In my September 23, 2011 post, I discussed the August 23, 2011 referendum in Liberia, conducted largely in preparation for the constitutionally mandated general elections scheduled for October 11, 2011. The referendum included proposals that, if passed, would directly affect the conduct and outcome of the elections: a measure to amend the residency requirement for …
This week’s interview is with Cynthia Jordan, Senior Writer-Editor at the Law Library of Congress. Describe your background I am a Maryland native but I grew up in New York City. I have also lived in a number of other places including London, U.K., Barbados and Texas. What is your academic/professional history? I have a …
This week’s interview is with Dr. Mary-Jane Deeb, Chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress. Describe your background My background is a bit complicated: my mother was Slovenian and my father was a Levantine from Egypt. I grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, spoke French at home, and went to …
This week’s interview is with Peter Roudik, Director of the Global Legal Research Center. Describe your background. I was born in Moscow, Russia into a typical Russian intelligentsia family. My parents taught me to appreciate books, art, and classical music. For 30 years I lived two blocks from the Red Square in this building. What …
On August 23, 2011, for the first time in 25 years, Liberia initiated a measure to amend its 1986 Constitution, mainly the provisions having to do with presidential and legislative elections. First, let me briefly note what it takes to amend the Liberian Constitution. A proposal for a constitutional amendment has to be put up …
This week’s interview is with Kimberly Zellars, Program Specialist at the Law Library of Congress. Describe your background. I am a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Southwest Washington, DC. I am a middle child with an older sister and younger brother, southern parents, and a Catholic school education. What is your academic/professional history? I …
You may remember that in my July 9, 2011 post, I discussed the measures that the Law Library of Congress has taken in response to the birth of South Sudan. These included creating a Guide to the Laws of South Sudan page and getting our overseas offices to start collecting South Sudanese laws. On August …
On July 9, 2011, a new African nation was born; South Sudan declared its independence and became the 54th African nation and 193rd member of the United Nations. This came to be after the people of South Sudan overwhelmingly supported the secession (with about 99% of voters in favor) of South Sudan from Sudan in …
While considering a post on Trial by Ordeal (TBO) in Liberia, the first thought that came to my mind was to define the term. The first online source (not particularly authoritative or official) I could find defined it as “a primitive method of determining a person’s guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to …