An Important Day in Constitutional History: Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 (1964)

On this day during Constitutional Law Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library, we remember an important Supreme Court decision, Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 (1964). Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the decision and its role in reinforcing our Sixth Amendment rights.

Danny Escobedo was arrested without a warrant on January 20, 1960. As the prime suspect in the shooting death of his brother-in-law, he was held for questioning for more than 18 hours. Escobedo asked repeatedly for his attorney to be present, but repeatedly, his request was denied. It was only after being indicted that Escobedo was granted access to a lawyer, violating his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights to due process and access to counsel. The Miranda v. Arizona, 384 US 436 (1966) decision just two years later implicitly overruled Escobedo, but it was, nonetheless, an important step in the process toward ensuring a constitutional right to counsel for the criminal accused.

Tech Tip: Managing Email Rules in Microsoft Outlook

Is your email inbox unmanageable? Do you find yourself repeating the same actions? Do important messages get overlooked? And do you often forget to cc an important party, causing you to send multiple emails when one should suffice?  If so, Microsoft Outlook has a solution!

Built into this sophisticated email management software is a set of easily-executable actions to help you get organized and stay up-to-date.  These actions, or rules, allow you to automate many of the repetitive filing tasks that may currently slow you down. They also provide options for automating who receives messages. Should a particular party be cc’d on every email you send? Do messages with specific words in the title belong in their own folder? Would auto-flagging of messages from specific senders help your workflow? Using the Rules Wizard to help you set your preferences, you can add all of this functionality to simplify your email, save time, and increase productivity.

Rules also allow you to specify your notification preferences regarding alert windows, chimes, and mobile syncing.  If email from a particular party needs priority attention, Outlook will alert you every time you receive a message from that sender. You can even set the alert to chime for individual people. And if you want to get your alerts on the go, Outlook will sync with your mobile device so you never miss an important message again.

The keys to good organization and increased productivity in managing your email are to cull and customize. Get rid of the clutter (as we suggested in a previous Tech Tuesday blog post) and automate frequent functions. Put your software to the test and let it do the work for you.  See the Microsoft Support pages to guide you in making these changes, and if you need additional assistance, visit the library reference desk. We’re always happy to help.

In honor of Bloomsday: United States v. One Book Entitled Ulysses by James Joyce

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In recognition of Constitutional Law Resource Month at the Harris County Law Library and our first amendment right to free speech, we are honoring one of modern literature’s finest works, the controversial novel, Ulysses by James Joyce. First published in Paris in 1922 (after being serialized for three years in The Little Review), Ulysses takes place over the course of a single day. This day, June 16th, is recognized annually as Bloomsday, a celebration of Joyce’s life and an homage to his most famous work.

Although it is now universally touted as an innovative and pioneering work of literature, Ulysses was not always looked upon so favorably. The novel we now celebrate was subject to an implicit obscenity ban, which the American publisher, Random House, who had full rights to publish the book in the United States, sought to challenge. In 1933, Random House imported a French edition of the book, expecting it to be seized upon arrival by the U.S. Customs Service, an assumption which proved to be accurate. After seven months of weighing his options, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, who appreciated the work but questioned its decency under the law, decided to take action against it, leading ultimately to a 1934 obscenity trial in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 72 F.2d 705.  At question in the case was not the artistic merit of the book, but whether such a book should be regarded as "obscene" within section 305 (a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 USCA § 1305a). This landmark case was extremely influential in paving a path for the import and publication of literature deemed inappropriate, coarse, or risqué, and, in effect, it reaffirmed our Constitutional right to free expression. Happy Bloomsday!

Looking Back: June 15 - Anniversary of Magna Carta

Magna Carta, 1297 from the U.S. National Archives Featured Documents Exhibit. Click for more information.

June 15 is the anniversary of the most iconic document in modern democracy - Magna Carta. The document originally served as a peace treaty between King John of England and rebellious barons who threatened civil war. When he attached his seal to the parchment, King John was likely unaware of the significance the document would attain in subsequent centuries as constitutional democracies replaced monarchies throughout the Western World.

The Founding Fathers' Magna Carta

By the time of the American Revolution, the reputation of Magna Carta as the physical embodiment of revolutionary ideas, including limiting government influence in personal affairs, was well established. America's founding fathers turned to the ancient document for inspiration and for justification as they encouraged fellow revolutionaries to form their own government.

Throughout the month of June, you can learn more about Magna Carta's influence on modern American and Texas Law at the Harris County Law Library with exhibits that highlight the link between the iconic document and our modern constitutional rights. You even have the chance to read The Great Charter like a founding father when you visit our downtown Houston location to see the Law Library's 1763 copy of Magna Carta - the same edition owned by founding father John Adams during the American Revolution. For more learning opportunities, visit our digital exhibit - Magna Carta.

More Perfect, WNYC Podcast explores the rarEfied world of the Supreme Court

As recently reported by the New York Times, a new podcast is headed for the airwaves (or to a smartphone) near you. It’s called More Perfect, and it promises not to disappoint! This seven-week series will explore the history and lesser-known details of selected Supreme Court cases, giving special attention to their impact on everyday American lives. Jad Abumrad, a 2011 MacArthur Fellow whose curiosity and imagination know no limits, will host the show, and WNYC, the New York City public radio station that’s known for its innovative original programming, will produce it.

As a spin-off of the award-winning podcast, Radiolab, this new series is guaranteed to be a hit. Two episodes have already been posted, the first of which covers the history of the death penalty, and, in particular, the phrase, “cruel and unusual.” Embedded in the 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution, these words are a safeguard against the government’s imposition of excessive bail, fines, or punishment. The second episode, The Political Thicket, looks at Baker v. Carr, a 1962 redistricting case that Chief Justice Earl Warren called “the most important case of my tenure on the court.” (C-SPAN reported on this case in December 2015 as part of its Landmark Cases series.) A new episode of the More Perfect podcast will be posted each week until mid-July. Tune in now or subscribe to the program via your favorite app or feed.