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Posted by: Robert Brammer
If you find yourself representing someone accused of witchcraft, you will want to consult the Malleus Maleficarum. This treatise, housed in the Law Library of Congress Rare Book Vault, contains everything you need to know to identify a witch, or at least what two theologians and inquisitors believed constituted evidence of witchcraft in 1486 (the …
Posted in: Law Library
Posted by: Robert Brammer
On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton met in Weehawken, New Jersey for a duel that would prove fatal for Alexander Hamilton. Burr was outraged over derogatory comments made by Hamilton regarding Burr’s character at a dinner hosted by Judge John Tayler in March of 1804. These comments were recorded …
Posted in: Education, Law Library
Posted by: Robert Brammer
This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis, instructional librarian, and Robert Brammer, senior legal reference specialist The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people …
Posted in: Congress, Education, Law Library, Research Guide
Posted by: Robert Brammer
This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis, instructional librarian, and Robert Brammer, senior legal reference specialist It is said that good fences make for good neighbors. The same might not be said for trees, which are a frequent source of litigation among neighbors. Overgrown branches, fallen leaves, and downed trees all serve to embroil neighbors in acrimonious …
Posted in: Education, Law Library, Research Guide
Posted by: Robert Brammer
It happens. Maybe it was a slight made in haste or a heated argument over who has the better mastery of classical languages and the gauntlet was thrown. Before accepting the challenge, you might want to consider that dueling is illegal, with some states having specific prohibitions against it. Kentucky’s oath of office even requires …
Posted in: Education, Law Library
Posted by: Robert Brammer
This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis, instructional librarian, and Robert Brammer, senior legal reference specialist Planning for end of life or critical care is not a favorite topic of conversation, but it is an important one. Having health care advance directives in place can help ensure your wishes are made clear to your loved ones and …
Posted in: Law Library, Research Guide
Posted by: Robert Brammer
John Wilkes Booth’s sister recalled that when he was a young man, he met with a fortune teller who told him he was destined to lead a short and troubled life: Ah, you’ve a bad hand; the lines all cris-cras. It’s full length enough of sorrow. Full of trouble. Trouble in plenty, everywhere I look. …
Posted in: Education, Law Library
Posted by: Robert Brammer
The following is a guest post by Shameema Rahman, senior legal research specialist in our Public Services Division. The United States Congress passed 115 Public Laws in 2015. The laws are numbered from Public Law 114-1 through Public Law 114-115. The number 114 represents the current congress followed by the numerical order of the law. These public …
Posted in: Guest Post, Law Library
Posted by: Robert Brammer
This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer, senior legal reference specialists. Compiling a federal legislative history may seem intimidating at first glance, but it does not have to be. In this Beginner’s Guide, we revisit previous posts to create a comprehensive research guide that you can use to compile your own federal legislative …
Posted in: Law Library, Research Guide