Supreme Court Reiterates Congress's Exclusive Role in Regulating Lower Federal Court Jurisdiction (open access)

Supreme Court Reiterates Congress's Exclusive Role in Regulating Lower Federal Court Jurisdiction

This report discusses the Supreme Court's decision in "Hamer v. Neighborhood Housing Service of Chicago" which affirmed that only the legislative branch may make rules governing the inferior federal courts' subject-matter jurisdiction.
Date: November 29, 2017
Creator: Peck, Sarah Herman
System: The UNT Digital Library
Killing Endangered Species: What's Reasonable Self-Defense? (open access)

Killing Endangered Species: What's Reasonable Self-Defense?

This report discusses the case of "United States v. Wallen" in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; it concerns a man who killed a grizzly bear cub in violation of the Endangered Species Act and claimed self-defense. It outlines the court ruling that the man enjoys a complete defense if he "actually, even if unreasonably, believe[s] his actions were necessary to protect himself or others" and discusses the implications of the decision.
Date: November 29, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part 2) (open access)

Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part 2)

This report is the part two of two of a report on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) recently concluded its investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the "Section 301 Investigation") "to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce." This part of the report applies the general legal framework to this specific Section 301 Investigation, providing background on the investigation, describing the USTR's findings and the President's directives, and concluding by addressing what legal issues lie ahead.
Date: March 29, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Caitlin Devereaux
System: The UNT Digital Library
Addressing Sexual Harassment by Modifying the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995: A Look at Key Provisions in H.R. 4822. (open access)

Addressing Sexual Harassment by Modifying the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995: A Look at Key Provisions in H.R. 4822.

This report discusses the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) and proposed reforms to how it handles harassment claims through the bill H.R. 4822. The report highlights and considers some of the major differences between the current process provided under the CAA and the process that would exist if H.R. 4822 were enacted, as well as other changes proposed by the bill that could affect both legislative branch employees and Members of Congress.
Date: January 29, 2018
Creator: Back, Christine J. & Freeman, Wilson C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clarifying "Gibberish": Supreme Court Holds That State Courts Can Hear Securities Act Lawsuits (open access)

Clarifying "Gibberish": Supreme Court Holds That State Courts Can Hear Securities Act Lawsuits

This report discusses the background of the case of "Cyan Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund", the Supreme Court's decision, and the decision's implications for securities litigation.
Date: March 29, 2018
Creator: Sykes, Jay B.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part 1) (open access)

Tricks of the Trade: Section 301 Investigation of Chinese Intellectual Property Practices Concludes (Part 1)

This report discusses the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) recent investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation were unreasonable or discriminatory and burdening or restricting U.S. commerce and President Trumps's memorandum in response.
Date: March 29, 2018
Creator: Lewis, Caitlin Devereaux
System: The UNT Digital Library
When Can You Be Convicted of a Crime That Is Not a Crime? (open access)

When Can You Be Convicted of a Crime That Is Not a Crime?

This report discusses the case United States v. Melgar-Cabrera. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) recently upheld the murder conviction of the defendant who the court conceded had been "convicted of a crime that is not a crime."
Date: June 29, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Bankruptcy for Marijuana Businesses? (open access)

Bankruptcy for Marijuana Businesses?

This legal sidebar discusses recent bankruptcy court cases that suggest that one such risk may be the ultimate unavailability to both debtors and creditors of the protections, benefits, and predictability of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code when state-regulated marijuana businesses fail.
Date: October 29, 2014
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Former U.S. Hostages of Iran to be Eligible for Compensation (open access)

Former U.S. Hostages of Iran to be Eligible for Compensation

This legal sidebar briefly discusses the U.S. victims of the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis, who will become eligible to receive up to $4.4 million each in compensation, thanks to the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act.
Date: December 29, 2015
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library