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What We're Reading

Posted in Hype on Saturday March 24 2012 @ 11:01am

OK, yes, still Goodnight, Moon. But, in addition ---

A Struggle with the Police and the Law, John Paul Stevens, NYR (April 5, 2012).

The Gay Path Through the Courts, David Cole, NYR (April 5, 2012). It is rare enough for conduct long considered criminal, indeed worse than rape, to be transformed into a constitutional right. But for it to happen in a mere seventeen years, the equivalent of a nanosecond [...] is nothing short of extraordinary.

Dear 16-Year-Old Me, Don't Go To law School, David Lat, Above the Law (February 29, 2012).

Benefits to Being a Career Butterfly, Emily Guy Birken, MoneyNing (September 2011).

Court Technology Bulletin. The post about best court websites is particularly thought-provoking.

Cake Wrecks. Hey, it's Friday.

Saturday update: Convicted Combat Vets Watch Each Other's Backs to Stay Out of Prison, Michael M. Phillips, Wall Street Journal (March 23, 2012). Of the dozen or so articles about veterans courts we've read, this is by far the best. It goes beyond explaining the basic concept and feel-good outcomes (as most do) to show some of the underlying controversies, conflicts, and more difficult cases. Note: link is subscription-only.

It Ain't Over...

Posted in Hype on Monday January 02 2012 @ 4:29pm

Twelve days, right? Even though it seems like 8 weeks since our kids have been out of school...

So, not-belatedly, here are some wishes from our peeps at the Court Technology Bulletin: The Twelve Days of Court Tech!

Four More Years!

Posted in Hype on Thursday December 29 2011 @ 9:33am

Happy Birthday to us!

It was roughly 4 years ago that court-o-rama.org reared its silly, yet slightly informed head. Thanks SO much to everyone who followed us here from the Jur-E Bulletin, to those who found us on their own, to those who bail us out in various ways, to our facebook likers, etc. It's been fun, and will continue to be so.

Whiskers on Kittens

Posted in Hype on Tuesday December 27 2011 @ 4:53pm

Here are a few of our favorite things --

Simple Justice: This blog by Scott Greenfield is New York- and defender-centric, but never misses a chance to comment on the larger world of criminal justice (or lack thereof).

Justice at Stake: In these tense political times, Justice at Stake is doing excellent work. Please read before voting!

probono.net: Chock full o' content is a unique online resource for nonprofit legal providers.

Sentencing Law and Policy: One of the first and still grandaddy of all law professor blawgs, Doug Berman at OSU has remarkable drive. We got hooked on this in our Blakely days, but it is still always topical!

NIEM Misconceptions Unmisconceptualized: Mmmm, cream puffs! My kids all like this video, so even if you're a NIEMaphobe or NIEM-cluless, even if you don't own a Got NIEM? t-shirt, you will enjoy this.

National Center for State Courts: Everything you ever wanted to know about state courts but were afraid to ask!

Resources Study Innovation for Court ADR (RSI): Did you always wish there were a good online (or any) resource for ADR stuff? Here it is -- the answer to your dreams.

Gavel to Gavel: Bill Raftery has the best court blog! Shh, don't tell anyone. Certainly, don't tell us.

Enjoy!

What To Do

Posted in Hype on Wednesday November 30 2011 @ 7:59pm

December 13-15, 2011: National Training Conference on Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities, Orlando, Florida.

February 17-18, 2012: Conference: Manhood in American Law and Literature, Chicago. The conference will include dramatic performances by luminaries such as Judge Posner, Judge Wood, and Martha Nussbaum; student papers; and of course food and discussion.

March 22-23: 6th Annual Sedona Conference Institute Program on Staying Ahead of the eDiscovery Curve, in St. Louis, Missouri. Do not accidentally visit Sedona!

July 28, 2012: The Pound Civil Justice Institute will hold its Forum for State Appellate Court Judges in Chicago, Illinois. The timely topic (we don't think it will be solved by next summer) will be "The Court Funding Crisis."

Send us your events! We post them from time to time.

School of Blog

Posted in Hype on Monday November 28 2011 @ 1:50pm

What's new on Law Professor Blogs?

China: A Decade in the WTO - conference papers, Donald C. Clarke, Chinese Law Prof Blog (November 26, 2011).

The Balanced Budget Amendment's Attack on the Constitution, Steven D. Schwinn, Constituional Law Prof Blog (November 24, 2011).

First Amendment Scholarship Update, Josie F. Brown, First Amendment Law Prof Blog (November 28, 2011). This is a weekly feature, and quite thorough.

Many many interesting posts, links, and findings from Caitlin E. Borgmann's Reproductive Rights Prof Blog.

The story behind the blogs is interesting. The site was founded by Joe Hodnicki, then law librarian at the University of Cincinnati, now the Law Library Director for the Butler County (Ohio) Law Library, and Professor Paul Caron, also of UC Law. The simple yet brilliant plan was to collect all law professor-related blawgs in one corner of cyberspace for easy reference. The range of topics is immense -- from Adjunct Law Prof Blog to Workplace Prof Blog. Quality and updating varies -- law professors have so much more to do than blog the day away -- but some are quite helpful. The standout is Doug Berman's Sentencing Law & Policy blog, the first (though certainly not the last) blog to be cited by the SCOTUS. There are innumerable niches, such as Aviation Law Prof Blog, that you can't find anywhere else.

Movie Night

Posted in Hype on Monday November 07 2011 @ 9:27am

The NLADA has opened the polls to members. They can now vote on their favorite movie about justice.

So far, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Shawshank Redemption lead 50/50. Other movies awaiting votes:

Norma Rae. My aunt made me see this multiple times in a theater. Yes, I was ten at the time.

Amistad. This is great for legal history and/or property law fans (yes, we exist). Also, it illustrates how court interpreters are important to ensure access to justice.

Philadelphia. We will always be grateful to Gwen Handelman for showing this in class. Her choice was a bold, brave, bodacious act in MetroLex at that time.

Witness for the Prosecution. Personal connections: Tyrone Power went to my high school (years earlier, I'm afraid), and my little brother played a judge in this (years later).

My Cousin Vinny. Oh, if only real court were this entertaining!

North Country. It has a great cast and is set in Minnesota.

Erin Brockovich.

A Few Good Men.

Presumed Innocent. Ahh, Raul Julia! May we also recommend Kiss of the Spider Woman? Less justice, but wow.

Les Miserables. My brother frequently bursts into song, often showtunes, sometimes from Les Miz. H can also yodel.

Remember, only members can vote. But, unlike real-world voting, the rest of us can still complain. Why Jury Duty didn't make this list, we can't fathom.

The Magic Number

Posted in Hype on Sunday January 02 2011 @ 7:22pm

Court-o-rama.org turned three years old when you weren't looking! Thanks to everyone who inspired, donated, supported with kind words, and clicked in.

Thanks especially to chief instigator, Mr. Carlson for taking care of the troublesome tech work but mostly for saying, "Hey, kids! Let's put on a blawg!" Yep, those were his exact words.

The times, they have a-changed since 2008. We are now on facebook (which, sadly, has made us too lazy to post the old-fashioned way, but we promise to try harder this year).

Happy 2011!

Happy New Term!

Posted in Hype on Saturday October 02 2010 @ 4:06pm

Aside from Red Mass (which is not nearly as full of shooting flames as we had hoped), how do people celebrate the new SCOTUS term? Welcome Justice Kagan cupcakes? A moment of silence/listening in honor of Justice Thomas? Flipping someone off, ala Justice Scalia?

The ABA has a nice online Supreme Court Previews.

Too late for the William & Mary show, which is great fun. But see Law School Hosts 23rd Supreme Court Preview, Chris McKenna, The Flat Hat (September 27, 2010).

Love 'em or hate 'em, great minds gathered for the Federalist Society's National Press Club SCOTUS preview. (H/T to TheVolkh Conspiracy.)

If the real SCOTUS is too much, try the FantasySCOTUS (thanks, Jeana!).

Just Read It

Posted in Hype on Friday September 17 2010 @ 8:01am

There are many ways to celebrate Constitution Day -- gift a gun, assemble peacefully, or demand to see a warrant.

But the best, simplest, purest form of celebration is this -- read it. It's a mini history lesson (for example, what was going on in the world at the time of each amendment?) It's a lesson in restraint. It's blessedly brief. It's organized beautifully. Read it already!

Happy Constitution Day!

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