The Harris County Law Library’s Legal Tech Institute is pleased to announce a special visitor, D. Casey Flaherty, a recognized leader in legal tech innovation and the creator of the Procertas legal tech audit. Please join us on Monday, August 19 and 11:00 am for a CLE presentation called Legal Tech is not optional. Mr. Flaherty will share his insights about using technology in the practice of law and will highlight how the Procertas Legal Tech Assessment, which is available to all for free at the Harris County Law Library, can help attorneys work toward legal tech competence. Texas attorneys will earn one hour of CLE credit and .5 hours of ethics credit for attending. Join us!
Latest & Greatest – Homeland Security and Emergency Management: A Legal Guide for State and Local Governments
Edited by Ernest B. Abbott and Otto J. Hetzel
Published by American Bar Association. Section of State and Local Government Law
KF 4850 .L44 2018
Photo Credit: Helen Hartman
Hurricane season is the perfect time to discuss emergency management and preparedness, although here on the Gulf Coast, one should be prepared no matter the season. When a disaster strikes, there is no time to consider or contemplate; many decisions and responses must be immediate. Attorneys Ernest B. Abbott and Otto J. Hetzel have compiled a book, Homeland Security and Emergency Management: A Legal Guide for State and Local Governments, to assist state and local governments and the lawyers that advise them in keeping the public safe, mitigating any damages, and formulating and implementing a recovery plan.
The first part addresses the source of legal authority in emergency and catastrophic events, the role of the military and the National Guard, the National Response Framework issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security and supported by the National Incident Management System, and public disclosure of information. A discussion of hazard mitigation makes up the bulk of the second part of the book. It also includes a primer on the National Flood Insurance Program. Cybersecurity, public health emergencies, and immigration issues are at the heart of Part III, as these topics have gained greater significance over time. The last section focuses on response and recovery, including legal issues associated with emergency management when dealing with vulnerable populations, such as the disabled and elderly. Another topic of interest in this last section is managing emergency evacuations.
It is said that “hindsight is 20/20,” so why not focus on having the foresight to handle a disaster before it happens? Before the next disaster strikes, have a look at Homeland Security and Emergency Management: A Legal Guide for State and Local Governments.
On the Ballot: Texas Constitutional Amendments 2019
Ten proposed constitutional amendments will be on the November ballot. The Texas League of Women Voters has compiled a nice list of the amendments along with important voting deadlines. Compare the pros and cons of each proposed amendment, and prepare to cast your vote on Election Day, November 5, 2019.
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
For additional information and resources for voting in Texas, visit VoteTexas.gov And, for a brief history lesson on why the Texas Constitution is so long, with so many amendments, read this article at the Texas Tribune. Finally, for all your Texas statutory and Constitutional law research needs, the Texas Legislative Reference Library is your best free online resource.
Color the Law: Celebrate National Coloring Book Day
August 2 is National Coloring Book Day! To celebrate, we’ve compiled this list of freely available coloring pages from across the web, all related to the courts, judges, and the legal system. Have fun!
State Bar of Texas Activity Books First on the list, and deserving of special mention, are the State Bar of Texas activity books. Previously on Ex Libris Juris, we discussed the value of having these terrific resources on hand to share with families who visit the Law Library. Many thanks to the State Bar of Texas for making these coloring books available to our young visitors. Offering these activity books is a simple gesture, but keeping restless children engaged with a fun distraction while their parents deal with the stress of self representation can be invaluable. Two titles — Luis Goes to Court, and Let’s Learn a Little about The Law — can be requested at the Law Library Reference Desk or downloaded by clicking on the images below.
More Coloring Fun
For Fun: Colorful Facts About Coloring Books for Adults
At its peak in 2016, the adult coloring book craze attracted all kinds of media attention. It was also big business. Plenty of trend watchers theorized about why and how the frenzy evolved. A fair number of critics were among them, deriding those who claimed that coloring is a path to mindfulness and creative expression. Regardless, coloring as a meditative activity for adults is still a popular pastime. Other therapeutic activities have gotten a lot of attention in recent months, but simply putting colored pencil on paper is, for many, still a very satisfying activity.
Our advice: Find your favorite online source for printable coloring pages, and cue up this song to supplement your coloring joy. You may discover that, yes, coloring books (like those featured above) can be educational and interactive learning tools for children, but for adults, they are purely fun. Happy National Coloring Book Day!
Public Art Meets Courthouse Navigation
In the U.S., regardless of the jurisdiction, the court structure involves an appeals process in which a higher court can review a decision of a lower court. For many self-represented litigants, navigating the journey from court to court can be confusing and frustrating. For practicing attorneys, an appeal may not be a common task, so a resource to refresh the memory when appellate work crops up can be helpful. Our solution… public art, of course!
Not just any public art though. This summer we have been fortunate to host Helen Hartman from the Harris Commissioner Precinct One LEE Internship program. Helen’s graphic-design talents have helped us take a dry, nebulous concept and make it more approachable for patrons who need to navigate the Texas court structure in Harris County. Drawing inspiration from the Texas Judicial Branch’s “Court Structure of Texas” flowchart, we have added graphical representations of the buildings in which courts meet to bridge the gap between abstract concepts of jurisdiction and local venues where our patrons interact with the judiciary.
This public art piece is now a permanent exhibit at the Harris County Law Library. Visit Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., to see this impressive work in person.