This week in the Law Library it’s Banned Books Week! We’re also teaching technology in law practice as well as raising awareness for Cybersecurity Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This week we’re also previewing United States Supreme Court oral arguments.
This Week’s Research Sessions
Tuesday, October 2, 2023
Technology in Law Practice
Shannon Kemen, Legal Technology & Research Instructional Services Librarian
Room 107
11:10am – 12:05pm
Thursday, October 4, 2023
Technology in Law Practice
Shannon Kemen, Legal Technology & Research Instructional Services Librarian
Room 107
11:10am – 12:05pm
Do You Read Banned Books?
October 1 – October 7, 2023 is Banned Books Week. When we ban books, we’re closing readers off to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Banned Books Week is an annual event that celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to the harms of censorship.
Featured Study Aids
In honor of Banned Books Week, we’re featuring study aids dealing with the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech.
The First Amendment (Concepts & Insights)
Available online via the West Academic Study Aid subscription, Farber’s First Amendment covers all of the major areas of this complex doctrine, including the religion clauses. The text also probes theories of free speech and debates over controversial issues such as campaign finance, hate speech, and religious exemptions. The new edition covers recent Supreme Court decisions dealing with the use of free exercise claims as a defense in discrimination cases, the elimination of mandatory fees to support public employee unions as a violation of free speech, and the right of convicted sex offenders to access online social media.
First Amendment: Examples and Explanations
Available through the Aspen Learning Library study aid subscription, this book covers all of the First Amendment’s major topics – with emphasis on speech and religion. The topics covered include a comprehensive review of the most recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on speech, association, and religion as well as cutting edge issues raised by current events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. While providing deep coverage of abstract concepts, the book includes many practical introductions to law practice reality. Figures, examples, explanations, and varying difficulty in the presented material ensure that the book will serve the needs of a variety of users and will appeal to different learning styles.
Understanding the First Amendment
Available via the LexisNexis Digital Library, this study aid covers the origins and nature of the First Amendment, speech advocating violent or illegal action, content regulation of speech, limited protection of speech, content neutrality of speech, freedom of association and compelled expression, media and the first amendment, the Establishment Clause, and the Free Exercise Clause. The beginning of each chapter highlights key points of coverage. The end of each chapter indicates essential points to remember. The seventh edition covers all of the recent relevant decisions, including Iancu v. Brunetti; Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck; Matal v. Tam; The American Legion v. American Humanist Assocation; National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra; Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky; Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission; Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman; Packingham v. North Carolina; and Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer.
Featured Treatise
Smolla & Nimmer on Freedom of Speech
Smolla & Nimmer on Freedom of Speech, available on Westlaw, provides in-depth coverage and expert analysis of free speech and free press First Amendment issues, including history, theory, doctrine, and insights into cases and decisions. Includes cross-references within the text and in footnotes, which contain full citations and parallel citations to other materials.
Featured Website
Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week is an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information. The event is supported by a coalition of organizations dedicated to free expression, including American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Amnesty International USA, Association of University Presses, Authors Guild, Banned Books Week Sweden, Children’s Book Council, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Freedom to Read Foundation, GLAAD, Index on Censorship, Little Free Library, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN America, People For the American Way Foundation, PFLAG, and Project Censored. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.
Featured Video
Banned Books Week YouTube Channel
View Banned Books Virtual Read-Outs and more! The Banned Books Virtual Read-Out features videos of readers exercising their First Amendment right to read a banned book.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Begun in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity, the month provides an opportunity for advocacy organizations to connect with the public and one another throughout the month to raise awareness about the signs of abuse and ways to stop it, and to uplift survivor stories and provide additional resources to leaders and policymakers. battered women’s advocates across the country.
University of Cincinnati Help for Student Victims & Student Survivors
This website is designed to provide resources for victims or survivors of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, gender-based harassment, or stalking. Staff are available 24-hours a day for confidential advice and assistance. Even if you are unsure what to do, call Counseling and Psychological Services at 513-556-0648 and you will be connected with a confidential counselor who will listen to you and help guide you as you figure out what you want to do next. There are a variety of resources to support you and help provide the assistance and services you need.
- Title IX (Not confidential): 513-556-3349
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Helpline (Confidential): 513-556-0648
- Blue Ash College Counseling Services (Confidential): 513-745-5670
- Clermont College Compass Counseling Center (Confidential): 513-732-5263
- Women Helping Women 24-hour Helpline (Confidential): 513-381-5610; Call or text anytime
- Women Helping Women On-Campus Advocates (Confidential): 513-556-4418
- Crime Victim Services Coordinator (Not Confidential): 513-556-4905
- LGBTQ Center (Not Confidential): 513-556-4329
- Office of the University Ombuds (Not Confidential on Title IX matters): 513-556-5956
- University Health Services (Confidential): 513-556-2564
- UC Medical Center Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Confidential): 513-584-4201
University of Cincinnati College of Law Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Order Clinic
Law students can gain hands-on experience as you learn how to provide holistic legal services to survivors of domestic violence. At the Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Order Clinic, you’ll work alongside clinic staff to learn every aspect of civil practice, from initial interviews through advocacy.
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is also National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybersecurity Awareness Month was launched by the National Cyber Security Alliance & the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in October 2004.
This year’s campaign theme — “Secure Our World” — is here to remind us that there are simple ways to protect yourself, your family and your business from online threats.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 and Secure Our World will focus on four key behaviors:
- Use strong passwords and a password manager
- Turn on multifactor authentication
- Recognize and report phishing
- Update software
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
Photo by Texas Military Department, CC BY-ND 2.0
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15 and celebrates the contributions and importance of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States and those American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This year’s theme is Uniting Communities.
UC & UC Law Celebrations & Events
UC Alumni Association Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
UC Libraries Hispanic Heritage Month Display
A new exhibit on display on the 4th floor lobby of the Walter C. Langsam Library presents information about this month and features books from the collections of UC Libraries.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Room 135
Join the Latino/a Law Student Association in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month this Thursday October 5th!
5 Resources to Learn More about Hispanic Heritage
ABA, Honoring Activists and Legal Trailblazers (PDF)
The ABA Diversity and Inclusion Center Invites You to Celebrate Activists and Legal Trailblazers of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
ABA, 21-Day Hispanic Heritage Equity Habit Building Challenge
The ABA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council invites ABA members and non-members to participate in this Equity Habit-Building Challenge. The goal of the Challenge is to assist each of us to become more aware, compassionate, constructive, engaged people in the quest for equity, and specifically to learn more about the Hispanic Heritage, and many communities included under the “Hispanic umbrella.” It transcends our roles as lawyers. Non-lawyers are also welcome to participate.
ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities, Webinar: Celebrating Latina Leaders During National Hispanic Heritage Month
October 10, 2023
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm/ CT
This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Progress, and Power in America. This theme pays tribute to the immense economic and political strides Hispanics have made in the United States. Honoring this theme, we are taking special note of the incredible role that Latinas have played in shaping and strengthening the fabric of our Nation. Join the ABA as they hear inspiring stories about some modern trailblazing women and their contributions to American prosperity, power, and progress.
United States Courts, Hispanic Heritage Month
Among the Hispanic and Latino Americans who serve at every level of the federal court system are judges. Learn about three judges’ stories during their first-person narratives
Library of Congress, A Latinx Resource Guide: Civil Rights Cases and Events in the United States
This research guide from the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress focuses on 20th and 21st century court cases, legislation, and events that had important impacts on civil rights in Chicana/o/x, Hispanic, Latina/o/x, Mexican-American, and Puerto Rican communities the United States. Each page provides an overview and timeline of a civil rights topic and some breadth of research material for further study at the Library of Congress or your local library. The facts presented draw from Library of Congress materials and external sources listed.
The first of its kind, this comprehensive online compendium of Civil Rights resources includes references to search and seizure, legal representation, self-incrimination, immigration, medical care, and equal access to educational resources. The Hispanic Reading Room will link this guide to webinar and podcast content in which scholars and community members help contextualize these court cases, legislation, and events. Since civil rights events are ongoing in Latinx communities, these references aim to connect the past with the present.
October Arguments at the United States Supreme Court
From SCOTUS Blog:
Monday, October 2, 2023
Pulsifer v. United States – whether a defendant satisfies the criteria in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1) as amended by the First Step Act of 2018 in order to qualify for the federal drug-sentencing “safety valve” provision so long as he does not have (a) more than four criminal history points, (b) a three-point offense, and (c) a two-point offense, or whether the defendant satisfies the criteria so long as he does not have (a), (b), or (c).
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Consumer Fin. Prot. Bureau v. Comty Fin. Serv. Assoc. Am. – whether the court of appeals erred in holding that the statute providing funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 12 U.S.C. § 5497, violates the appropriations clause in Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, and in vacating a regulation promulgated at a time when the Bureau was receiving such funding.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer – whether a self-appointed Americans with Disabilities Act “tester” has Article III standing to challenge a place of public accommodation’s failure to provide disability accessibility information on its website, even if she lacks any intention of visiting that place of public accommodation.