tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217189112012-05-25T18:36:27.472-04:00Legal information and research resources brought to you by the Michael E. Moritz Law Library at The Ohio State University.M. Steinkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07269702853607179864noreply@blogger.comBlogger1239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-61069675903449942162012-05-25T16:42:00.000-04:002012-05-25T18:36:27.503-04:00

Earlier this week, Ohio Supreme Court Justice and Moritz grad Evelyn Lundberg Stratton announced her retirement after 16 years on the court. According to a Columbus Dispatch article, Justice Stratton intends to focus her efforts helping military veterans caught up in the criminal justice system, particularly those dealing with mental health issues.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-36955080871075269342012-05-24T09:48:00.001-04:002012-05-24T09:48:12.550-04:00

Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court decided Wymsylo v. Bartec, upholding the Smoke Free Workplace Act (statute here), which requires proprietors of public places of employment to prevent smoking on their premises. Columbus Dispatch Toledo Blade Business First

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-36538199534540330602012-05-23T16:44:00.000-04:002012-05-23T18:14:53.504-04:00

Last month we wrote about an Ohio school case in which a school district prohibited a high school student from wearing a t-shirt stating, "Jesus is not a Homophobe." The parties have reached a settlement allowing the student to wear the shirt and compensating him $20,000 for damages. See local coverage from the Dayton Daily News, national coverage from the Wall Street Journal, and the federal

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-40495197443557150242012-05-22T15:54:00.000-04:002012-05-22T15:54:20.290-04:00

In its next Term, the Supreme Court will review global wiretaps that are intended to monitor for terrorism, but may accidentally monitor Americans. As Lyle Dennison explains at SCOTUSblog, this will be a very narrow review: In a brief order, the Justices agreed to decide whether groups and individuals fearing that their sensitive conversations will be monitored have a right to go to court to

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-38525720837988651872012-05-18T12:54:00.001-04:002012-05-18T12:54:36.875-04:00

Mark Zuckerberg rang the NASDAQ's opening bell this morning, marking Facebook's debut as a public company.  This transition could keep many a lawyer employed--think of SEC compliance alone. Facebook's imprint on the law has taken many forms.  According to news reports, yesterday Senators Schumer and Casey unveiled legislation seeking to punish tax dodgers, inspired by cofounder Eduardo Saverin's

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-50248577156496183622012-05-17T16:49:00.000-04:002012-05-17T19:49:56.791-04:00

We've written previously about Ohio's distracting driving bill, HB 99. Earlier this week the Ohio House concurred with Senate changes to the bill and sent it to Governor Kasich for his signature. See write-ups in the Columbus Dispatch and Cleveland Plain Dealer. The bill includes additional prohibitions for juveniles regarding the use of electronic devices while driving.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-55218740264082535442012-05-15T16:57:00.000-04:002012-05-15T19:12:04.470-04:00

Cornell's freely available Legal Information Institute (Est. 1992) recently added a new version of the Code of Federal Regulations. Features include cross-reference links to LII's U.S. Code as well as links to the latest regulation updates in the Federal Register's e-CFR. See the announcement from LII.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-28144727358525851042012-05-10T15:45:00.000-04:002012-05-10T15:45:01.780-04:00

If you purchased an iPod from Apple between September 12, 2006 and March 31, 2009, you may soon be receiving notification of your involvement in a class-action lawsuit.  The three individuals who initially filed suit claim that Apple unfairly prevented iPods from playing songs purchased anywhere but iTunes.  In November of last year, the suit was given class action status.  Class members began

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-58147463080987759632012-05-09T16:59:00.000-04:002012-05-09T18:10:06.147-04:00

Moritz professor Michelle Alexander was on the Colbert Report yesterday, talking about race and the war on drugs.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-60951324413588171642012-05-08T16:24:00.001-04:002012-05-08T16:24:33.871-04:00

Yesterday, the Children's Law Center released two publications on the young offenders in Ohio who are transferred to the adult system.  The report, Falling through the Cracks: A New Look at Ohio Youth in the Adult Criminal Justice System, is accompanied by In Their Own Words, highlighting the personal experiences of young people and their families. Local coverage here.

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-9582295820702934882012-05-07T16:34:00.000-04:002012-05-07T16:35:52.259-04:00

Last month, we linked to an article showing the enormous sums of money contributed by the top ten Super PAC donors. UCLA law professor Eric Zolt and others are leading an effort to remove at least some of the money from politics by establishing a website called Repledge. Currently in beta form, Repledge "attempts to connect individual contributors who agree to transform their political

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-91572650687566717882012-05-04T09:51:00.001-04:002012-05-04T09:51:41.288-04:00

Back in February, we wrote about the new dog law here in Ohio, ending the designation of pit bulls as inherently vicious.  But the status of pit bulls is still changing in other states, too.  Last week, the Maryland Court of Appeals adopted "a strict liability standard in respect to the owning, harboring, or control of pit bulls and cross-bred pit bulls in lieu of the traditional common law

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-79287679486879163372012-05-02T17:03:00.001-04:002012-05-02T17:30:20.209-04:00

New York Times Supreme Court correspondent Adam Liptak reported earlier this week on the absence since 1993 of a certain 4-letter word from the Court's opinions. After the Cohen v. California case in 1971, the word apparently appeared in nine subsequent decisions over the next two decades or so, usually quoting a criminal defendant. In discussing the Cohen case, Liptak quotes Moritz professor

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-1952275589815370102012-05-01T14:29:00.002-04:002012-05-01T14:29:54.218-04:00

We have previously posted on the Ohio Amish men alleged to have cut the beards and hair of other Amish here and here. Samuel Mullet, Sr., the alleged ringleader, was previously ruled indigent.  However, he recently received over $2 million from oil and gas leases, and now must pay for his own defense.  Prosecutors have also asked that Mullet remain in jail until trial, scheduled to begin on

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-7103825275137810942012-04-30T17:19:00.000-04:002012-04-30T17:56:16.592-04:00

As the Columbus Dispatch reported last week, lab test results from DNA found at a Summit County murder scene indicate that the DNA did not belong to Dewey Jones, currently 17 years into a life sentence for the murder. Attorneys representing Jones from the Ohio Innocence Project recently sought leave to file a motion for a new trial. The Ohio Innocence Project, directed by Moritz grad and

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-78342760163483360812012-04-27T09:50:00.000-04:002012-04-27T09:52:49.690-04:00

In a recent article, iWatch News provides profiles of the top ten donors to super PACs. The article reports that the amounts given by these donors (individuals and a few organizations) comprise a third of all super PAC donations. The totals per donor range from $2.25 million to $26.5 million (casino magnate Sheldon Adelson). This chart provides a quick reference to the donors, the total amounts

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-29364291086950789722012-04-26T13:51:00.002-04:002012-04-26T13:51:56.375-04:00

For something a little lighter during exam season, please enjoy the Mr. District Attorney comic books from the 1940s and 1950s. h/t: Lowering the Bar and Abnormal Use DC Wikia

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-61009253524893851032012-04-25T12:57:00.000-04:002012-04-25T12:57:17.310-04:00

The U.S. Supreme Court persistently resists TV cameras--a 20th century technology--in the court room, a position Congress may change (see Senate bill 1945).  The Justices also resist citing that premier 21st century resource:  Wikipedia.  A recent Wall Street Journal Law Blog report reveals, however, that lower courts are not so immune to the charms of the online encyclopedia, citing entries on

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-31642452741318416692012-04-24T14:26:00.001-04:002012-04-24T14:26:40.037-04:00

The first criminal charges regarding with 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico were filed today.  A former BP engineer has been charged with obstructing justice for allegedly deleting messages from his iPhone that detailed how much oil was entering the Gulf.  He was part of the BP team sent to estimate the severity of the leak and try to stop it. Department of Justice Press Release (including

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-64443240036074412282012-04-23T17:16:00.002-04:002012-04-23T17:17:15.258-04:00

Seminole County Circuit Court Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. of Florida's Eighteenth Judicial Circuit has unsealed the record in George Zimmerman's case. Many of the court documents, some with redactions, are now available on the court's website. Documents include the prosecution's probable cause affidavit as well as an exhibit list showing two prior legal matters involving Zimmerman. See the Wall

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-42587569237802003062012-04-20T08:26:00.001-04:002012-04-20T08:26:57.258-04:00

Using nothing more than his experience as a marathon runner and, according to LegalPad, some "Jedi mind control," San Francisco attorney David Newdorf foiled the teenage thieves who mugged him for his cell phone. When one of the teens snatched the phone from his hand, Newdorf ran them down, convinced them to return it...and then used it to take pictures of the thieves and contact the police. 

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-38751932710932075832012-04-19T10:36:00.001-04:002012-04-19T10:38:50.438-04:00

Two Florida Circuit judges have recused themselves from the Trayvon Martin case. The first, Jessica Recksiedler, withdrew because of a potential conflict of interest—her husband works for with a CNN legal analyst. The second, John D. Galluzzo, formerly practiced with Zimmerman’s current attorney, Mark O’Mara. For more, see coverage in the Miami Herald.That’s not the only recusal in the news

Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531480845378419616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-45466501155342950182012-04-18T09:51:00.003-04:002012-04-18T10:29:52.533-04:00

The Congressional Budget Office recently released new "infographics" on the federal budget including separate displays for federal revenues, mandatory spending, and discretionary spending, as well as a federal budget overview. According to the CBO, these releases are part of its effort to make budgetary information more accessible.

Matt Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945699364444346733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-26464999617386710062012-04-17T09:28:00.003-04:002012-04-17T09:28:50.791-04:00

Teller (the silent half of magical duo Penn & Teller) is suing Gerard Bakardy for allegedly revealing the secret behind "Shadows" (an illusion in which the magician "cuts" the shadow of a flower, and the real flower comes apart) and attempting to sell the secret of the illusion for around $3,000. Teller registered "Shadows" with the U.S. Copyright Office in 1983. MSNBC (watch Teller perform "

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21718911.post-75486171774343193512012-04-12T11:05:00.000-04:002012-04-12T11:05:14.874-04:00

Your signature dance moves can and will be used against you. A teen from Galveston, Texas, is one of three suspects in a burglary from a Duck Tours boat.  Security cameras caught the young man dancing, and the routine was recognized by school police officers. Hat Tip: Lowering the Bar (see the video here!) Huffington Post Galveston Daily News

Stephanie Zieglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17072401033640030025noreply@blogger.com