Category: Legal Issues

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Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

Source: United States Courts

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Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., has named seven new chairs of Judicial Conference committees and extended the term of six current chairs by one year. The appointments took effect Oct. 1.

  • Bankruptcy Judge Julie A. Manning (Connecticut) succeeded Judge K. Michael Moore (Florida-Southern) as chair of the Committee on Audits and Administrative Office Accountability.
  • Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., (North Carolina-Middle) succeeded Chief Judge Sara L. Darrow (Illinois-Central) as chair of the Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System.
  • Judge Edmond E. Chang (Illinois-Northern) succeeded Judge Randolph D. Moss (District of Columbia) as chair of the Committee on Criminal Law.
  • Judge Cathy Seibel (New York-Southern) succeeded Judge Micaela Alvarez (Texas-Southern) as chair of the Committee on Defender Services.
  • Judge Darrin P. Gayles (Florida-Southern) succeeded Judge D. Michael Fisher (Third Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction.
  • Chief Judge Beth Phillips (Missouri-Western) succeeded Judge David L. Bunning (Kentucky-Eastern) as chair of the Committee on Financial Disclosure.
  • Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis (New York-Eastern) was extended for another year as chair of the Committee on Intercircuit Assignments.
  • Judge William B. Traxler, Jr., (Fourth Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability.
  • Judge Brian S. Miller (Arkansas-Eastern) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Judicial Resources.
  • Judge John D. Bates (District of Columbia) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
  • Judge Jay S. Bybee (Ninth Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules.
  • Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (Minnesota) was extended for one year as chair of the Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules.
  • Judge Glenn T. Suddaby (New York-Northern) succeeded Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick (Ohio-Northern) as chair of the Committee on Space and Facilities.

The 26-member Judicial Conference is the policy-making body for the federal court system. By statute, the Chief Justice of the United States serves as its presiding officer and its members are the chief judges of the 13 courts of appeals, a district judge from each of the 12 geographic circuits and the chief judge of the Court of International Trade. The Conference meets twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the court system and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.

Related Topics: Judicial Conference of the United States

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Join Us on 10/26 for a Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar titled “Nordic Noir: Genealogy as a Criminal Investigation Technique in Denmark and Sweden”

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

In 2020, the Swedish Police solved a 16-year-old cold case using forensic genetic genealogy, a first for the country. Following the conviction, the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection found that there was no legal basis for using investigative genetic genealogy. Earlier in 2023, the Danish and Swedish parliaments both voted on whether the police should have the power to use DNA from genealogy research as a tool to solve crimes. The Danish Parliament approved a citizen proposal that the Danish police have the right to use genetic genealogy as an investigation tool in certain serious crimes, whereas the Swedish Parliament voted down a similar proposal from the Parliamentary Committee on Justice.

Please join us on October 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. EDT for our next foreign, comparative, and international law webinar titled, “Nordic Noir: Genealogy as a Criminal Investigation Technique in Denmark and Sweden.” This webinar is the latest installment in the Law Library’s Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar Series.

This webinar will describe how genealogy research and family DNA searches have been used in Denmark and Sweden, the legislation supporting their use, and how the national laws relate to the European Union rules on the right of privacy and family life, the GDPR, and the two countries’ international human rights obligations.

To register for this webinar, please click here. Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

The webinar will be presented by Elin Hofverberg, foreign law specialist in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. Elin conducts research on Nordic domestic law, as well as comparative and international law, for the U.S. Congress, executive agencies, and the U.S. judiciary. Elin holds a Master of Laws in international and comparative law from The George Washington University Law School and a Juris Doctor equivalent (Jur. kand.) from Uppsala University. She is a member of the New York State Bar and qualified to practice law in Sweden.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

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Law Library of Congress Report Discusses Tax and Investment Incentives

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

The following is a guest post by Louis Myers, a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Louis has authored several blog posts for In Custodia Legis, including New Acquisition: The Trial of Governor Picton, A Case of Torture in Trinidad, Indigenous Law Research Strategies: Settlement Acts, Looking into the Past: Space Telescopes and the Law of Outer Space, and Law Library of Congress Report Explores Sanctions for Worldwide Human Rights Abuses.

The Law Library of Congress recently published a new report, Investment Incentives, discussing “investment incentives and tax treatment investments” in a selection of jurisdictions. Individual reports highlight major tax frameworks including sections on income tax, capital gains tax, and corporate or business tax. Special investment incentives are also identified, which include industrial categories, employee benefits, and foreign direct investments.

The report consists of a comparative analysis of the tax regimes and investment structures of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Jurisdictions were chosen based on the size of their economies. The report also contains several maps that demonstrate various data points explained in the individual jurisdictional components.

The report is based on a framework of incentives available in the U.S. tax code. Since each jurisdiction has its own unique system, individual report components highlight the primary incentives available. Common topics addressed amongst each of the surveyed jurisdictions are the tax rates for individuals and businesses, and the treatment of capital gains. Other aspects discussed in individual reports include incentives for investments made in various industrial sectors, such as mining and technology. There is also discussion about Value Added Tax and special rules applying to real estate investments. Most reports close with a discussion of international agreements related to tax and investment.

This report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign legal specialists with expertise in each area.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

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Law Library: News & Events: Join Us on October 19th for a Congress.gov Webinar

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Join instructors Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer on October 19th at 2:00 p.m. EDT for a Congress.gov Webinar. This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the Congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will also be highlighted.

Please register here.

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Cecilia Altonaga: First Female Cuban American Federal Judge

Source: United States Courts

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Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga is still humbled by her appointment in 2003, becoming the first female Cuban American federal judge. 

“One gets to occupy the position of district court judge because of people who have confidence in you, people who have vouched for you, people who have championed you, and spoken up for you and assisted you along the way,” said Altonaga, who serves in the Southern District of Florida. 

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, a new video profile explores Altonaga’s Cuban heritage, her pursuit of a career in law, and her family’s defection from Cuba. 

“I was born into a family with two parents who had to leave everything behind and had nothing here, who had to remake their professional and personal lives,” Altonaga said. “My father was a lawyer in Cuba, and for about the first 10 years of my life in the United States, he did not practice law because he couldn’t.” 

In her teens, Altonaga’s father was admitted as a U.S. lawyer; she found herself frequently assisting at his law office. She also recalled her father swearing her in as a lawyer at the family’s dining room table.  

Altonaga hopes her example encourages others to fully embrace their cultural identity.  

“Know about your culture and bring that culture to bear and bring those values to bear in everything you do,” Altonaga said. 

Learn about Hispanic and Latino judges in the federal Judiciary and other Hispanic Heritage Month resources. 

Related Topics: Judicial History

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Law Library at the National Book Festival – Pic of the Week

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

On Saturday, August 12, the Law Library of Congress hosted a table at this year’s National Book Festival held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Law Library staff answered questions about our legal research services, collections, and unique expertise in foreign, comparative, and international law. Staff also discussed our online products such as the Guide to Law Online and the Global Legal Monitor, which covers legal developments and news from around the world. Bibliographic and Research Instruction Librarian Barbara Bavis presented “Keeping Up with Congress!” about Congress.gov, the official legislative information system for the U.S. Congress. This presentation covered some of the features of Congress.gov that Americans can use to learn more about how bills become law and how to keep up with what is going on in Congress. We hope to see you again next year!

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

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Law Library: News & Events: Join Us on October 12 for an Orientation to Legal Research Webinar: U.S. Federal Statutes

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

On Thursday, October 12, at 1:00 p.m. EDT, join legal reference librarian Jason Zarin for an Orientation to Legal Research Webinar next month focusing on U.S. Federal Statutes. This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. statutory and legislative research, including information about how to find and use the U.S. Code, the U.S. Statutes at Large, and U.S. federal bills and resolutions.

Please register here.

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Latest News: Library to Host Family Mystery Day for Middle Grade and Young Adult Readers

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Library to Host Family Mystery Day for Middle Grade and Young Adult Readers
Day to Feature Author Panels, Mystery Writing Workshop and Scavenger Hunt 

The Library of Congress will host Can You Solve It? Family Mystery Day on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building. The day will feature author panels for middle grade and young adult readers, a mystery writing workshop, scavenger hunt and more.

Free timed-entry passes are required to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visit loc.gov/visit

to reserve a timed-entry pass for all members of your party.

Visitors of all ages are welcome to wear Halloween costumes. Weapons and full-face masks are not permitted.

Highlights of Family Mystery Day include:

The Spooky Things Just Out of Sight with Jerry Spinelli and Ben Hatke at 11 a.m.
Middle grade readers will meet Worm from Spinelli’s new novel “Dead Wednesday” and Milo from Hatke’s graphic novel “Things in the Basement.” Worm and Milo are faced with some scary problems that are a little too close to home. Recommended for ages 6 to 12+.

Locked Rooms and Deadly Heists: Mysteries with a Twist with Delilah S. Dawson and Kayvion Lewis at 2 p.m. 
In Lewis’ new novel, “Thieves’ Gambit,” Ross, part of an elite family of thieves, is facing the Thieves’ Gambit, a dangerous international heist that will grant one wish to the winner. And in Dawson’s “Midnight at the Houdini,” Anna’s always been a wallflower, until she’s in a spotlight and the center of a mysterious, increasingly dangerous Hotel Houdini with too many locked rooms. Join the authors as they discuss how their characters make their way through these mysteries. Recommended for ages 12 to 18+.

Families can enjoy activities in the Great Hall throughout the day, including a mystery writing workshop, where Dawson and Lewis will share tips, writing prompts and ideas with attendees, plus a scavenger hunt designed by Game Genius.

All writers featured during the day will sign their books on the Mezzanine level of the Great Hall following their program. Featured books will be available for purchase.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

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Media Contact: Leah Knobel, lknobel@loc.gov
Public Contact: Sasha Dowdy, aldo@loc.gov

PR 23-086
09-28-2023
ISSN 0731-3527

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Upcoming U.S. Law Webinars – October 2023

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

As we continue into the fall season, the Law Library of Congress is offering more educational webinars in the month of October. The Law Library of Congress’s next offering in its Orientation to Legal Research Webinar Series will focus on an overview of the tracing of U.S. federal statutes. Following the Orientation to Legal Research Webinar, the Law Library of Congress will offer its next presentation on Congress.gov.

Orientation to Legal Research Webinar: U.S. Federal Statutes

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EDT – 2:00 p.m. EDT

Content: This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. statutory and legislative research, including information about how to find and use the U.S. Code, the U.S. Statutes at Large, and U.S. federal bills and resolutions.

Instructor: Jason Zarin – Legal Reference Specialist. Jason has a B.A. in economics from Tufts University, an M.A. in economics from UCLA, a J.D. from the University of Southern California, an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University, and a master of science in information systems from the University of Texas at Austin.

Register here.

Congress.gov Webinar

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023, 2:00 p.m. EDT – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Content: This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will also be highlighted.

Instructors:  Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a B.A. in history from Duke University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a master of science in library and information science with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University. Robert is the chief of the Law Library’s Office of External Relations. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Kentucky, a J.D. from Wayne State University, and a master of library science from Florida State University.

Register here.

To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

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Latest News: Possible Federal Government Shutdown

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

In the event of a temporary shutdown of the federal government effective 12:01 a.m.  Sunday, Oct. 1, all Library of Congress buildings will be CLOSED to the public and researchers.

All public events will be cancelled. 

Also, all inquiries and requests to the Library of Congress web-based services will not be received or responded to until the shutdown ends. Information on loc.gov will not be updated. Copyright.gov and Congress.gov will remain available.

Staff will not have access to office email, voicemail messages or social media accounts during this time.

Organizations working under contract for the Library of Congress should follow instructions that will appear on this page.

For updates please monitor the news media, check loc.gov or call (202) 707-5000.