Latest and Greatest - Suppressing Criminal Evidence

Are you considering filing a motion to suppress evidence that was obtained through a warrantless search of your client’s vehicle?

By Deja Vishny

James Publishing, Inc. (2016)

KF 9662 .V57 2016

Do you want to challenge a coerced confession or one made under Miranda v. Arizona?

Then, look than further than the Harris County Law Library’s new acquisition, Suppressing Criminal Evidence. This volume, complete with forms, will guide you, step-by-step, through the process of filing a motion to suppress from the initial client interview and discovery through actually drafting the motion and litigating it in court. The author provides a summary of the laws surrounding Fourth Amendment searches and seizures, including searches of the home, the standards of probable cause and reasonable suspicion, motor vehicle searches, and searches and seizures of electronic devices. She also discusses the suppression of confessions and other statements and police interrogation practices. Included in this volume are over 40 forms including sample motions to suppress and more than 80 pattern cross-examinations to assist you during the hearing on your motion to suppress. There are numerous practice pointers and tips throughout the book.

Before you file your next (or first) motion to suppress, come to the Harris County Law Library and have a look at Suppressing Criminal Evidence. Who knows? That evidence you got suppressed just may save your client.

Latest and Greatest – Nolo Publications

In an effort to support its mission of providing all patrons access to relevant and practical legal information, the Harris County Law Library maintains a self-help collection that is designed to assist self-represented parties in learning about an area or topic of law without having to sort through unfamiliar and often difficult legal terminology. Part of this self-help collection is a series of books published by Nolo, a company that seeks to “make the law accessible to everyone.” The books, written in plain English by attorneys and legal professors, cover a range of topics such as bankruptcy, immigration, family law, labor and employment, landlord-tenant, and estate planning, just to name a few. Although the books are not meant to be a substitute for getting the advice of a lawyer, they can help the reader better understand a legal issue and discover some answers to their legal questions.

The Harris County Law Library has recently received new editions of the following titles:

Look for them (and many other titles) on our shelves!

Latest and Greatest – Locating U.S. Government Information Handbook

By Edward Herman and Theodora Belniak

Published by William S. Hein, Co., Inc. (2015)

ZA 5055 .U6 H47 2015

Let’s face it. There is a lot of government information found in print and online, but actually finding it can be quite difficult, not to mention confusing. Here comes Edward Herman’s Locating U.S. Government Information Handbook to the rescue. Designed for the novice researcher, this handbook takes you through a brief introduction about the structure of the United States government and basic online research skills and strategies then on to more specific research sources, such as the indexes published by the Government Publishing Office, U.S. Government maps, historical government documents, and technical reports. There is also some helpful information about how to contact governmental agencies and members of Congress as well as a discussion of the Freedom of Information Act and how to submit requests under the Act.

If you feel overwhelmed by the volume of government information and are not sure how to find answers you are seeking, try Locating U.S. Government Information Handbook. It’s available at the reference desk. Just ask a librarian for assistance.

Legal Writing Resources Month

April is Legal Writing Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library. Whether you are an attorney drafting a motion or a self-represented litigant navigating the court system, writing is a necessary component of your legal work. Visit the Law Library all month long to find resources on display that you can use to improve and enhance your legal writing skills. Resources include:

 

Latest and Greatest - – Legal Research in a Nutshell

By Morris L. Cohen & Kent C. Olson

Published by LEG d/b/a West Academic Publishing (12th Edition 2016)

KF 240 .C54 2016

Intimidated by the thought of having to research a legal issue? Not sure how or even where to begin?

Well, you’re not alone. Legal research is a lot more than simply entering some keywords into the search box of a Web browser. It requires an understanding of the research process itself as well as the types of resources commonly used to locate legal information. Legal Research in a Nutshell explains the legal research process and the forms and sources of legal information. You will become familiar with and learn how to locate case law, statutes and constitutions, legislative information, administrative law, and court rules and practice. There is also discussion of specialized and nonlegal resources, such as looseleaf services, legal newspapers, blogs, statistics, and legal directories. If your research is taking you global, don’t fret because the authors also address international law and the laws of other countries.

You can access some of the great features offered by this book on its companion Website through the library’s catalog. Simply click on the “earth” icon at the end of the catalog record under the Media heading and enjoy entering the world of legal research.