In 1869, Myra Bradwell, who had passed the Illinois bar exam, was denied admission to the bar, on the grounds that a married woman couldn’t enter into contracts because of the common law doctrine of coverture and also because of her gender.  In the Illinois Supreme Court’s view, women weren’t entitled to practice law. Voting […]

On December 6, 2017, President Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and instructed the State Department to develop a plan to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On December 21, 2017, two weeks later, the United Nations voted 128-9 (with 35 abstentions) to demand that the US rescind the declared […]

The presidential election is just a few weeks away.  The first debate between the major candidates is set for Monday, September 26, 2016.  Are you looking for news and political information?  The Library has many sources for your reading and research pleasure.  Check out E-Journals A – Z  under Research Tools on the Library’s home […]

Not heading to Rio for the Olympics?  Curious about the many different laws and regulations that underlie and sometimes impact what has been described as “the world’s most recognized international sporting event”?  Check out the wide-ranging Olympics and International Sports Law Research Guide produced by the Georgetown Law Library.  You may not win any medals […]

If you can’t make it to the U.S. Courthouse in Foley Square to attend oral arguments before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, next month you’ll be able to access audio recordings of them from the court’s own website.  See the court’s announcement here or here. The recordings will become available on August 15, 2016, […]

The President has proclaimed March 2016 as Women’s History Month and has asked all Americans to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2016.  Our friends at HeinOnline have introduced Peggy, their new Women and the Law database.  It brings together books, biographies and periodicals dedicated to the role of women in society and the law.  […]

On Oct. 26, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists. If you’re interested in more details, read this excerpt from Professor Michael Roffer’s new book, The Law Book: From Hammurabi to the International Criminal Court, 250 […]

We now have a site-license for unlimited access to all articles and cases found on the websites of four major legal newspapers: The New York Law Journal, The New Jersey Law Journal, The National Law Journal, and The American Lawyer. These sites offer the latest legal news, with a six-month archive. Earlier content is available […]

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May), and we hope you all found at least some time to celebrate and enjoy the day amidst all the hard-core studying. Often mistaken for a celebration of Mexican independence, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.  […]

On March 18, 1963, the Supreme Court handed down the decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, a case that made significant changes to the face of criminal law in the United States. Charged with breaking and entering into a Florida pool hall, Clarence Earl Gideon could not afford an attorney. After being convicted and sentenced to […]