employers, and Landlords!
Posted on September 16, 2008Here are some starting points if you want to research daycare licensing issues.Oregon Licensing InformationEmployment Department, Child Care DivisionOregon Child Care Resource and Referral NetworkThese have resources for parents, providers, employers, but it seems as though there is not much for landlords of buildings where daycare businesses are located...
Bite #7, Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #7 (Bill of Rights, 40-42)
Posted on September 14, 2008Bite #7, Oregon Constitution: Bill of Rights, 40-42 (another long one!)Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #5 (Bill of Rights, 21-30)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #7 (Bill of Rights, 40-42)40...
Libraries (back) on Wheels: Digital Libraries on Wheels
Posted on September 14, 2008One of my first full-time library assistant jobs out of high school was on a bookmobile. It was a great job for so many reasons, for the people who would not otherwise have had any library service and for the library staff who got to visit hidden pockets of our city while listening to the Watergate hearings on the radio...
Oregon Measure 50 (1997?) and the Fabulous Legislative Liaisons
Posted on September 14, 2008We love the Oregon Legislature's Legislative Liaisons, at 503-986-1000!They are helpful, friendly, and have senses of humor. Wowsers! (And this is not an easy job I am sure, especially during the Legislative Session.)It's tough for those of us who are (relative) newcomers to Oregon...
Top 10 Law Songs: From Johnny Cash to Homer Simpson?
Posted on September 14, 2008Even if you sing more off-key than the ?karaoke? guy last Thursday rush hour at the SW 2nd & Alder (PDX) bus stop (keep your night job!), you can still:Have your say about the ATL Top Ten Law Song picks (Above the Law homepage) (from Law Librarian Blog)Excerpt from Law Librarian blog:"Did Above the Law get it right?I Fought The Law - The ClashLawyers, Guns, and Money - Warren Zevon99 Problems - Jay-ZFolsom Prison Blues - Johnny CashWe're All Winners, as arranged by Nixon PeabodyLaw and Order theme songHurricane - Bob DylanAlice's Restaurant - Arlo GuthrieI Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller 4The Road Goes on Forever - Robert Earl KeenWould you rank Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues so low? And where is his I Walk The Line? Details with links to lyrics and YouTube videos at Above the Law...
Power to Children and the Poor: Utility (power, light, and water) Service
Posted on September 12, 2008Another type of law library question that we, and public libraries, start hearing as the weather gets colder:Where do I find the law that that says power companies cannot turn power off if you are very poor, have children, or are elderly?Quick answer, if the utility has been or soon will be turned off:1) Contact the customer service representative at your local power company (phone numbers on your monthly bill)...
When Do Clocks Change to Standard Time? November 2nd, 2008
Posted on September 12, 2008It?s that time of year when we start thinking we should know this, but we don?t! And that is why you have Librarians (and the Internet Tubes :-) Of course in an election year when everyone seems to want to CHANGE (yeah, yeah), make sure you get that TIME change date from a reliable source, e...
Nimrod: Oregon Frontier Courts
Posted on September 11, 2008Nimrod: Oregon Frontier CourtsAn interesting book, by Oregonian Ronald Lansing, to add to your rainy weather reading stash:Nimrod: Courts, Claims, and Killing on the Oregon FrontierA book review is in the print Lewis & Clark Law School Environmental Law journal, volume 38, #3 (soon to appear online)...
A Healthy Food Tax Credit, Not a Fat Tax
Posted on September 10, 2008An interesting article from a recent Oregon Law Review:A Healthy Food Tax Credit, Not a Fat TaxChris L. Winstanley (J.D. 2008, Oregon) has published Comment, A Healthy Food Tax Credit: Moving Away From the Fat Tax and its Fault-Based Paradigm, 86 Or. L...
LegalLinks from OSB: Small Claims, Animal Law, Legal Myths, and MORE
Posted on September 10, 2008If you haven?t tried out the streaming video at the Oregon State Bar?s (OSB) website, now?s the time to make yourself comfortable and settle in for 30 minutes of some good old fashioned law-learnin?. Think how much smarter you will be afterward!Topics include animal law, small claims, landlord-tenant law, police stops, charitable giving, legal assistance for military personnel, consumer bankruptcy, immigration law, bicycle law, and MORE...
Statutes of Frauds in Oregon
Posted on September 09, 2008I haven?t posted lately any of our law library?s reference questions. Here is one and others will follow:Where do I find the statute of fraud?1) If you are asking out of curiosity:Statutes of frauds are laws that specify when contracts must be in writing...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)
Posted on September 08, 2008# 6 is a pretty big bite, so pace yourself (or read it with a leisurely cup of tea/coffee :-)Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #5 (Bill of Rights, 21-30)Today's Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #6 (Bill of Rights, 32-39)32...
Yes, Virginia, You CAN Make a Citizen?s Arrest in Oregon: Who Knew?
Posted on September 03, 2008Another hitherto little noticed section of the ORS (see also the Jury "Duty" post about ORS 10.235): this time, it?s ORS 153.058, Initiation of violation proceeding by private party.(Perhaps I should have my readers working on the ORS instead of the Oregon Constitution?)See the story in the Willamette Week, by Corey Pein, 9/3/08: DIY Justice: In Oregon, The Man lets you be The Man, too...
Jury Duty: We?re walking, we?re walking ? we?re summoned, we?re summoned!
Posted on September 03, 2008I?m not the only one who found this story (also in the Oregonian, print on 8/30/08) interesting ? see Jack Bog?s Blog post (and Comments). And this is not the first jury-duty story I?ve read recently about jurors in Oregon not showing up, and what happens when they don?t...
World of Work Law Blog
Posted on August 30, 2008Inter-Alia picks a Portland attorney's World of Work law blog as a Blog of the Day.The list is growing of Oregon attorneys who blog (see sidebars)!
Bogging Down in Blogs: Expert Witnesses Who Blog
Posted on August 30, 2008Expert Blogs: Loose Lips Sink?Trials?, by Robert Ambrogi, Editor, BullsEye Newsletter: August 20Ambrogi?s blog-article is may be a logical companion my previous posts:1) Is that Lawyer Googling Juror Names During Voir Dire?2) How to Blog in a Dog-eat-Dog World: Blogging Lesson Plans(Robert Ambrogi also writes regularly for the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin...
Bedsworth Survives His Previous Month?s Tunnel Visions
Posted on August 30, 2008Welcome Justice Bedsworth to September, at his monthly Orange County Lawyer column, A Criminal Waste of Space, where the Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal reminds us that not all of us (not most of us!) are cut out to be sportswriters...
MyShingle: Michelle Obama, the Lawyer and the Mother
Posted on August 29, 2008From MyShingle, we get this thoughtful blog post, from the perspective of a solo practitioner parent:What Michelle Obama Couldn't Have Found at The (So-Called) Fifty Best Law Firms For Women (Posted on August 26, 2008).
"Damn Interesting" Website for Labor Day Holiday
Posted on August 29, 2008If you haven?t visited Damn Interesting, or the list where I found it, PC Magazine?s The Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites, (thanks to Tom Mighuel at Inter Alia for the lead), then the Labor Day holiday weekend is a good time to visit (unless you're in a lounge chair with a good book, in which case, don't move!)...
Multnomah County (Oregon) Jail Report
Posted on August 29, 2008Blog post, ?Does Jail Work as an Intermediate Sanction,? linking to:Sentencing Law and Policy blog post about Multnomah County jail report and the Vera Institute ReportExcerpt from Grits for Breakfast blog post:?With so many jurisdictions now using some version of so-called problem solving courts, the question arises: What are the best intermediate sanctions to use for probationers as opposed to revoking them to prison? In particular, are short jail stints the answer?Recently Marc Levin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation urged the House Corrections Committee to follow the lead of Hawaii's HOPE program, which routinely uses jail time to punish minor infractions, reportedly with great success...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #5
Posted on August 28, 2008Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4 (Bill of Rights, 13-20)Bite #5:ARTICLE IBILL OF RIGHTS21...
?Sometimes a Great Lawsuit?: Ken Kesey, Law Libraries, and Legal Forms
Posted on August 27, 2008This week?s Willamette Week?s story on Ken Kesey and The Screenplay (Sometimes a Great Lawsuit) is terrific ? and a dream for [at least] this public law librarian who is always looking for stories that warn people about the perils of how Too Much Legal Self-Help is Not a Great Idea, especially when it comes time to drafting ?agreements...
Directory of Free-Wifi Spots
Posted on August 27, 2008Via WisBlawg, we learn about a free directory of free-wifi spots. See also, Portland?s Personal Telco Project.
Naughty, Naughty: Lawyers and Public Officials: Disciplinary Records
Posted on August 27, 2008Words are tricky, and powerful, things. I bet what you imagine when you read the words naughty, naughty (oooooh or sorry, mom) is completely different from the thoughts that surface when you hear disciplinary records (yawn). Oh, the power of words.On to yawn, uh, disciplinary records:From PI Buzz, both posts by Tamara Thompson:8/23/08, Find Records of Disciplined Attorneys8/24/08, This week in public records: Arizona Disciplinary Records...
Oregon Lis Pendens Doctrine
Posted on August 26, 2008Information on Notices of Lis Pendens (aka notices of pending action) can be found:1) Definition: lis pendens, from Nolo Press Glossary2) Article: an excellent article with some history of the doctrine of lis pendens (in context of real estate law) and practice guidance: Oregon State Bar Litigation Section Newsletter: The Lis Pendens Doctrine in Oregon: Caging the Golden Goose in Real Estate Litigation, Fall 2006, pp...
Oregon (9th Circ): Mandatory Arbitration Sometimes Unconscionable
Posted on August 25, 20089th Cir: Mandatory Arbitration Unconscionable Where Employer Holds Disparate Bargaining Power and Imposes Cost Sharing?Applying Oregon law, a 9th Circuit panel has held that the combination of substantial disparity in bargaining power and unreasonably favorable terms to the more powerful party renders a mandatory arbitration agreement unconscionable...
Lawyer Discipline: ?Grave Injustice??
Posted on August 25, 2008Lawyer disciplinary issues are tricky, especially when penalties are meted out by different states, which may not share the same disciplinary rules, traditions, or attorney practice requirements and qualifications.See, e.g., this story, Grave Injustice, at the Legal Profession Blog:Excerpt:?An attorney who had been suspended for two years in Oregon received a lighter six-month suspension in Massachusetts...
Law of the Lemonade Stand
Posted on August 22, 2008IS there Law of the Lemonade Stand? You bet. Read this story from ABC News, Mayor Shutters Children's Produce Stand For Lack of Permits: Eleven-Year-Old Says Melons, Zucchini Were Her Biggest Sellers, by Sarah Netter, Aug. 21, 2008.And see this story too: If someone hands you a lemon, get a permit...
How to Read a Case
Posted on August 22, 2008From BoleyBlogs, and not just for law students:How to Read a Case, and other first-year tipsExcerpt from post:?? Law school holds many wonders, but first the new law student must learn how to decipher case. To help you in that cause Law Professor Orin Kerr of George Washington University Law School has written How to Read a Legal Opinion: A Guide for New Law Students (11 Green Bag 2d 51 (2007) - free download via SSRN)...
Free (open source) Copyright License Case
Posted on August 22, 2008From Lessig blog, comes this: Free (open source) Copyright Licenses?? So for non-lawgeeks, this won't seem important. But trust me, this is huge.I am very proud to report today that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (THE "IP" court in the US) has upheld a free (ok, they call them "open source") copyright license, explicitly pointing to the work of Creative Commons and others?...
Legal Research in our Big, Bad, Mad World: Law of the Pacific Islands and Beyond
Posted on August 22, 2008If you haven?t discovered the wealth of legal research information at LLRX, here?s your chance to take a quick tour.Start with Law of the Pacific Islands, but explore the whole site. Their home page highlights the articles of the month, their feature stories, their columns, and much, including their LLRX Court Rules, Forms and Dockets...
Networking for Shy Lawyers
Posted on August 22, 2008Via Stark County Law Library, we find this: Networking for Shy Lawyers, at Build a Solo Practice. It?s a cut above the usual self-help guides, but if nothing else it will cure you of those silly, self-centered ?I thought I was the only one? thoughts (you are NEVER the only one, no matter what you are going through ? the world has over 6 billion people, all of whom have lives and feelings too, well, most of them anyway)...
Almost Priceless ($10) Guide for Oregon Nonprofit Boards and Directors
Posted on August 21, 2008Many of you already know about the TACS (hurrah!) Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Handbook.But you may not know that their Chapter 13 (NOT this Chapter 13 ? but Chapter 13 of the TACS Handbook) reprint might just be what the lawyer ordered (or would have if s/he knew what you were up to, or not up to, or took a look at your nonprofit?s bylaws) for nonprofit boards...
Is that Lawyer Googling Juror Names During Voir Dire?
Posted on August 21, 2008If you were a lawyer selecting a juror wouldn?t you want to have a look at jurors? Social Network (web 2.0) sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.?See David?s Blog post from 8/19/08, In trial and on the net, how lawyers use the webThe post talks about the press of time during voir dire, but I?ve been a potential juror many (many! ? can?t they have a random AND a non-repetitive selection process?) times and on very few of those occasions did the judge insist the lawyers move it along...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #4
Posted on August 21, 2008Previous Bites:Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #1 and #2 (Bill of Rights, 1-6)Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: #3 (Bill of Rights, 7-12)Bite #4:ARTICLE IBILL OF RIGHTS13. Treatment of arrested or confined persons14. Bailable offenses15...
Small Claims Litigant (winner) vs. Meth House (loser)
Posted on August 21, 2008Who would have thought to use Oregon Small Claims Court to shut down a meth house? A very creative lawyer, that?s who!See the story in the July 2008 issue of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin, Oregon?s War on Methamphetamine,? by Janine Robbin.Excerpts:?It?s been called a "war" on methamphetamine...
Send Your Child to Work Day: Children and Work in Oregon
Posted on August 21, 2008Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industry (BOLI): Child Labor Law: School-To-WorkHistory of child labor laws, here and here (for a start).My previous posts on babysitting, leaving children alone, etc. can be linked to from here.
Glazed and in Free-fall: Insurance Companies in Receivership
Posted on August 20, 2008PI BUZZ brings us their Database of the Day: Insurance Providers Receivership InformationYou have to laugh because PI Buzz?s Tamara hits it right on the head when she says:?Before your eyes glaze over, your head goes into free-fall, allow me to point you to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) database of insurers who have been in receivership...
Federal Law Preempts Oregon Law
Posted on August 20, 2008For you non-lawyers out there, yes this sometimes happens. Lawyers really do learn useful things in law school and know things mere mortals don?t! (But not everything, so it doesn?t hurt to do your homework.)From the OSB Litigation Section Newsletter (and they put it online ? thank you!), July 2008 issue, this article by Caroline Harris Crowne & Julia E...
Oregon Property Condemnation Procedure
Posted on August 20, 2008The OSB Litigation Section Newsletter, July 2008 issue, also has this article, ?Oregon Condemnation Procedure Revisited,? on page 8, by Mark J. Fucile.
Consumer Reports Blogs!
Posted on August 20, 2008Consumer Reports blogSee my previous posts (here and here) on getting Consumer Reports product reviews online, free from your public library.
How to Blog in a Dog-eat-Dog World: Blogging Lesson Plans
Posted on August 19, 2008I found this post about blog bullying (inter alia) interesting, primarily because it addresses some tough issues that need to be discussed among bloggers, who are becoming better and better at their craft: A Kierkegaardian Leap of Faith in Social Media: Does a Critical Remark About Opinions Expressed By a Commenter or Blogger On Another Blog Constitute Bullying (posted 8/18/08 on the Law Librarian blog)...
Locating Military and National Guard Members and Veterans
Posted on August 19, 2008Online Research Resources:Locating Veterans and Service MembersMilitary Homefront (DOD) and MilSpouseOregon State Bar (OSB) Military Assistance PanelAmerican Bar Association (ABA) LinksCheck for my previous posts on the verification process.
?Totally Cool, Retro Online? Copyright Tool
Posted on August 19, 2008From Reference at Cedar Mill (thank you Liz!), we hear about this, "is it protected by copyright" tool, DigitalSlider.Another great place to learn interesting copyright news, without being overwhelmed, is the LibraryLaw blog (thank you Mary!). From the Grateful Dead to Digital Promise Legislation .
Is CUIL (search engine, and Google, competitor) a Player?
Posted on August 18, 2008From Moritz Legal Information blog (homepage) (via Stark County Law Library):CUIL Search EngineVisit CUIL (pronounced ?cool?).
Nolo Press Blogs
Posted on August 18, 2008As if there wasn?t already more great legal research info than we could use in a lifetime, Nolo Press is now blogging (thanks to Law Librarian Blog for lead):Bankruptcy and foreclosure blogFamily and divorce law blogWait, there?s more! Estate planning, homebuying, employment law, oh boy! (link to from Law Librarian blog or here).
Oregon Restaurant Food Safety Inspections
Posted on August 18, 2008Ever wonder about how your favorite restaurant holds up under official inspection?Sample county-specific food safety inspection websites::Washington CountyClackamas CountyMultnomah CountyMarion CountyFor more on food safety regulation, start with the Oregon Public Health pages, here and here.
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #3
Posted on August 18, 2008ARTICLE I,BILL OF RIGHTS. section 7-12(sections 1-6, posted at Oregon Constitution Bites #1-2)7. Manner of administering oath or affirmation8. Freedom of speech and press9. Unreasonable searches or seizures10. Administration of justice11. Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecution12...
What Would Mr. Darrow Do?: Twittering Trials
Posted on August 15, 2008Real Lawyers have Blogs links to a Twittering Trials story.(BTW, the verb form of Twitter is tweet. (You learn something new every day.))
Oregon Supreme Court: Harassment Statute Declared Overbroad
Posted on August 15, 2008Re: ORS 166.065(1)(a)(B)OREGON v. JOHNSON (SC S055085)Excerpt:?GILLETTE, J.This criminal case presents a question that lies at the intersection between Oregon's constitutional protection of free expression and an Oregon statute that punishes abusive or insulting speech that is calculated to produce a violent response...
Oregon Constitution in Small Bites: Bite #1 and Bite #2
Posted on August 15, 2008If you can?t read the Oregon Constitution in one gulp (and it is a bit of a dog's breakfast), how about in small bites? (I'll post a few more small bites over the next few weeks, months, sigh.)Oregon ConstitutionBite #1: Preamble:"PREAMBLEWe the people of the State of Oregon to the end that Justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution...
New Oregon Domestic Violence and the Workplace Flyers
Posted on August 15, 2008New Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industry (BOLI) domestic violence and the workplace flyers in English and in Spanish
Researching Oregon Paternity Law
Posted on August 14, 20081) Establishing Paternity on a Birth Certificate2) Oregon State Bar (OSB) info on paternity3) OLR blog post on 2007 Paternity Laws4) Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) (use index)(Important note about the ORS: Please be careful when you read the ORS in places other than at the official Legislature?s website...
Shakespeare quotation: Let?s NOT Kill all the Lawyers?
Posted on August 14, 2008Shakespeare and Lawyers, from f/k/a (with links):Excerpt (quote):?? ?Service to others is a worthy goal for an aspiring professional and the best response all lawyers can make to our critics. We might also urge the bashers to read their Shakespeare more carefullyThe words, ?Let?s kill all the lawyers,? were not spoken by a disgruntled litigant (or even by Henry VI?s press secretary)...
Star in your own (bibliophile?s) READ poster: Woof!
Posted on August 14, 2008From WisBlawg, we learn that YOU (or your favorite pet or food) can star in your very own mini-READ poster from the American Library Association (ALA).A great gift for those wanting to stop spending money on STUFF no one really needs or spending money that could go into that retirement fund (compounding! not that there is anything truly wrong with a little bit of Live for Today! :-)
Grown-up Law: Now that you are 18 years old (or more!)
Posted on August 14, 2008From Jim Calloway?s law practice tips blog: see Site of the Week: Nowthatyouare18.org, with a direct link to Now That You Are 18 and others ? Happy Birthday!
How to Find Oregon Statewide Ballot Measures
Posted on August 14, 2008So, how DO you find recent (and past) Oregon statewide ballot measures? I last posted a list of 2008 November election measures here (and about the super Ballot Measure Archives Project), but read on:For a current and an official list: Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division, but don?t say I didn?t warn you...
Juror Bias Against Bicyclists?
Posted on August 12, 2008Chicago Bicycle Law links to the Portland attorney Ray Thomas article, ?Strategies Regarding Public Irritation With Bicyclists.?Excerpt:?Examine the letter section of local newspapers or listen in on commentary on a.m. radio talk shows and the emergence of a new group of people becomes visible - folks who openly dislike bicycle riders...
Bedsworth vs. The (English) Horse He Rode In With
Posted on August 12, 2008Bet you thought I forgot Bedsworth this month. I did! (It's been some month, I tell you.) But here he is, in all his robed and wigged glory:Next Step: Ruby Slippers, by Justice William W. Bedsworth: ?British judicial attire will change come October; Beds likes the changes...
Small Claims Court in Oregon: What Do You Want to Know?
Posted on August 12, 2008Do you have any questions about filing a case in Small Claims Court in Oregon?I?m helping (in a networking, researching, law librarian sort of way) an Oregon attorney write a book about Small Claims Court in Oregon, i.e. how to file, how to prepare, how to serve, etc...
Oregon Pedestrian Rights Legal Guidebook
Posted on August 12, 2008Read the legal guide book (156 pages!) ?Oregon Pedestrian Rights: A Legal Guide for Persons on Foot,? from one of the lawyers who brought us these other guides, which I posted about here (including the bicyclist legal guide, Pedal Power) (and don?t forget about this bicycle manual from DMV)...
Traffic? (by Tom Vanderbilt): An alternate title for the book might be ?Idiots.?
Posted on August 12, 2008Traffic, by Tom Vanderbilt: ??An alternate title for the book might be ?Idiots? (from the NYT review of Traffic).See also this recent news story:Use turn signal? Why?: $75 TICKET: It's an all-too-common attitude, and it can cost you, cops say,? Chicago Sun-Times (online), August 11, 2008, by Mary Wisniewski...
Traffic Deaths: 40,000 and counting?
Posted on August 12, 2008From: FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) Encyclopedia (NHTSA):2005: 43,510 (+/-)2006: 42,642 (+/-)2008: Good News About $4 Gas? Fewer Traffic Deaths and trend toward under 40,000?See also the Statistical Abstract.Web site tracks traffic fatalities, per Consumer Reports article: Saferoadmaps dot org
Asset Searches in Dissolutions of Marriage (Oregon)
Posted on August 11, 2008"Asset Searches in Dissolutions of Marriage,? by Ann Richards & R.T. Tavey, in the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Family Law Newsletter, June 2008, pp. 1-3.(These useful newsletters from OSB Sections are not well-indexed so I try to highlight some of their articles when they land on my desk/top...
Consumer Reports (Magazine) Free, Online and the Google Insights Service
Posted on August 08, 2008I was looking at the Google Insights service (prompted by PI Buzz?s exploration of the service) and thought I?d run my [free, online] Online Consumer Reports ?test? on it, i.e., just how many people do search for Consumer Reports via Google and how do they search for it?The results were interesting to say the least...
Oregon Nov 2008 Election Ballot Measures (so far)
Posted on August 06, 2008From the Salem Statesman Journal, we read ?Measures assigned their numerical designations: A dozen items will appear on Nov. 4 ballot, state says,? by Peter Wong, August 2, 2008Measure approved for the ballot to date include these:MEASURE 54: Allows 18-year-olds to vote in school board elections, consistent with their eligibility to vote in state and federal elections...
Online Oregon Criminal Records Searches (re CriminalSearches dot com)
Posted on August 04, 2008The Oregon Judicial Department has this official NOTICE ABOUT ONLINE CRIMINAL RECORDS SEARCHES:?July 31, 2008We have received many complaints since July 21 about inaccurate and outdated information on a new website called CriminalSearches.com, which offers to search for "criminal" records throughout the US for free...
Washington State Legal Research Blog
Posted on August 04, 2008Welcome the new KCLL Klues: Washington State Legal Research Blog: Tips and tricks for Legal Research in Washington State. This is the official blog of the King County Law Library and adds even more legal research information than we already find at their main website ? wowsers!
Skip Tracing (aka Public Sleuthing) at King County Law Library (Seattle, WA)
Posted on August 04, 2008If you can?t make it to the King County (Seattle) Law Library (KCLL) class, you may still partake of their law librarian generosity: you can read class handouts, including the invaluable skip tracing checklist, links, and class outline.Link to this web site to find these skip tracing documents, but if you want an excuse to visit Seattle for an invaluable educational opportunity, here?s how to sign up for the class.
Should Juries Know the Likely Sentence When Deciding Guilt?
Posted on August 02, 2008Are you following this blog conversation about Oregon sentencing law ?: "Should juries know the likely sentence when deciding guilt?"Excerpt:?The title of this post is the title of this interesting BlueOregon post authored by Oregon state representative Chip Shields...
Lawyers, Private Investigators, and Ethics
Posted on August 02, 2008The body of literature (scholarly, practical, and popular) on private investigators (and their lawyer clients ? or is it the other way around?) is a fairly large one, but it doesn?t hurt to add blog posts to that bibliography: From the always interesting PI Buzz?s Tamara Thompson comes this, ?The Conversation Between Attorneys and Investigators...
Response-Ability: Defending the Yoga Instructor When a Student is Injured
Posted on July 30, 2008While reading a magazine article ?Play Your Part: Accept responsibility for what you bring to each moment and enjoy the power of truth,? by Sally Kempton, printed in the September 2008 issue of ?Yoga Journal? (see Note below to find articles online), I realized it was not only an essay on blame, responsibility, truth, and strength (among many other things), but also a presentation on possible defenses a yoga instructor (and his/her lawyer) could sort through if a student is injured while in a yoga class...
On Vacation: "Kafka Comes to America"
Posted on July 27, 2008Vacations are not for reading books like this one, Kafka Comes to America, but I?m a law librarian and we?re decidedly wonky. (I also read this (incredibly funny, though a bit worrying) and this (by Loren Estleman who also wrote this extraordinary book), so don?t think you can pigeonhole wonky law librarians :-)The first chapter of Kafka Comes to America brought back unnerving memories of a couple of things I saw back in the days when I worked in a Philadelphia jail...
Lawyers, Private Investigators, and Ethics
Posted on July 21, 2008The body of literature (scholarly, practical, and journalistic) on private investigators (and their lawyer clients ? or is it the other way around?) is a fairly large one, but it doesn?t hurt to add blog posts to that bibliography: From PI Buzz?s Tamara Thompson comes this, ?The Conversation Between Attorneys and Investigators...
Phonies, Scammers, and Maybe Worse: False Sex Offender Accusation
Posted on July 20, 2008The latest scam to hit my workplace is from people claiming to be from Verizon and wanting to examine our invoices (yeah, right). This comes on the heels of lots of other metro area (and countrywide I presume) phonies claiming to be authorized to check the wiring, the plumbing, the photocopier, and offering any other excuse that will give free, unmonitored, access to private spaces...
Oregon Probate Mediation, Duty to Pay Debts, & Business Property Credit Update
Posted on July 20, 2008The latest (Vol. XXV, No. 3, July 2008) issue of the newsletter from the Estate Planning and Administration section of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) includes the following articles:1) Mediation of Probate and Protective Matters, by Joshua Kadish.2) Duty to Pay Debts?, by Conrad G...
Proposed Regulation of Heir Search Firms in Oregon
Posted on July 20, 2008In the latest issue (Vol. XXV, No. 3, July 2008) of the newsletter from the Estate Planning and Administration section of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) reports on this story in its ?Looking Ahead: Legislative Proposals for 2009? section:?Proposed Limits on Fees Allowed in Probate to Heir Search Firms: This proposal regulates the activities of heir search firms...
Seminarian Collection Agents for Libraries? Holy Cow!
Posted on July 20, 2008Via Library Link of the Day, we read this:Overdue help for the other lending crisis: Libraries hire a firm (and its seminarians) to fight six-figure losses, July 13, 2008, by Jeff Gammage, Inquirer Staff WriterExcerpts:?The Bucks County library system wants its stuff back...
Building Codes in Oregon: An Update
Posted on July 20, 2008I last posted here about researching Oregon Building Codes and a couple of updates are in order:1) You can subscribe to email BCD News for the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, Building Codes Division. Visit their homepage and check out their online services...
Legal Research Database Survey: LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Beyond
Posted on July 18, 2008This survey, from the Stanford Law School Robert Crown Law Library, is for the Serious Minded Legal Research Service User (and the one who also monitors The Budget):Law Librarians and LexisNexis vs. Westlaw, June 2008.
Guides to Oregon Legislative History
Posted on July 18, 2008(Conferences (past and future) are as bad for blogging habits as are vacations, but I, and my readers, soldier on :-)This week, we?ve been getting quite a few Legislative History questions, from hither and yon, about new and old statutes. So, in the interest of those who would like a few hints on where to begin (and end), here are links to a few guides:1) A quick and easy guide, from Oregon Dept of Admin Services (not pretty or well-formatted, but this guide does the trick without unnecessary bells and whistles)...
Law Librarians, Hollywood and Portland (with a side of lawyers)
Posted on July 09, 20081) Lest you think lawyers and law librarians don?t have no fun, take a look at these:2) Hollywood Librarians (the movie) coming to Portland (Oregon).3) Thousands of Law Librarians (!) coming to Portland, July 12-15th, 2008.4) At f/k/a, July 6th (better late than never): Let?s celebrate kissing and chocolate5) Bedsworth, of course...
Juvenile Curfews (Oregon)
Posted on July 09, 2008I bet you thought curfews were from the old days (or war-torn countries). Or of the classic corfu/curfew mixup sort ("Curfew will not ring tonight!") from here).But these are real curfews ? for real children (and parents)!Here (scroll down to 3rd article) is a chart showing juvenile curfews in Washington County (Oregon)...
Lost Laptops: Security, Insecurity, Privacy, Foolishness
Posted on July 09, 2008From beSpacific: Study: Business travelers lose more than 12,000 laptops per week in U.S. airports. Report: Airport InsecurityBut where do missing laptops go? Police? TSA? Underworld? The same place missing bicycles and socks go?
Legal Publisher Vendors in Town (Portland, OR)
Posted on July 08, 2008While the law librarians are in town (Portland, Oregon) for the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Annual Meeting in Portland, July 12th to July 15th, anyone may explore the Exhibit Hall for no charge.The Exhibit Hall (at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC)): and here is a list of the vendors (with floor plan)...
Twitter is So Yesterday?
Posted on July 08, 2008What I learned today: The Twitter ExodusWhat can you learn from this? For starters, don?t worry if you miss the Twitter train; another one will be along soon.
U.S. Supreme Court: The ?Other? Gun Case
Posted on July 07, 2008For those who read Susan Nielsen?s column, The Other Gun Ruling, in the Sunday, July 06, 2008, Oregonian, and want to read the full case from the U.S. Supreme Court, the opinion is here, Giles v. California (docket number: 07-6053, decided June 25, 2008)...
DWP: Cell Phones, Driving, and Oregon
Posted on July 03, 2008Local news reports make a big(ish) deal out of the fact that Oregon is the only hold out in the No Hand Held Cell Phones on the Left Coast race, with both California and Washington now signing onto similar laws.For a more nuanced view of the issue, though not why Oregon is a holdout (and we all have our hypotheses), visit California?s Make Believe Car Phone Safety Law at f/k/a for some commentary, links, and poetry.
Oregon Legal Forms: the pyramid
Posted on July 03, 2008The most frequently asked question, especially from non-attorneys, in public law libraries is,?do you have a form called x (or that will do y)??The law library response depends on the form, the relative sophistication and experience of the person asking the question, the issue (substantive or procedural),and the jurisdiction...
All a Twitter for Librarians
Posted on July 02, 2008Twitter for Librarians (and others who think like librarians :-), via Neat New Stuff on the Web.
Is never good for you? Online scheduling for busy, far-flung, people
Posted on July 02, 2008I?m not in her techie league, but I do like looking in on what Nicole is doing at What I learned today. Today the one that tickled me was When is good. It seems worth a whirl (if we weren't already spending half our time trying to schedule meetings, meals, etc...
The Paperless Lawyer is a Mobile Lawyer
Posted on July 01, 2008(You can see I'm clearing out my blog post rough drafts!)See Jim Calloway?s post: Security Issues of Carrying Digital DocumentsI also really like this, because going paperless is as much a conceptual adjustment as a business model one: A mobile lawyer is a paperless lawyer?Whenever I talk to lawyers about switching to a digital workflow system I always get the same question: what's the best way to switch? The answer: all at once...
Oregon Non-Profits and Volunteer Legal and Self-help Resources
Posted on July 01, 2008Oregon has excellent resources for non-profits and volunteers, whether you run one, serve on a board, want to work at one, or want to start one:1) Connectipedia (see 6/17/08 Oregonian article, by Steve Woodward: Nonprofits share the knowledge)2) TACS: they write the Oregon non-profit source book, without which we would all flail about helplessly, with or without profit...
Handbags and Why Do They (Big Law Associates) Hate Us (Big Law)?
Posted on July 01, 2008If you ever thought working for Big Bucks in Big Law was Nirvana, think again:From Fastcase blog: Legal Tabloids Creating Headaches for Firms??Blogs have democratized the means of production for publishers, leading to a fast proliferation of new media...
Questions People Ask Public Law Librarians: Round Four
Posted on July 01, 2008It's Public Law Library Reference-Question Roundup time again:These are some of the questions we are asked by our library patrons, via email, telephone, and in-person. We show people how to research their questions and refer them to print and online resources and in virtually all situations encourage non-attorneys to speak to an attorney or other specialist (e...
Oregon Timber and Property Taxes: another view, or two, or three, ?.
Posted on July 01, 2008One of my library patrons expressed some curiosity about the relative property tax rates of different Oregon counties (and cities). This was prompted by reading the ?timber money? article in Sunday?s Oregonian, where a resident of Grants Pass/Josephine County was quoted as saying that local residents pay a property tax rate of $...
Bedworth is Back on a Magical Mystery, uh, Tour
Posted on July 01, 2008A new Bedsworth at A Criminal Waste of Space to mark the day ? July First! And it is, of course, almost the funniest thing you?ll ever read by an appellate court judge.(I?ll not say anything more or will get into very hot water. But he does mention law librarians, which ought to merit a Yeah!, but will get more of a snerck (you know what kind of sound that is - the ones librarians everywhere contain valiantly (though not forever) when we've just been asked the Question of the Week at the reference desk...
What is SEO? Why, it?s Search Engine Optimization.
Posted on June 30, 2008See Jim Calloway?s links, from his post: Your Website: Getting the Attention of the Search Engines. Excerpt:?You finally got your law firm Web site online and waited for the new clients to come rolling in. But for some reason it just didn't happen that way...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright: Questions Asked and Not Asked
Posted on June 30, 2008See also, Copyright, Technology, and Access to the Law: An Opinionated Primer, by James Grimmelmann, New York Law SchoolSee also: State of Oregon backs off claim that its law is copyrighted(I last blogged about this here.)
Virtual Assistants (VAs) in the Legal World
Posted on June 30, 2008This post is as much for people who NEED VA?s as for those who want to BE VA?s.MyShingle has an update post on using Virtual Assistants. It links also to this virtual assistant guide.
Oregon Ballot Measure 53: Civil Forfeiture: Final Recount
Posted on June 30, 2008Final recount results are in, here.Of course, there is also this:Official Count from the Oregon Secretary of State?s election web page (which hasn?t been updated since the 11th, or so it says ? it?s a mystery).Last posted about here, here, and hereAnd don?t forget about the Ballot Measure Archive Project, which I blogged about here...
Is an Oregon Constitutional Convention in your future?
Posted on June 25, 2008I blogged about this some time ago, but maybe, maybe, ?. See 6/25/08, Willamette Week Murmurs story:?Get me rewrite: Since Oregon?s founders wrote the state Constitution in 1857, much has changed. For instance, Article II, section 9, which disqualifies from public office ?every person who shall give, or accept a challenge to fight a duel,? might need tweaking (Randy Leonard might be an exception)...
White Space, Public Space, and Air and Space
Posted on June 24, 2008When technology, public access, and control issues surface ? can lawyers be far behind?White Space Devices & The Battle Over Innovation: Public Access vs. Industry Control of the Airwaves, By Sascha Meinrath, New America Foundation, June 2008Via beSpacific.
Sex Offender Laws
Posted on June 24, 2008Most headline news stories would benefit from better analysis (not to mention better research) than they are generally given by journalists in 500-1,000 (or even 5,000) word articles and sex offender registration stories are at the top of that list.For another ?view of the cathedral?, (with apologies to Guido Calabresi) on this difficult subject, see f/k/a, who has been blogging thoughtfully on this subject for quite a while now.
A Peacock (Named Bismarck) and the Law
Posted on June 24, 2008A peacock moved into my and my neighbors? adjoining yards (in Mt. Tabor) a couple of weeks ago and I?ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with a legal research or law library angle on the situation.(The fact that neighbor kids have named it Bismarck doesn?t help, except for the laugh factor...
Oregon Public Law Librarians go Live with Call-In TV Show
Posted on June 24, 2008In less than 3 weeks, about 2,000 law librarians (including the law lib bloggers) and their families will be converging on the Portland Metro area for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). This is a lot more exciting than you might imagine (and very good for local businesses and the tourism sector)...
Portland, Oregon: ?How to Walk the Morrison Bridge and Not Die, Probably?
Posted on June 24, 2008I have been writing directions to the Green Dragon from downtown for about 40+ law librarian bloggers who will be showing up in Portland in mid-July. (Uber Portland law professor blogger Jack Bogdanski will be our guest speaker - yeah! - and local bloggers are welcome to join us if they can take the heat of being surrounded by all those super smart, super geeky, but very cool law librarians :-)The bus directions are easy, but what about walking across the Morrison Bridge, in this city of pedestrians?Now I?m a serious walker (but not much of a hiker ? go figure), and it occurred to me that I had never walked across the Morrison Bridge...
Oregon Debtor-Creditor Law: new blogger
Posted on June 23, 2008A new (ish) local blogger on the scene: Oregon Debt Lawyer: A Portland Lawyer Discussing Debt-Related Legal Issues.
U.S. Supreme Court: Scope of Self-Representation Right
Posted on June 22, 2008The U.S. Supreme Court in Indiana v. Edwards (07-208), decided June 19th, 2008:"Held: The Constitution does not forbid States from insisting upon representation by counsel for those competent enough to stand trial but who suffer from severe mental illness to the point where they are not competent to conduct trial proceedings by themselves...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright: The Sound and the Fury (signifying what?*)
Posted on June 20, 2008Revised post: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Legislative Counsel Copyright DisputeEverybody loves a summary, so start here, at BoleyBlogs. Then ?I?m relatively new to Oregon so was wondering what happens next, i.e. after the motion was passed on 6/19/08 by the Legislative Counsel Committee that disclaims any copyright claim or action to enforce it...
When the Beat Generation Becomes the Revenue Generation
Posted on June 20, 2008... or, When Beating Your Traffic Ticket isn?t Possible in Oregon:(Previous OLR Blog post about Beating Your Traffic Ticket.Locals know which town and city Traffic Courts are not open to a conversation about whether or not a traffic law was violated or whether or not there was police or prosecutorial misconduct...
Alcohol and the Law in Oregon: 18-20 year olds drinking with parents
Posted on June 20, 2008May an 18 year old (or 19 or 20) drink in a public place with a parent?s permission?State of Oregon Liquor Control Commission, Fact Sheets, and Minors and Alcohol, which says in part:?Oregon law prohibits anyone, except a parent or legal guardian, to provide alcohol to a minor or juvenile...
Oregon Babysitting, Home-Alone: Parents, Teens, and Children and the Law
Posted on June 20, 2008The most frequently sought and read posts here at this blog over the years have been the ones on babysitting and, more to the point, When Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone? (Do you wonder? Parenting is not for the fainthearted.)My previous post from Feb 2008 is here...
Podcasting and the Law
Posted on June 20, 2008Law of the Podcast: Podcasting Legal Guide from Creative CommonsVia Law Librarian Blog and Cornell Law Library's InSITE
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute: June 20th Update
Posted on June 20, 2008There will be news on the blogs (especially here and here) about this hearing later, but, unless I misunderstood completely (possible given the sound quality):... the Oregon Legislative Counsel Committee passed a motion to disclaim all copyright claims and not to enforce existing copyright claims against Justia, Public resource dot com, etc...
Teach Your Children about the Law of Corporations: Nursing Home Law
Posted on June 19, 2008If you ever think about how you will be cared for as you grow older or are disabled, think about how you educate your children now. Maybe law school should be in their future, even for the doctors and business moguls in the family. Don?t be worried, or even scared -- just be prepared, and prepare the people who love you...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute: Live Hearing TODAY, June 19th
Posted on June 19, 2008Don?t forget that the hearing before Oregon Legislative Counsel Committee is today and you can listen live. For details on how to listen, go here.You can listen to it after the fact too, but will need to install Real Player, if you don?t have it already...
Oregon Measure 53 Recount Underway
Posted on June 17, 2008Curious what a county vote recount in Oregon looks like?See story at OPB, ?Statewide Recount Of Measure 53 Vote Underway,? MEASURE 53 ELECTIONS, by Chris Lehman, Albany, OR June 17, 2008 2:07 p.m.Recount results expected, possibly, on Thursday, which will be a busy day...
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: Listen online to the June 19th hearing
Posted on June 17, 2008The Legislative Council Committee hearing on the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) copyright dispute between Legislative Counsel and Public Resource dot org will be held:Thursday, June 19, 10:30 AM, Hearing Room AThere are numerous, and overlapping, links into these live links, so try the one that works for you:1) Legislative Audio and Video...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute: June 17th update
Posted on June 17, 2008Latest posts on the upcoming June 19th hearing in Salem:1) From Wikiprojectoregon, Time to Get Political! (which also posts time/place of hearing)2) Jack Bog?s Blog, State of Oregon as cyberbully3) Other websites to look at for information on this dispute, here and here...
How to Block Cellphone (text) Spam
Posted on June 15, 2008?How to Block Cellphone Spam,? by DAVID POGUE, Published: June 12, 2008(Note: David Pogue will be in Portland mid-July to speak at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) (yes, ?my people? :-))Via Jim Calloway?s Law Practice Tips blog.
"Consumer Reports" Product reviews ONLINE, FREE -- REALLY!
Posted on June 15, 2008"Consumer Reports" product reviews ONLINE, FREE -- REALLY!(The Secret: Your Public Library)I have promised to post this information regularly until I stop meeting perfectly intelligent people (who regularly and frequently use their public library) who don?t know they can search online, free, from home, the product reviews from Consumer Reports:Here?s the link to my previous post:Public Library Tip: Consumer Reports Magazine, Online, Free, REALLYIn other words, if you didn?t know this, it is not your fault...
Legal Research for the Intrepid but (honorably) Clueless
Posted on June 15, 2008If you?ve never, ever researched the law, I recommend you start at the beginning and work your way up:1) This quick online (and PDF) guide from AALL LISP is an excellent starting point: How to Research a Legal Problem: A Guide for Non-Lawyers2) Next, if you are brave enough, move on to the hard-core books on legal research, many of which you can find at your local libraries, including books from Nolo Press and HALT, both of which have excellent legal research guides, online and in print...
Oregon State Bar: Debtor-Creditor (and Bankruptcy) Consumer Info
Posted on June 15, 2008The Oregon State Bar (OSB) Debtor-Creditor Section has some useful links for the average person at their Consumer web page.It includes information on their Bankruptcy Clinic. Even though the web page does not seem to have been updated since 2007, I know for a fact that they have a 2008 schedule of these clinics, so give them a call, through their Legal Aid Services of Oregon partners...
Rank, Ranker, Rankest: Your Blog Ranking at Alexa
Posted on June 15, 2008Humbling, and oh, so funny ?.my blog ranking now at Alexa dot com: 8,983,3417To put this into perspective (and I?m nothing if not perspect):Total U.S. and world population (according to POPclock):U.S. 304,347,440World 6,674,384,818at 17:52 GMT (EST+5) Jun 15, 2008
Urban Renewal: Surprisingly interesting ? and comprehensible
Posted on June 13, 2008The Portland Tribune?s 6/12/08 article, by Steve Law, on urban renewal areas, When Will They End?, was an astonishingly good read. (Law librarians are admittedly wonkish, but still, if you want to know what an urban renewal district is, this story was riveting, and kept me occupied the length of a long morning commute (including fellow passengers who also seemed interested (maybe morning commuters are also a wonky and an alert bunch :-))Excerpt:?? Under Oregon?s system, cities and counties create an urban renewal district, and ?freeze? the property taxes in the district going to schools and other local governments...
Oregon Measure 53 (Civil Forfeiture) 6/13/08 Update
Posted on June 13, 2008Seized-property measure in doubt: Votes too close to call, so a recount may decide issue, by Peter Wong ? Statesman Journal:?With fewer than 600 votes separating passage from failure, the state Elections Division has ordered a hand recount of the ballots cast in the May 20 primary for a statewide measure allowing police to retain some proceeds from seized property?...
Trademark a Font: Who Knew?
Posted on June 12, 2008Yes, Virginia, you can trademark a font (no, not a fount, at least not this kind of fount).See story at BlueOregon and What The FOnt? The Great GOrdOn Smith LOgO Mystery (at DuckSportNews).More:1) U.S. Copyright Office2) U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (direct link to Trademark pages): Don't forget to look at their Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo kids pages!
Oregon Measure 53 Update
Posted on June 10, 2008* From the Oregonian 6/6/08 Newsflash: Recount likely for Ore. Measure 53, civil forfeitures:?SALEM, Ore. (AP) ? A recount is likely for Measure 53, the statewide ballot measure to change civil forfeiture laws on property seized by police in Oregon.As of Friday, Measure 53 was passing by 861 votes out of 975,000...
July 1st Start Date for New Oregon Driver License Rules
Posted on June 09, 2008New rules for Oregon Driver Licenses and IDs from DMV:?As of July 1, 2008, all applicants for driver licenses, instruction permits and ID cards - including renewals and replacements - must provide proof that they are citizens of the United States or are in the country legally, in addition to other requirements?? (link)
Scientific American: Blogging is Therapeutic?!
Posted on June 09, 2008Scientific American reports on:Blogging--It's Good for You: The therapeutic value of blogging becomes a focus of study, by Jessica Wapner:?Self-medication may be the reason the blogosphere has taken off. Scientists (and writers) have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings...
Oregon Ballot Measures Archives Project
Posted on June 09, 2008I?m thrilled to report on this story (librarians have weird wish-lists) from the Salem Statesman Journal:Project seeks to gather history of Oregon measures?PORTLAND, Ore. ? Within the marble walls of the State Archives Building, it?s all there?almost...
Blawgers and the Six Rules of Blog Science
Posted on June 05, 2008There?s a blog for everyone (said with the deepest and the sincerest apologies to Ranganathan*), whether you have one of your own, contribute to a group blog, think about writing one, or just read one:Blogs are for use.Every reader his/her blog.Every blog its reader...
Trimet Loses Free Speech Case: Commercial and Political Ad Protections in Oregon
Posted on June 04, 20081) ACLU of Oregon story (and links)2) Oregonlive stories:a) Trimet loses free speech case (includes link to opinion):?An Oregon judge has ruled that TriMet's refusal to allow a bus ad criticizing dams on the Klamath River violated constitutional free speech protections...
Guilt By Association in the News: Mexico, Oregon, and the U.S. (Guantanamo)
Posted on June 03, 2008Guilt by Association, here (aka collective responsibility), and here (association fallacy) and here*.1) ?She's spent two years in a Mexican prison -- now they want 23 more,? by Margie Boule, Sunday, June 1, 2008.??More than two years ago Rebecca and a Canadian woman named Brenda Martin were arrested by Mexican authorities and thrown in an overcrowded prison...
Sansone v Gordon: Medical Marijuana and Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs)
Posted on June 03, 2008Re: Sansone v. Gordon, Washington County (Oregon) Circuit Court Case No. C073809CV?County to appeal decision allowing medical pot users to carry concealed weapons,? Friday, May 30, 2008, by Kurt Eckert:?Next week, Washington County commissioners will consider filing an appeal to lift the haze over defining the right of Oregon medical marijuana users to possess concealed weapons...
Plum Book, Red Book, Blue Book, Pig Book
Posted on June 03, 2008You?ve heard of the Plum Book, the Red Books, the Blue Books, but have you heard of the Pig Book (no, not this one)? Read on, from beSpacific about the Congressional Pig Book, with a link to the Complete Pork Database.
Oregon Estate Planning Laws: 2007-08 Updates
Posted on June 02, 2008The latest section newsletter from the Estate Planning and Administration section of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) includes the following articles. (Only past issues are online, but you can contact your nearest law school or county law library (see sidebar for links) and ask to see a copy...
Justice Bedsworth: A Criminal Waste of Space (and the Case of Tunnel Vision)
Posted on June 02, 2008I bet you thought (again) that I forgot to post about the new Bedsworth, Criminal Waste of Space. You lose. This month?s episode is titled: ?Beds suggests it?s time to get a little help from your friends.?
Creativity and the Law
Posted on May 30, 2008Creativity must be the It word of the year - not a bad thing at all See these latest salvos in the creativity push:1) Boley Blogs: The 100 Most Creative Moments in American Law, posted May 23rd, 20082) Ernie the Attorney: Know Your Brain, posted 5/29/083) Laura the Law Librarian: here (see Delgado article) and here and Moneyball (the oh so excellent (funny too!) latest book I?m reading ? and creative baseball team management is THE theme)...
Lawyer Web Page Optimization
Posted on May 30, 2008Whenever lawyers ask my advice on blogging, I usually refer them to what I call ?real lawyer blogs? (and real lawyer web pages ? yes, ?real lawyers do have web feet? - uh, especially here in Oregon :-).There are a lot of them and many are excellent. (And I?ve blogged about them here and here...
Likely Recount for Oregon Measure 53 (2008)
Posted on May 29, 2008See Oregonlive story, ?Looks like recount for Measure 53,? by Michelle Cole, Wednesday May 28, 2008, 4:23 PM. (Other Politics and Elections news from Oregonlive.)From the SOS Elections webpage, as of 10:49 a.m., 5/29/08:State Ballot Measure No. 53Amends Constitution: Modifies Provisions Governing Civil Forfeitures Related To Crimes; Permits Use of Proceeds by Law Enforcement...
Good Calories, Bad Calories, and Twinkie Defenses
Posted on May 29, 2008I?m a big believer in reading widely, from A to Z, from potboiling genre fiction to the turgid Russians (though I do tend to avoid what has been coined, Misery-Lit). (I posted about reading widely here too - especially the Delgado article.)A story in today?s (5/28/08) Willamette Week Murmurs column reminded me again of the value of this reading pattern for lawyers...
Three Varieties of Hardboiled Oregon Lawyer: Kroger, Margolin, and Wax
Posted on May 26, 2008Three Oregon attorneys have new books out (two reviewed this week in the Oregonian and elsewhere and one on the verge of release):1) John Kroger, ?Convictions.? Oregonian review, ?Oregon AG candidate's book shows zeal as NY prosecutor, ? Sunday, May 25, 2008, by Steve Weinberg...
Oregon Notaries: There is a New Journal Rule: ID Theft Protections
Posted on May 26, 2008From the Secretary of State?s office, Filing in Oregon dot com:?The Secretary of State has issued a new Oregon Administrative Rule, effective May 1, 2008 OAR 160-100-0210 Information Required to Be Recorded in Notarial Journal. This rule addresses protections for Notaries and the clients they serve, by helping Notaries comply with the Oregon Consumer Identity Theft Protection Act...
Oregon Revised Statute error/correction: 2007 ORS 680.505
Posted on May 23, 2008The print 2007 ORS has a printing error affecting §ORS 680.505.The online version or the ORS has been corrected. Legislative Counsel has a PDF document with the correct text that can be inserted into the 21-volume print set.In case you were wondering, yes, these things do happen, which is why one should usually take a quick look, or a longer one as the case may be, at the session law, at least in those instances where something doesn?t seem quite right about the code...
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: June 19th Hearing
Posted on May 23, 2008June 19th, 2008, hearing in Salem, on this copyright dispute. (I last posted about this dispute here.) No details yet about time, where, or who.Letter here (via Public Resource dot org).SCRIBD documents on this matter are located in this Scribd group, also courtesy of Public Resource dot org.
Copyright and Orphan Works: More interesting than you thought!
Posted on May 23, 2008What are Orphan Works and why does anyone care about them? (No, this is not a post about Charles Dickens and the working orphans who populate his novels. I?m an Our Mutual Friend fan myself ? see here about these digressions. Sorry.)1) ?Orphan works? described here and here...
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: The Copyright Comic Book (and a few more side dishes)
Posted on May 22, 2008If you are following this dispute (and I last posted about it here), you might want to do a little reading about copyright, the history of commercial and official legal publishing, and vendor neutral citation (yes, all of these are entertwined) ? unless you want to sound ill-informed (or worse) when you Comment about the issue on the various blogs and news sites that are running stories about this dispute...
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: May 22nd Update
Posted on May 22, 2008Public Resource dot org has created this web page devoted to this dispute (about which I last posted here.)(Among other things, it says ?Kibbitzers welcome.? I thought in this state (Oregon) they were called Kitzhabers?? Oy :-)
Oregon High Court Judges: Productivity, Influence and Independence
Posted on May 21, 2008Willamette Week?s Murmers this week (5/21/08) notes a recent study (May 2008) titled, ?Which States Have the Best (and worst) High Courts," by Stephen J. Choi, Mitu Gulati, and Eric A. Posner.The WW Murmur links to the report and the official link is from the University of Chicago Law School, Olin Working Paper #405 or Public Law and Legal Theory working paper series #217.
Lawyer Blawgs: Stats, White Papers, and Blog Directories
Posted on May 20, 20081) I missed this local event. Beer and Blog?s: Sifting through your traffic stats for value (but I have been to the Green Dragon (half a block away from the Belmont 15 bus stop) :-). The topic is a great idea for an Oregon lawyer blogger gathering.2) Lawyers blogging and marketing ? LawyerCasting? including articles like these:a) How to Avoid Weird Characters in Email Subject Lines,b) Lawyer White Papers: The Top 10 Best Practices,c) and this one, Lawyer Blog DirectoriesThanks to Tom Mighell for his Inter Alia Blawg of the Day service (priceless!), where I found this marketing link and many others.
Rules of the Airwaves: Broadcasting your radio station phone call
Posted on May 20, 2008Do you ever wonder If There?s a Law about the ?Broadcast of Telephone Conversations?" There is!Excerpt from full report, The Public and Broadcasting: How to Get the Most Service from your Local Station?Broadcast of Telephone Conversations. Before broadcasting a telephone conversation live or recording a telephone conversation for later broadcast, a station must inform any party to the call of its intention to broadcast the conversation...
What's a Homestead Exemption?
Posted on May 20, 2008Wondering about what homestead exemptions are? (See Steve Duin?s column in May 15th, 2008 Oregonian, Sleeping dogs and the Berkman trial.)Note: Exemptions generally, in the context of debtor-creditor law (bankruptcy, debt collection, etc.) can get very tricky, so if you are more than curious, i...
?Dude, what?s a CMS and how much does a website cost??
Posted on May 20, 2008These are not ?stupid? questions. Yes, I?m sure there are ?stupid? questions, but they usually come out of my mouth (why don?t people in the sun-belt and the middle-east corner the market on solar energy technology?), not the mouths of people who visit my library...
Legal Notice by Publication
Posted on May 16, 2008Pro se litigants, and new lawyers, will ask us questions about how to ?publish a legal notice.? Does it have to be in the newspaper? Which newspaper? What does the notice have to say?Here are a few pointers, but as always, you?ll need to do some additional legal research and drafting yourself:1) Oregon Revised Statutes (use index, including but not limited to Chapter 193)2) Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (use the index for references, including ORCP(F)(b))3) Oregon Public Notice website, from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and their Legal Notice Publication Laws webpage (very useful, but read the disclaimer ? in fact, you should always read disclaimers)3) ?OSB Civil Pleading and Practice? (print or online at Oregon law libraries ? see sidebar for links)4) As for drafting the notice itself, I recommend you look at published notices to see how they are worded, but don?t assume they are right for your specific circumstances...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute: May 16th Update
Posted on May 16, 2008(I last posted about this dispute here.)Ars Technica: Fight shaping up over Oregon state law copyright claim (May 13th) (I?m not too sure about Nate Anderson?s ?Out West? and the ?tumbleweed? references, but we need all the lightness we can get when tempers get hot...
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: May 13th Update
Posted on May 13, 2008Selected recent (April and May) postings on this dispute, about which I posted previously here :1) Loaded Orygun has a summery posted 5/12/08.2) From ZDNet Government: Oregon says its law is copyright (and a link to the letter with the June 2nd deadline notice from public dot resource) (and other ZDNet posts with Oregon tags)...
Time to Rewrite Your Blawg/Blog?s Description?
Posted on May 11, 2008I looked at my original blog Oregon Legal Research (OLR) description (aka header) (unchanged since I started blogging in October 2005) and gave a small shudder. I then read through a sampling of my OLR blog posts over the intervening years and wondered, ?what HAS this OLR blog been about anyway??Here is my May 2008 rewrite (leaving room for future rewrites :-):The "Oregon Legal Research" (OLR) blog explores the world through the (decidedly non-linear) mind of an Oregon public law librarian (and guests)...
New Blawgers: What about Comments?
Posted on May 11, 2008As one of a small, but growing, number of Oregon legal bloggers (aka blawgers), I?m asked often to talk about blogging. (I?ve posted some of what I say here and here and here and here.)It occurred to me that I haven?t blogged for the New Blawger about blog Comments (though I do talk about Comments when I talk to lawyers and librarians about blawging)...
How to Find Oregon Appellate Court Briefs
Posted on May 09, 2008In self-defense (too many questions taking too long to answer) I created this guide on How to Find Oregon Appellate Court Briefs. (You can see why there were all those questions!)If you have anything to say about the guide, constructive or otherwise (well, maybe not those remarks), please leave a Comment or email my Law Library.
Oregon Revised Statutes Copyright Dispute: May 9th Update
Posted on May 09, 2008Selected recent postings on this dispute, about which I posted here.1) From ADF Alliance Alert: Oregon threatens over statutes copyright? (with a link to this post at The Volokh Conspiracy (and associated Comments)2) J?s Scratchpad: James Grimmelman: Copyright, Technology, and Access to the Law: Old Problems and New Solutions3) From Lowering the Bar: Oregon Says Its Laws Are Copyrighted, Can't Be Published
The official U.S. Code now has its very own RSS Feed
Posted on May 09, 2008Law Librarian Blog links us to this story about the Legal Information Institute?s, U.S. Code (U.S.C.), including the RSS feed for official updates to the U.S.C.Not everyone will find this exciting, but law librarians do!
100 Top Web Apps
Posted on May 09, 2008This 100 Top Web 2.0 Apps may be a more useful list than this one, though the latter has its uses (don?t we all).
Questions People Ask Law Librarians: Round Three
Posted on May 08, 2008It's time for Round 3 of Questions People Ask at their Local Law Library. The previous Round 2 of Questions was posted March 9th, 2008.As I said then (and will keep saying): Read these questions and ask yourself, what would people do if they didn't have a public law library where they get expert help researching the law or finding referrals to legal services? (Our Disclaimer is at the bottom of this post...
Oregon Law Review: ?How to Stop a Predator?
Posted on May 07, 2008?How to Stop a Predator: The Rush to Enact Mandatory Sex Offender Residency Restrictions and Why States Should Abstain,? by Justin H. Boyd, 86 Or. L. Rev. 219 (2008)The Oregon Law Review makes their articles available free, online: OLR homepage and current edition webpage.
"Kafka Comes to America"
Posted on May 06, 2008Oregon Federal Public Defender, Steve Wax, has written a book, Kafka Comes to America, about his experiences representing Guantanamo prisoners and Brandon Mayfield (whom I blogged about, in The Law Librarian and the FBI).Thanks to Jack Boganski for the lead!
50 Awesome Open Source Resources for Writers
Posted on May 06, 2008Via iLibrarian: Awesome is right!Resources for Online Writers: 50 Awesome Open Source Resources for Online Writers, published on Tuesday April 29th , 2008, by Christina Laun, including: Word Processors, Reference, Organization, Helpful Tools, and Web Tools.
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute: May 6th Update
Posted on May 06, 2008More articles on this dispute (some ?old?, some new):1) From Boing Boing, Via WisLaw, comes this on May 2nd: ?Archivists to Oregon: your laws aren't copyrighted, so there!?(BTW: If you haven?t see the short animation film, Gerald McBoing Boing (also here, from IMDB), you?ve missed a real treat...
The Importance of Not Being Abbreviated: The meaning of A.R.F. to the V.A
Posted on May 05, 2008Does A.R.F. on a death certificate stand for Acute Renal Failure or Acute Respiratory Failure?We all use abbreviations, but not all of us know the dangers of using them with impunity. Use of a wrong, or confusing, abbreviation can lead to serious consequences indeed:Oregonlive story, from the Argus: ?My life has just dissolved" Cherry Grove woman says abbreviation on death certificate caused dog problems,? Friday, May 02, 2008, by Nick Christensen, The Argus:Article excerpt:?Carolyn Ohlhauser had a plan for her property, had the money down to do it - and then got lost in a maze of paperwork that started with three letters and ultimately ends in Washington, D...
Justice Bedsworth: A Criminal Waste of Space, May 2008
Posted on May 01, 2008I bet you thought I forgot to post about the new Bedsworth, Criminal Waste of Space. You lose. This month?s episode is titled: Schaddenfreude a la Spitzer, so brace yourself.(More on what a spitzer is, here at f/k/a. David has been in especially fine writing fettle lately, so read on from his very own f/k/a home...
Knitting and the Law: Protect Your Laptop Screen from Prying Eyes
Posted on May 01, 2008Not quite what I want to see when I walk into the library, onto the bus, or into my local coffee shop, but I promise you will laugh out loud at this. Privacy is as privacy does:Body Laptop InterfaceThank you to the inimitable Bruce Scheier, for his post Protect Your Laptop Screen From Roving Eyes.
The Internet is a Copy Machine and 1,000 True Fans
Posted on May 01, 2008I read Kevin Kelly as often as possible but still miss many of his writings, so thank you to Dennis Kennedy for zeroing in on this KK post, Better than Free. It?s a wonderful read:Excerpt from Better than Free:?The internet is a copy machine. At its most foundational level, it copies every action, every character, every thought we make while we ride upon it...
Polygamy and the Law: Beyond Jurisprurience
Posted on May 01, 2008Robert Ambrogi?s Lawsites post on the polygamist compound raid in Texas made me think about why this event is so fascinating, legally (not salaciously - please). It seems to me as if one could teach an entire law school class from the issues raised in this case (these soon to be numerous cases) and perhaps, even, teach 3-years worth of classes from this event:From Bob?s post on Polygamy and the Law:?The raid of a polygamist compound in West Texas has raised difficult and troubling issues concerning the interplay between the state, religion and the rights of children, women and families...
Legal Challenge to 2007 Oregon Censorship Law
Posted on April 30, 2008News stories:Oregonlive 4/29/08, story, by Ashbel S. Green, Suit filed to throw out law meant to shield kids:Excerpt ?A group of book stores, health groups and civil liberties advocates has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn an Oregon law aimed at keeping sexually explicit materials from children...
Oregon Paternity Laws: 2007 Update
Posted on April 30, 2008Many changes have been made to Oregon?s paternity laws. For information about these changes, see:Oregon State Bar (OSB), Family Law Newsletter, April 2008 (vol. 27, #2) (not online, except to members - but available at some public law libraries). ?The 2007 Amendments to Oregon Paternity Law,? by Leslie J...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Copyright Dispute
Posted on April 28, 2008A couple of posts (on this copyright dispute) worth reading, from Law, Technology and Legal Marketing Blog, Cease, Desist & Resist - Oregon's Copyright Claim on the Oregon Revised Statutes and from Tim Stanley, Oregon Claims Copyright on Oregon Revised Statutes, at Fairly Used...
The Human Book: Borrow a Librarian from Your Library
Posted on April 28, 2008From the The Times Online, 4/22/08: The new library fad: borrow a person: A new library allows readers to borrow people for a 30-minute chat. Here's the experience of one man who offered himself as a human book?The idea, which comes from Scandinavia, is simple: instead of books, readers can come to the library and borrow a person for a 30-minute chat...
Oregon Attorney Survey of Prevailing Hourly Rates
Posted on April 28, 2008We had a request for something called the ?Oregon State Bar Survey of Prevailing Hourly Rates.? I drew a blank until finding this gem:Oregon State Bar 2007 Economic SurveyHere are more OSB Survey and Research reports.It?s filled with loads of useful information for those pesky attorney fee questions, plaintiff and defense counsel...
Voter Registration (or party-switch) Deadline: Tues, April 29th!!!
Posted on April 28, 2008Despite the barrage of radio, TV, and newspaper stories telling you it's all over, but the cage match, Oregonians still HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE OUR VOTES COUNTED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, so don't let anyone take that away from you. But you have to register first:You have until 5 p...
Portland (Oregon) Bike Boxes and the Law
Posted on April 28, 2008If you drive in Portland, you need to know about the Bike Boxes and the Law:From the Portland Online website:?The bike box is an intersection safety design to prevent bicycle/car collisions, especially those between drivers turning right and bicyclists going straight...
From Librarian to Blogger To Successful Pro Se Litigant
Posted on April 28, 2008Legal News Line, 4/23/2008, story: Blogger turns attorney, defeats trial lawyer's subpoena, by John O'Brien:?When blogger and admitted information-hoarder Kathleen Seidel received a subpoena asking for nearly every piece of data associated with her website, she had two choices -- get mad or get an attorney...
Transit Law: No right to SHOUT LOUDLY on Trimet
Posted on April 25, 2008In Oregon, at least on Trimet, speak softly and carry a big message.The case referred to in the Thursday, April 24, 2008, Oregonian story by John Snell:?TriMet: You shout, you're out: New rules - It's not what you say, but how loudly you say it, that will get you booted off the public transit system,? can be found at the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Opinions webpage...
Legal Research Tip: Oregon Initiative and Referendum
Posted on April 24, 2008Excerpt from the Oregon Blue Book:?In 1902, the Oregon electorate overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that created the initiative and referendum, a system of direct legislation by the people. In 1904, the electorate enacted the direct primary and, in 1908, the State Constitution was amended to include recall of public officials...
April 21st Update: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute
Posted on April 21, 2008If you want to follow this story, here are direct links and suggested searches:1) Further discussion of this topic can be found at Jack Bog?s Blog, see post and comments here: ?Don't you dare post Oregon laws on the internet!?2) See also Loaded Orygun post, here...
Session Law (Oregon Laws) vs. Codes (Oregon Revised Statutes)
Posted on April 21, 2008In response to the person who asked (in a Comment to this post ? and thank you for the question ? it is an excellent one!) the difference between a session law and a code, specifically between the ORS and the Oregon Laws, I offer this. It is about as brief a description as can be made, but it is followed by suggestions for further reading...
Update: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyright Dispute
Posted on April 18, 2008The following represents my opinion, from my perspective as an Oregon public law librarian:My previous posts on this subject are here and here and here.I?ve been reading, among other things, the blog Comments about the Oregon Legislative Counsel "copyright" dispute and my reaction yesterday and still today is: we don?t have all the facts so please don?t jump to conclusions...
More: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyrighted Material
Posted on April 17, 2008More stories, but, please, ? don?t jump to conclusions. Only the parties to this argle-bargle (here and here) have all the facts right now. It could be there is more misunderstanding than grandstanding. We look forward to hearing more.Rob Hyndman, linking to Slaw:?? by Simon Fodden on April 16th, 2008Boing Boing gives us Carl Malmud?s report that U...
More on: Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyrighted Material
Posted on April 17, 2008Additional information at BoleyBlogs:?Boing Boing points us to a bit of unfortunate business between the State of Oregon and two sites, Justia and Public.Resource.Org, that post copies of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS).Though Oregon does not claim a copyright in the statutory text itself, it has long claimed a copyright over the ?arrangement and subject-matter compilation?, the prefatory and explanatory notes, the leadlines and numbering for each statutory section, the tables, index and annotations,? etc...
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Copyrighted Material
Posted on April 17, 2008We?ve just started tracking this and (really) want to know more. So far I found the story at Boing Boing and the WisBlog - and the Scribd link."... The State of Oregon is sending out cease and desist letters to sites like Justia and Public.Resource.Org that have been posting copies of Oregon laws, known as the Oregon Revised Statutes...
Baseball and the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments
Posted on April 16, 2008On my evening commute, while reading ?Teach Like Your Hair?s On Fire? by Rafe Esquith, another part of my brain was trying to piece together a germ of an idea I have for this year?s Constitution Day?. I then read this in Rafe Esquith?s book:?To me, baseball is the perfect game...
Beware when Lawyers ?e-Discover?: Not Everyone is a Search Expert
Posted on April 16, 2008Law Technology News (registration, free, required) almost always has useful articles (also written for quick reading ? that rare good online layout) ? and some that are inadvertently funny (or maybe even advertently).This latest issue, April 2008, has quite a few excellent ones, and one in particular that may be funny only to librarians, though it?s a serious topic and the advice should be heeded...
Temp, part-time positions at Wash Co Law Library, Hillsboro (Oregon)
Posted on April 15, 2008Over the next few weeks, the Washington County Law Library hopes to fill either or both of these temporary, part-time positions (the permanent position opportunity is noted below ***).1) Library Clerk: Temporary Lib Clerk needed for 10-12 hours a week at the Washington County Law Library in downtown Hillsboro...
The Language (and the Law) of Chickens: "If they crow, they gotta go,"
Posted on April 15, 2008Apparently most of us city people don?t know that a cockerel is a rooster (i.e. a male chicken).In the 4/14/08 Oregonian story, ?It's a hard life for boy chicks,? by Kate Taylor, we learn almost more than we want to know about chickens and the people who love (and hate) them:(And even more people don?t know that ?boychick? is a Yiddish term of endearment for a young boy :-)?It's only the luckiest of cockerels that make it to families' homes and yards, but then they often face city bans or angry neighbors...
Oregon e-waste Law: Recycling Electronics
Posted on April 15, 2008From the 4/11/08, Oregonian story by Joe Fitzgibbon, ?New Oregon law hits ctrl-alt-del on e-waste,? (And local recyclers are listed further down this very long post!)?Let's say you've got your eye on a high-powered computer system. Or you're making plans to spend that federal tax rebate on a new digital television...
Mac Freeware, RSS Reader Optimizer, Facebook Erasing
Posted on April 15, 2008The iLibrarian blog posts are of use to non-librarians too:1. Seven Ways to Get the Most from your RSS Reader2. A summary of articles on Deleting Your Facebook Account3. 15 Best Freeware Apps for Mac UsersAnd lots more - at iLibrarian.
Oregon law: What is the Difference Between Assault IV and Assault I
Posted on April 14, 2008The Washington County (Oregon) Sheriff?s Office Newsletter always has at least one, and usually more, interesting (and even funny!) story. This latest issue includes this article:What is the Difference Between Assault IV and Assault I: What do the numbers mean??People often hear that criminals are charged with Theft I or Theft III...
Home Inventory Guide
Posted on April 14, 2008Your lawyer, your insurance company, your executor, and your family may love you for this Home Inventory Guide one day, though only one of the latter is likely to help you complete this guide:Via Neat New Tricks (which also links to this Picanswers site ? gotta love the web), comes this: Home Inventory GuideIt?s a California guide so don?t phone them for help, unless you live in California! Phone your own state?s ?people...
2008 Oregon Judicial Candidate Voting Guide
Posted on April 10, 2008The 2008 OSB Judicial Candidate Voting Guide is out. These are helpful, for voting now and for reference information later.It?s not always easy to find biographical information about state and local judges. Here are a few places to start:*** OFFICIAL SOURCES ***Oregon Judicial Department (OJD): for information on Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judgesOregon Blue BookVoter Pamphlets (Oregon state and county elections offices)*** FROM THE LEGAL COMMUNITY ***County and other local resources including bar associations, e...
Oregon Voter Registration Deadline: April 29th?
Posted on April 09, 2008You wouldn?t think you?d have to study the Oregon Elections Division web pages to find the impending, looming, terrifyingly close voter registration deadline, but you do!Here?s what it says at the Election Division Homepage. Find it there? Nope. Click on Voter Registration...
Law Library Assistant Jobs in Washington and Clackamas Counties (Oregon)
Posted on April 08, 2008The County Law Librarians of Clackamas County and Washington County are seeking to fill part-time Library Assistant job openings:*** Clackamas County Law Library has a position open for a permanent, part-time Law Library Assistant II. Visit the Clackamas County Dept of Employee Services and click on ?View Jobs?...
Motorcycles and the Law
Posted on April 08, 2008With gas prices going up, and up, and up ? more of us than ever before will be on two feet or two wheels. ... This sad motorcycle accident story from the April 7th, Oregonian, ?Old enough to know he's not invincible,? prompted us to track down some motorcycle law links for you:Oregon DMV motorcycle and moped manualMotorcycle Safety FoundationSo, whether you are on foot, on bicycle, or on motorcycle, practice your Purposefully Cowardly skills...
Lawyers, Law Librarians, Women Judges and Portland, Oregon
Posted on April 08, 2008Great minds think alike. The following organizations all have their annual meetings in Portland this year:League of Women Voters U.S. (LWVUS), June 13-17th, 2008American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) 2008, July 12-15th, 2008National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), October 15-19th, 2008
Searching Criminal Records
Posted on April 08, 2008PI Buzz has a new post on criminal records searching, with a link to this guide from Pacific Information Resources.My previous posts about searching criminal records are here and here and here.
[Contract Drafting] LAWYER MEETS BEAR [Stearns Merger Agreement]
Posted on April 08, 2008Adams Drafting blog takes a bite of the Bear Stearns Merger Agreement (and don?t forget to read the Comments):??. This deal raises all sorts of policy issues, but we at AdamsDrafting say to heck with the big picture?let?s look at the drafting angle! I offer below some random impressions derived from ten minutes spent skimming through the agreement...
Instant Messaging (or maybe not) for Introverts
Posted on April 07, 2008A quick stop by del.icio.us brought me to this essay, Instant Messaging for Introverts, by Joe Kissell, posted at Tidbits. (For those who don?t know about the perils of some software platforms: you may need to scroll down, way down, to get to the actual post ? this necessary scrolling is not just because introverts don?t really want you to read their essays :-)The essay includes links to articles and books on introverts, including the very funny, pithy, and soon to be classic, Caring for your Introvert, by Jonathan Rauch...
New Oregon disclosure law drives small-town resignations
Posted on April 07, 2008Interesting story by Karen McCowan, in the April 7th, 2008, Register-Guard, New disclosure law drives small-town resignations:Excerpt:"Coffee kiosk owner Scott Brooke doesn?t see what his fiancee?s out-of-town relatives have to do with his service on the Harrisburg Planning Commission...
?Pterodactyl Implications? for Lawyers: When All Else Fails
Posted on April 04, 2008Over the years, I?ve compiled a (very) short list of authorities a lawyer can cite to When All Else Fails. This list includes the following, pretty much in order of frequency of use (at least from attorneys I?ve spoken to :-):1) Marbury v Madison2) Hadley v Baxendale3) Statute of Westminster4) Something, anything almost, from Blackstone5) BractonAnd today, while tracking down another librarian lead (Government Database Restriction Access Information on Abortion ? also Wired story here), I found this:Pterodactyl Implications (from the experiment):?I recently read this news article about a man who ran his car into a pole, and when asked by the police what caused the accident his one word answer was ?pterodactyl?...
50% off Sale: State and Federal Surplus Store in Salem, April 5th
Posted on April 04, 2008State and Federal Surplus PropertyOffice furniture will be 50 percent off the marked price. Visitors can also find desktop and laptop computers, bicycles, lawn and garden equipment, power equipment, pocket knives and multi-tools, vehicles, motorcycles and many other items...
Legal and Financial Foreclosure Information Online
Posted on April 04, 2008A guide to many excellent online resources on foreclosures has been compiled by the Wisconsin State Law Library in their current newsletter:Look also at their State Law Library?s Legal Topics Page on Foreclosure (and look at their other Legal Topics too ? we love this chart! You don?t have to live in Wisconsin to find useful information in it...
Oregon Ethics: Guide for Public Officials
Posted on April 03, 2008The Oregon Government Ethics Commission publication, Guide for Public Officials, is now available from their web site, from the Forms and Publications page.
April 5th is National Pet Tag Day: Discounts and Amnesty!
Posted on April 02, 2008From Washington County Animal Services:National Pet Tag Day is Saturday, April 5. For the first time ever Animal Services will offer half-price dog licenses and waive dog license late fees. Pet microchips, rabies shots, and distemper shots for dogs or cats will cost only $10 each or three for $25...
The Truth About Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
Posted on April 02, 2008April 1st was probably not the best day to Tell the Truth, but here goes, via beSpacific and the FTC: The Truth About Cell Phones and the Do Not Call RegistryExcerpt: ?The Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones?? (Full press release)On a lighter note: Top 100 April Fool?s Day Hoaxes.
Thinking about Becoming a Lawyer (but not one of these two in Portland)?
Posted on April 02, 2008For those of you contemplating a life in the law, go behind the seamy headlines of lawyers brawling (Court fight! Lawyers trade blows in hall (from the 4/2/08 Oregonian article by Aimee Green).There are different role models for future lawyers: Seventeen Types of Lawyers, via the April 1st blawg review (for the whole lineup, visit Blawg Review), via f/k/a...
The Full Bedsworth
Posted on April 01, 2008A new Bedsworth (no April Fool, he :-), who once again feels the pain of the Legislator, among others:?I try really hard not to throw rocks at legislators. For one thing, they have a very tough job, a very boring job, a job most of us wouldn?t take unless they?d stopped hiring at the steel mill...
Civil Suit Filed in Burleson Case and Legislative Changes Sought
Posted on April 01, 2008The Friday, 3/28/08, Oregonian story by Anne Saker, ?Oregon patient sues over sexual abuse.? According to this story, Oregon ?does not require medical professionals to report sexual abuse of sedated patients?:?A woman who was sexually abused while sedated for surgery shed her public anonymity Thursday to file a civil suit and to promise she would fight to require medical professionals to report sexual crimes against patients under anesthesia...
Oregon Family Law: No Legal Obligation to Support a Child in This Country?
Posted on April 01, 2008Also in the Friday, 3/28/08, Oregonian , a story by Anna Griffin, Portland mayor's race: Money woes linger from Dozono's past, Mr. Dozono was quoted as saying a curious thing:??. Ohno [Dozono friend and business colleague] had a wife and child in Japan, but also fathered a son with an American woman, Lori Lanning...
Creativity and the Law: Jill Bolte Taylor and Clifford Stoll and TED
Posted on March 31, 2008The past few days I?ve been bombarded with ?creativity? of the best kind.From a very interesting discussion, and a funny How We Won the Case story, with a local attorney about the use of creativity in the law (not as straightforward as it sounds) to these amazing video clips from the TED Conference (and the TED blog) - my brain is whirling happily...
Child Pornography and the Library
Posted on March 31, 2008On the LibraryLaw blog: Child pornography is NOT free speech:Excerpt (and do read the comments):?Critical point for all libraries: Child pornography is NOT protected free speech. If you see someone looking at child porn in the library, call the police...
Fred Rodell Blog
Posted on March 31, 2008HALT has started a Fred Rodell web site and blog.What can I say? Read it and smile.
Geek Women Speakers
Posted on March 27, 2008Very, very cool: Geek Speak Women: ?We help you find technical women to speak at your events?Via Uber-Geek/Librarian Woman Nicole Engard at her What I learned today blog.
Consumer Reports Magazine, Free, Full Text, Online, From Your Desktop
Posted on March 27, 2008(If you don?t have a WCCLS public library card, ask how to do this search at your own public library. For example, you can also find this magazine, and others, online through the Multnomah County Library)Most people don?t know that with only a public library card, they can read, online and free, the product reviews (and everything else) that appear in Consumer Reports magazine...
Oregon Judicial Profiles and Other Biographical Information
Posted on March 27, 2008It?s not always easy to find biographical information about state and local judges. Here are a few places to start, but be prepared to dig deeply:1) OFFICIAL SOURCESOregon Judicial Department (OJD): for information on Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judgesOregon Blue BookVoter Pamphlets (Oregon state and county elections offices)2) FROM THE LEGAL COMMUNITYCounty and other local resources including bar associations, e...
Who Is Hosting That Domain Name?
Posted on March 25, 2008Sometimes you just want to know who is hosting a particular domain name. Go to Who is Hosting This (and its FAQ) to find out.More domain detection tools at Domain Tools.(Via Virtual Chase!)
Privatization of Access to Taxpayer-Funded Government Documents Continues
Posted on March 25, 2008You may not know that the Battle for Public Access to GAO Documents (and its sister Battle for Free, Public Access to CRS documents) has been waging for a very long time (decades, in fact).Here is a summary from WisBlog, ?Exclusive Rights to GAO Legislative Histories Sold to Thomson West?? (thanks, Bonnie!), with links to relevant documents and related stories (and here is the one from the Law Librarian Blog)...
Things To Do with Unwanted Books
Posted on March 25, 2008Here, Creative Uses for Old Books (thanks, Bonnie!), are some great ideas for things to do with used books. (I?m not sure they would work with that duplicate set of Regional Reporters you have in the basement, but maybe starting a small business is the way to go in coming days, not to mention that those hollowed out books might be the bibliophile?s alternative to the Cash under the Mattress method of saving for the future)...
Why a Free Internet may not be a Good Thing
Posted on March 25, 2008Dawn Douglass? response to Wired?s article: Chris Anderson is wrong. FreeDOM, not free, is the future of businessVia Cedar Mill Community Library blog.
A Free Web 2.0 Technology Course for Law Librarians
Posted on March 25, 2008Not only is this free, but you don?t even have to commit to it* - wowsers!:A Free, Online Course to Introduce Law Librarians to Web 2.0 TechnologiesExcerpt:?The Web 2.0 Challenge will provide a free, comprehensive, and social online learning opportunity designed for law librarians by directing them in hands-on use of these technologies...
Lawyers Give Legal Information Away, Free
Posted on March 24, 2008My non-lawyer readers may not realize just how much lawyers share, freely. In fact, a lot of lawyers don?t realize it either.The recent Feb/Mar 2008 issue of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Bulletin demonstrates this in two ways.One is that their own professional association?s monthly magazine is free and online; you don?t need to be a member of the OSB to read it...
More about Lawyers Who Write, Creatively
Posted on March 24, 2008More short essays worth reading to soften out the edges of a week in the World of Lawyers: Courthouse News EditorialsIt?s not often that in memoriam essays are both funny and moving, but Coyote?s 3/14/08 essay, Jim Brantly was my Friend, is both: