The Due-Process-Free Assassination of US Citizens is Now Reality | Common Dreams

The Due-Process-Free Assassination of US Citizens is Now Reality | Common Dreams

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is out of order for hiding payout to wife: House Democrats

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is out of order for hiding payout to wife: House Democrats

The Maddow Blog - About that labor mural: Maine governor paints a different picture now

The Maddow Blog - About that labor mural: Maine governor paints a different picture now

The U.S. Labor Department says Maine owes it either $38,000 or the proper display of the mural. Dirigo Blue's got both videos of Mr. LePage's answers, then and now, and an intriguing question: If Maine's $22,000 share of the cost goes back, would the governor put the mural back up?

6 Famous 'Frivolous Lawsuit' Stories That Are Total B.S. | Cracked.com

6 Famous 'Frivolous Lawsuit' Stories That Are Total B.S. | Cracked.com

Also watch the documentary "Hot Coffee"

Celebrate Pro Bono

Celebrate Pro Bono
Building on the extraordinary success of the annual National Pro Bono Celebrations in 2009 and 2010 , the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service is sponsoring the Celebration again this year October 23 through 29, 2011. The Celebration is a coordinated national effort to meet the ever-growing needs of this country's most vulnerable citizens by encouraging and supporting local efforts to expand the delivery of pro bono legal services, and by showcasing the great difference that pro bono lawyers make to the nation, its system of justice, its communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve.

Chief Judge Edith Jones Attacks Fellow Judge in Oral Argument And Yells At Him To Shut Up Or Leave The Courtroom « JONATHAN TURLEY

Chief Judge Edith Jones Attacks Fellow Judge in Oral Argument And Yells At Him To Shut Up Or Leave The Courtroom « JONATHAN TURLEY

Koch-Funded Congressional Civil Justice Caucus Academy Gives Congress Big Freebies

Koch-Funded Congressional Civil Justice Caucus Academy Gives Congress Big Freebies

McManus: Technology that protects protesters

McManus: Technology that protects protesters

She won a grant from the State Department and produced a cellphone application called In the Clear. It includes an erase button so activists can instantly delete sensitive information, and a panic button that sends out a pre-written text message — "I've been arrested!" — including coordinates of the location.

Newly revised toolkit helps rural libraries win big support from their communities | American Libraries Magazine

Newly revised toolkit helps rural libraries win big support from their communities | American Libraries Magazine

MAG Net Annual Report 2011

MAG Net Annual Report 2011

I have recently "discovered" the work this non-profit is doing to promote social justice. They are working on projects that include my burning wish to bring together all the resources for the comunity/County. Ihope you will take a look at this and I will think of how to participate with them to bring about MY dreams for the law library and for equal access for all: to the internet, to justice, to economic improvements.

Tips for Pro Se Filer

Tips for Pro Se Filers

There is a lot to learn about representing yourself in court, but these are some especially important pointers:

1. Read everything you get from the court and the opposing party right away, including the papers you get from the Clerk’s Office when you file. It is very important that you know what is going on in your case and when you have deadlines.

2. Meet every deadline. If you do not know exactly how to do something, try to get help and do your best; it is more important that you turn things in on time than that you do everything perfectly. You can lose your case if you miss your deadlines. If you need more time to do something, ask the court in writing for more time as soon as you know that you will need it.

3. Use your own words and be as clear as possible. You do not need to try to sound like a lawyer. In your papers, be specific about the facts that are important to this lawsuit.

4. Always keep all of your paperwork. Keep copies of everything you send out. When you file a paper in the Clerk’s Office, bring at least the original and three copies so that you can keep a stamped copy for yourself. Know where your papers are so that you can use them when you need them to prove your case.

5. Have someone else read your papers before you turn them in. Ask that person if they understand what you wrote; if they did not, and you need to explain yourself more clearly, rewrite your papers. The judge may not get to hear you explain yourself in person and may only have your papers in front of him or her when making decisions about your case.

Commissioners to ponder closing court law library | The Courier-Tribune

Commissioners to ponder closing court law library | The Courier-Tribune

Grooming « Mimi and Eunice

Grooming « Mimi and Eunice

The Maddow Blog - The states versus Planned Parenthood (federal court edition)

The Maddow Blog - The states versus Planned Parenthood (federal court edition)

More pressure to force mandatory arbatration

NEWS RELEASE
Superior Court of California
COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO REACHES AGREEMENT WITH AOC FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING TO REDUCE LAYOFFS, COURTROOM CLOSURES

AOC Agrees to Advocate for Local Revenue Solutions, Restoration of Trial Court Funding

SAN FRANCISCO -- An emergency funding compromise reached with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) would significantly reduce the San Francisco Superior Court’s staff layoffs from 177 to 75 and allow the Court to keep 11 civil courtrooms open, including both complex litigation departments, Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein announced today.

The agreement, which was struck after negotiations that began late last week and continued over the weekend, must be approved by the Judicial Council in a special meeting on September 9, 2011.

“This agreement represents a true compromise with the AOC to help the San Francisco Superior Court lessen the blow on access to justice,” Judge Feinstein said. “If the Judicial Council approves the terms of the agreement, our Court would reduce civil courtroom closures from 25 to 14 and lay off 15 percent instead of 40 percent of our staff.”

The emergency funding deal comes just four days after Judge Feinstein asked the Judicial Council to approve emergency funding for the Court, which faces a $6.23 million deficit for the current fiscal year and a cumulative $20.4 million deficit through FY 2013-2014. The agreement would provide a $2.5 million infusion of emergency funds to the Court. The Court would agree to accept an existing $650,000 in grant money from the AOC, which partially funds two complex litigation departments. The Court would save $4 million this year by laying off 75 employees.

“We could save some jobs, although not enough,” Judge Feinstein said. “We would be able to offer more access to our civil justice system, but not as much as San Franciscans deserve. I compromised on this temporary approach because there is momentum building among attorneys and lawmakers to achieve a long-term solution to inadequate trial court funding.”

Judge Feinstein emphasized that a significant part of the agreement would require a commitment from the AOC to advocate for revenue solutions, including restoration of judicial branch funding, review of uniform, statewide fee amounts and adoption of a fee for case management conferences in complex litigation matters that trial courts could charge and retain locally.

“We are working nonstop to move ahead in January with a legislative solution that has the backing and support of bar groups,” Judge Feinstein said. “It has become clear that if the current model of trial court funding leaves our Court – or any other Court – teetering on the brink of financial collapse, then we must actively explore a new funding scheme to sustain the third branch of government in California.”

The agreement would require the Court to continue to implement best practices with regard to collecting delinquent fees and fines. The Court also would agree to continue its efforts to implement cost-savings measures. While the agreement does not specifically require the Court to reduce its layoffs by a particular amount, it would require the Court to use necessary resources at its discretion to keep 11 courtrooms open.

“It’s exceedingly likely that if our allocation remains flat next year, we will be looking at significant layoffs again – which I do not want our Court to have to repeat,” Judge Feinstein said. “However this compromise allows us to seek legislative remedies with the AOC’s help to better position trial courts for the next fiscal year.”