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Slide 1: Finding the Law What is the Law? “enacted law” -- statutes passed by law” Congress/State Legislature “man-made law” -- cases decided by judges manlaw” “administrative law” -- regulations promulgated law” by agencies Federal v. State Federal statutes passed by Congress cases decided by federal courts regulations promulgated by federal agencies Texas statutes passed by legislature cases decided by state courts regulations promulgated by state agencies 1
Slide 2: What “law” do I need? Is it a federal law? constitutional right (religion/speech/voting), sex/race/age discrimination, federal taxation, bankruptcy, copyright, some drug offenses, immigration Is it a Texas law? Texas constitutional right, family law, landlordlandlordtenant law, consumer law, probate, traffic, most crimes Federal Statutes United States Code Online: http://uscode.house.gov/download/ascii.shtml http://uscode.house.gov/download/ascii.shtml Grouped by subject in “Titles” 2
Slide 3: Also Indexed by Popular Names http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/topn/ Texas Statutes Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated Texas Statutes Online http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html 3
Slide 4: Texas Statutes Most Texas statutes are grouped by subject in “codes” (Probate Code, Family Code) codes” Each code has a Table of Contents and typically is subdivided into Titles The entire set has a detailed index!!! Family Code-Code-TOC Title 1: The Marriage Relationship The Statute References 4
Slide 5: US Statutes Working with Index USCA & USCS have general index—updated index— annually Index at end of each title—updated when main title— volume containing it is updated—except Title 42 in updated— USCA—annually; no index in pocket parts USCA— Different code version indexes differ—may differ— need to look in USCA & USCS In Print or Online Look for terms you expect to find in the legislation Browsing General Index in print more fruitful: How do you find the penalty for carrying a machine gun? Ttile 18, Section 922 What are the construction standards for a trailer home (manufactured home)? Title 42, Section 5401 What are the penalties for tampering with a motor vehicle odometer? Title 49, Section 32709, 32703... If researching online, chose links to narrow topic and then type keywords into “Search” boxes or “Ctrl F” box. Search” F” What if you need an early version of a statute? USC Each print edition designed for permanent retention & on microfiche—Wm. Hein Publishing microfiche— Online from 1994 version to present Archival files in Westlaw for USCA since 1990 Lexis for USCS since 1992 In print-find public law number in USCA and refer to printStatutes at Large, 108-312 108- 5
Slide 6: Statutes at Large (Session laws) Updates for statutes that haven’t made it into haven’ the code Statutes that are dispersed in the code Statutes that don’t get into the code (private & don’ non-permanent laws) nonNew laws without reference to code Verifying accuracy of Titles not reenacted as positive law (only 23/50 reenacted=“legal reenacted=“ evidence”) evidence” Laws that don’t get in the Code don’ Session laws not widely accessible online LOC American Memory website—1st 43 website— congresses: 1789-1875 1789Uncodified public laws Westlaw back to 1973 (click thru from statute to session law source) Lexis back to 1988 GPO Access back to 1995 Before 1973—separate subject index for each 1973— congress Legislative History http://thomas.loc.gov/ http://thomas.loc.gov/ 6
Slide 7: Federal Register http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html Code of Federal Regulations http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html Legislative Reference Library of Texas http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/ http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/ 7
Slide 8: Texas Legislature Online http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ Federal Procedure Rules govern the conduct of all civil actions brought in Federal district courts. http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/index.html http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/index.html Case Law Cases are binding precedent upon future parties and situations Some cases deal with “common law” issues law” found only in case law. Some cases explain statutes -- how a statute is applied to a situation, what certain terms in a statute mean 8
Slide 9: Where do I find cases? State and federal cases are published in “Reporters.” Reporters.” Reporters compile cases chronologically, not by topic An index, called a “digest” will lead you to digest” cases based on a topic Digest to all Federal Cases Contains summaries of cases from all federal courts Texas Digest Contains summaries of cases from the state courts AND federal courts within Texas Look up topics (“Wills” or “Contracts”) (“Wills” Contracts” Choose between subtopics (“handwritten wills”) (“ wills” Until you find cases you need (Wills/handwritten wills/witness unnecessary) 9
Slide 10: Federal Cases Federal courts are divided into three levels U.S. District Courts (trial level) E.g., Southern District of Texas U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal (appellate level) E.g., 5th Circuit U.S. Supreme Court (court of last resort) U.S. Supreme Court Cases Supreme Court Reporter Online: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html or http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/opinions.html http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/opinions.html U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal 10
Slide 11: Federal Circuit Court Cases Federal Reporter Online: http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov Federal District Court Cases Federal Supplement Online: http://www.txs.uscourts.gov http://www.txs.uscourts.gov 11
Slide 12: Southwestern Reporter--publishes TX, AK, MO, TN, KY cases Cases decided by the following state courts are available on the Internet Texas Supreme Court (civil cases) http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesear http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesear ch.asp Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal cases) http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesearch.as http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesearch.as p 14th Court of Appeals (Houston-area appellate court) (Houstonhttp://www.14thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/ 1st Court of Appeals (Houston-area appellate court) (Houstonhttp://www.1stcoa.courts.state.tx.us/ Law blogs focus on one niche of the law or jurisdiction http://texaslaw.blogspot.com/ (monitors Texas http://texaslaw.blogspot.com/ law and politics) http://www.immigration-law-answershttp://www.immigration- law- answersblog.com/ (Immigration Law & questions) http://www.chrislawyer.blogspot.com/ (Texas Family Law) http://www.texasdefenselaw.com/recent_news / (Texas Criminal Law) 12
Slide 13: Other Helpful Internet Sites Information covering all levels of federal courts http://www.uscourts.gov/ http://www.uscourts.gov/ Federal Laws & Regulations http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Laws.shtml http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Laws.shtml Markets do-it-yourself legal resources do- itwww.nolo.com Houston Code of Ordinances http://www.houstontx.gov/codes/ http://www.houstontx.gov/codes/ Websites for Local Services Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County http://www.mhmraharris.org/ http://www.mhmraharris.org/ Harris County Child Protective Services http://www.hc-ps.org/ http://www.hc- ps.org/ Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program http://www.ehvlp.org/home/default.aspx http://www.ehvlp.org/home/default.aspx More Local Sites Harris County District Clerk’s Office Clerk’ Physical Address 201 Caroline, Suite 4651 Houston, Texas 77002 713-755-5734 713- 755http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com /Home/Home.aspx Lonestar Legal Foundation 713-652-5911 713- 652Attorney General’s Office: General’ Child Support Division 713-974-4876 713- 974http://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/ parents/faq.shtml Legal Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse 713-224-9911 713- 224http://www.avdahttp://www.avdatx.org/index.htm 13
Slide 14: University of Houston Law Center O’Quinn Law Library 12 Law Library Houston Texas 77204 (713) 743-2300 743Operating Hours Weekdays: 7:30 am – Midnight Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. South Texas College of Law Fred Parks Law Library 1303 San Jacinto Street Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 646-1711 646Operating Hours Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sundays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law Library 3100 Cleburne St. Houston, Texas 77004 (713) 313-7125 313Operating Hours Mon-Thurs: 7:00 a.m. – MonMidnight. Fridays: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sundays: noon – midnight 14
Slide 15: Harris County Law Library Harris County Law Library 1019 Congress Houston, TX 77002 Operating Hours Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 15