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CMLawLibraryBlog

The CM Law Library Blog seeks to inform the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law community about key legal education, research, practice, and law library news, with a particular focus on Cuyahoga County and Ohio as well as faculty research interests.

Initiatives and Referendums In One Place

Amy Burchfield, Access & Faculty Services Librarian amy.burchfield@law.csuohio.edu | April 08, 2008 - 11:13

As a librarian, I love to find that one source that brings together practically all of the research help I need on a particular subject. Unfortunately, I don’t find sources like this too often, but there are some. One example is a compiled legislative history, such as Bassiouni’s three-volume set on the International Criminal Court.

Another example is a comprehensive collection of research guides on a particular subject. This is what’s offered in the latest issue of Legal Reference Services Quarterly for the topic ballot initiatives and referendums.

In volume 26 of LRSQ, you’ll find 23 scholarly research guides on initiatives and referendums, all discussing research in individual states, including Ohio. The guides discuss both what guest editor Beth Williams calls first order I&R (the state constitutional and statutory basis for I&R) and second order I&R (the initiatives and referendum themselves).

For information on Ohio initiatives and referendums, you may also want to look at the Ohio Constitutional Law and History website, particularly the sections on Constitutional Revision and the Bibliography. The Table of Proposed Amendments and Votes links to the text of ballot language or text of the amendment, where available.

So now I know where I’ll be turning for help researching this popular area of state law.


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New Circuit Splits: Potential Paper Topics

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | April 08, 2008 - 09:43

B.N.A.'s U.S. Law Week has released its quarterly chart showing splits of opinion among the federal appeals courts. The latest chart includes splits noted in U.S.L.W. news stories appearing during the first quarter of 2008. There are lots of issues - everything from banning the sale of sexual devices to accommodation of employees' religious beliefs.

Circuit splits can be a great source for paper topics. Keep this in mind for next year's papers and law review notes, or possibly for the Law Review 's and Journal of Law and Health's summer writing competition.

To find prior circuit split charts, click on "Search all Issues" and do a search for "circuit splits" and select "in headings only".


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A law professor, bi-polar disorder, and course evaluations.

Kevin Garewal | April 08, 2008 - 09:42

Kenneth Kress, a former University of Iowa Law Professor, has been suspended from the practice of law for altering his students’ course evaluations. Mr. Kress altered 3 course evaluations in hopes of raising his teaching effectiveness rating to obtain faculty rank. Mr. Kress has been diagnosed as bi-polar, and he suffers from diabetes. Mr. Kress claimed he was suffering from a psychotic episode due to his bi-polar disorder and diabetes. The Iowa Supreme Court conceded this may have impeded his judgment, but not to the level necessary to impair the requisite intent necessary to falsify the evaluations. The Supreme Court of Iowa suspended him from the practice of law for at least 3 months.

If you would like to read a brief news report of this story, the ABA/BNA Lawyer’s Manual on Professional Conduct provides a quick review.

Additionally, the full text of the decision is also available from the Iowa Supreme Court.


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