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lawlibrary

Spotlight on Causes of Action for a Civil Case

            Contemplating filing a civil action? The Library collection includes two resources that are useful for any litigator, either attorney or pro-se.

            Paul Mark Sandler, James K. Archibald and Eleanor T. Chung, Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland. KFM 1735.S26 2022 (MSBA 7th ed. 2022)

            The Seventh Edition of this treatise remains popular for library users.  Following an introductory chapter on “Fundamental Concepts and Mechanics,” the reader is presented with chapters devoted to substantive causes of action such as “Contracts,” “Torts” and other claims for relief.

            Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland is available at the library both in the traditional book form (KFM 1735.S26 2022) and through the library’s Westlaw and Lexis databases.

• • • •

            Maryland Elements of an Action, KFM 1730.M28 2009-2010 (Thomson West 2009-2010 ed.)

            This volume, although no longer updated, is a valuable component of the Maryland Practice Series. Each chapter addresses a cause of action and includes a subpart with the substantive elements of the action, citations to relevant authority, applicable jury instructions, remedies, defenses, statutes of limitations and damages. A second subchapter provides forms.

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lawlibrary

Researching Supreme Court Cases and Briefs

Because of recent decisions and other issues, the United States Supreme Court has come under increasing scrutiny.  Although controversies involving the Justices are best left to the media, research into the Court’s primary function – deciding cases – has become much easier if you know where to look.

The following resources can assist you in your research into the decisions of the Third Branch.

Where do I find the Court’s decisions and some briefs online?

The place to start is with the Supreme Court’s web portal.  This page introduces you to the Court. You can learn about the Court, media information, information about Court Rules, view information about oral arguments.

Two of the most useful pages from the Court’s portal are the Opinions page and the Case Document page. The most recent opinions are in a “slip opinion” format, but the Opinions Page also offers a link to the US Reports page, which includes links to entire bound volumes of the United States Reports back to the 1991 Term.

For a serious researcher, the Case Documents page is a valuable resource.  This page informs the researcher Where to Find Briefs. The Case Documents page offers a link to the Journal.  A valuable reference resource can be found in the Docket Search page. While a list of docket entries in a case might not be particularly enlightening, displaying a case docket will also provide information about briefs that have been filed, including amicus briefs.

Useful Blog about the Supreme Court with up-to-date commentary. Scotusblog describes itself as offering Independent News & Analysis on the U.S. Supreme Court.  This is a very useful resource, which provides up-to-date analysis of cases pending or just decided in the current term and presents inciteful analysis.

If you wish to view Supreme Court opinions in their original format, the Library of Congress presents an online collection of the entire Supreme Court canon in PDF format: United States Reports (Official Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court).

Resources at the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library include Westlaw and Lexis, in addition to providing PCs to view Supreme Court databases in Westlaw.

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lawlibrary

Law Library will be closed on the 4th of July

The Law Library is closed today, July 4, 2023, for the Independence Day holiday.  The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, July5.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com
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lawlibrary

What’s New… 

Book cover for Maryland Divorce and Separation Law, 2023 (MSBA)

The updated 11th edition of MSBA’s Maryland Divorce and Separation Law (2023) is now on our shelf (catalog record). You can also access the updated text on Lexis in the Law Library. As of today, Westlaw has not yet updated its content from the 10th to 11th editions.

Among the book’s updates is a new section on parenting plans in response to the laws passed in 2020 requiring these plans in custody and/or visitation cases.

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Access to Justice lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Lawyer in the Library Wrap-up for December and January

In December and January, the Ask A Lawyer in the Library program provided legal advice to seventeen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Saul McCormick, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. In January we were happy to welcome new volunteer attorney, Patrice Clarke. Issues included student loan debt, landlord/tenant, expungement, estate planning and immigration.

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.  You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.

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lawlibrary

New Laws in Effect January 1, 2023

While the bulk of the legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022 went into effect last October, there are a few new laws whose effective date is this Sunday, including the following:

  • Parts of HB0837: Cannabis Reform
  • HB0017: Campaign Finance: Recurring Contributions and Donations
  • HB0824: Eviction Data Collection and Distribution

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library and Court Holiday Closures

Vintage snowflakes

“Vintage snowflakes” by thethreesisters is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed on the court holidays of Friday, December 23rd, Monday, December 26th, and Monday, January 2nd.

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lawlibrary

What’s New… 

Spines of NCLC Automobile Fraud and Warnken's Maryland Criminal Procedure volumes 1 and 2
Covers of NBI titles: Maryland Civil Practice, Procedure, and Forms; Advanced Custody and Support Issues in Maryland; Maryland Real Property Law: Understanding Title, Transfers, and Encumbrances

New and updated titles from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) and the National Business Institute (NBI) are now on our shelves covering used car fraud, custody and child support, real property, civil practice, and criminal procedure. See below:

NCLC 

See all NCLC titles in our catalog. 

NBI

See all NBI titles in our catalog. 

MSBA 

See all MSBA titles in our catalog. 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Lawyer in the Library Wrap-up: November

In November, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program provided legal advice to thirteen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Leonard Englander, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. Issues included trustee compensation, disability insurance, employment, social security and debt collection.

The Ask a Lawyer In the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.  You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library is closed for Veterans Day

The Anne Arundel County Public law Library and the Circuit Courts for Anne Arundel County will be closed for Veterans Day on November 11, 2022.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I.  In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. Read more here.

Except on Court Holidays, the law Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website here.