Harris County Law Library
Image source: MS365 Copilot
March marks Wills & Probate Law Resources Month at the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library—a time to focus on organizing, planning, and preparing for the future. As we move into a new season, the Law Library invites you to treat estate planning as part of your spring reset—an investment in organization, preparedness, and care for those who matter most.
Read more
While Punxsutawney Phil may have said six more weeks of winter and Big Al went for an early spring, one thing is certain—the FBI released the Bigfoot file!
As Texans remain cautiously hopeful that we might be through the coldest part of the season, there’s one creature out there that doesn’t need to bundle up. Whether we call them Bigfoot, Sasquatch, or Skunk Ape, there is a general consensus that this cryptid is huge and has the kind of fur that probably provides better insulation than the winter jacket the average Houstonian digs out twice a year. Bigfoot is said to live in the forests of North America, and apparently, the FBI has a file on them, which was released late 2025.
The file focuses on a request the FBI received back in 1976, to test a possible Bigfoot hair and tissue sample. Although this kind of testing was not in the FBI’s wheelhouse, they accepted the request and processed the sample. It turned out to be from the deer family. You can read about it yourself here.
How did the public get access to this file? And why was everyone so excited by the existence of it?
Well, the public’s access is owed to the public! This file is in the FBI’s Vault, their FOIA Library. FOIA, refers to the Freedom of Information Act, which allows anyone to request access to records from any federal agency. The Vault is a collection of all the FOIA requests the FBI has received, which you can access here, no login required!
As to why people were so excited, well, finding out a government agency, such as the FBI, has an actual file on Bigfoot seems to lend credence to the idea that they’re real. Add to that, the fact that FOIA requests are generally only released to the public after the people of interest have passed—some took it to mean, not only did Bigfoot exist, they passed away.
However, the file only confirmed that tests of supposed Bigfoot samples had lackluster results. Meanwhile, Bigfoot enthusiasts remain hopeful and FOIA requests remain a right for us all.
For more information on FOIA and on the Texas Public Information Act, check out these links:
How to File a Freedom of Information Request
FOIA - Frequently Asked Questions
Elder law and disability law are closely related areas of legal practice that focus on protecting the rights, autonomy, and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities. In Texas, these legal issues intersect with state-specific laws, public benefits programs, and agencies that can be difficult to navigate without reliable information and planning. This brief overview introduces key topics in Texas elder and disability law and points readers toward trusted resources for learning more.
Read moreRes judicata (claim preclusion) prevents an entire case from being relitigated once a court has finally rendered a decision, while collateral estoppel (issue preclusion) prevents specific questions that were already decided from being argued again. Together, these rules help courts avoid repeat litigation, thereby avoiding the Groundhog Day phenomenon, and ensuring that court decisions bring real closure.
Read more
Fred Romero from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
On Tuesday, October 1, 1946, those traveling the road to justice - defendants, prosecutors, and witnesses alike - reached their final destination. After 218 days, 22 men* would learn of the fate that awaited them. Following remarks by defendants on August 31, 1946, the International Military Tribunal (IMT) adjourned to consider its judgment in a trial that began on November 20, 1945.On Tuesday, October 1, 1946, those traveling the road to justice, defendants, prosecutors, and witnesses alike, reached their final destination. After 218 days, 22 men* would learn of the fate that awaited them. Following remarks by defendants on August 31, 1946, the International Military Tribunal (IMT) adjourned to consider its judgment.
Read moreWhat’s behind the name? “Ex Libris Juris” is Latin for “from the books of law” and much of the information here will relate to the legal information collected and curated by the Law Library. Additionally, “Ex Libris” has long appeared on bookplates – labels appearing inside the front cover of books – and has acquired the connoted meaning “from the library of” to show ownership of the book. Using this connotation, the phrase becomes “from the library of law” and better describes the posts about digital resources, event announcements, and research tips that will regularly appear here.
