The Times - Unpublished Black History

Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr. George Tames/The New York Times

As we wrap up Black History Month, I thought I'd bring your attention to this cool project The New York Times has been doing - Unpublished Black History. Every day for the month of February, The Times has been posting a picture from their archives that has never been published before. It runs the gamut, from politics to entertainment to local New York events. It's definitely a treasure trove of visual information, and could provide you with a nice yet educational break from your law studies *hint hint ;)

Keep up the good work Law Scholars! Spring break is just around the corner!

The American Library Association Supports Apple in Dispute with FBI

Direct Dial - Dial in secret without an operator!

On Wednesday 2/17, the ALA publicly showed their support in Apple CEO Tim Cook's refusal to develop new technology that would help the FBI unlock the iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook. Why does this matter to librarians? Because it's part of the American Library Association's Code of Ethics (yes, librarians have a proper, written out Code of Ethics :p ).

"We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted."

Realizing that this case has nothing to do with a library user, the sentiment is the same - people have a right to privacy. Libraries have historically been advocates for privacy rights as a general rule, but as our Law Scholars know, there are always two sides (if not more) to every case. The violence and outright murder committed by Syed Rizwan Farook and  Tashfeen Malik is devastating, but putting millions of Americans freedom at risk would be also. In the spirit of Captain Obvious - both issues must be carefully, carefully considered. And from what I've read, it feels like a rats nest of issues and considerations. But don't take my word for it, check out some of the links below:



Bill Gates on Apple: Unlock Terror Suspect's iPhone - USNews 2/23/16
In Apple Dispute, FBI Director Urges A 'Deep Breath' Over Phone Security - NPR 2/22/16
More Support for Justice Department Than for Apple in Dispute Over Unlocking iPhone - PewResearch 2/22/16 
A Technical Perspective on the Apple iPhone Case - ElectronicFrontierFoundation 2/19/16 
Why Didn’t San Bernardino County Officials Have Access to the Terrorist iPhone? - KTLA 2/18/16

Presidents' Day

Law Library Hours - Presidents' Day

The Law Library will be closed to the public on Monday, February 15 for Presidents' Day.  We will also not be offering extended service hours to faculty, students and staff on Sunday, February 14.  Law faculty and students will continue to have 24/7 access throughout the holiday weekend using their University ID cards.

Animal Farm - A Not Fairy Story

Pep - Eastern State Penitentiary Inmate

It is well documented that Pep was wrongly accused and sentenced to Eastern State Penitentiary in 1924. (He did not kill the cat of Governor Pinchot's wife. Though, he was guilty of destroying cushions.) However, there is a history of animals being subjected to human legal proceedings. I highly recommend you stop everything, and read this blog entry from the Law Library of Congress. Srsly, stop what you're doing and click the link.

The Father of Black History

By David from Washington, DC (Carter G. Woodson  Uploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

While the history of black Americans certainly does not begin with Carter Godwin Woodson, its realized importance is in large part thanks to him.

Carter Woodson was a teacher and historian who was concerned about the preservation of his culture, and convinced that African American history, and the history of other cultures was either overlooked or misrepresented. In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (later the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). It was in 1926, that he and the Association for the Study of African American Life announced that the second week of February was Negro History Week (which, not so coincidentally, coincided with both Abraham Lincoln's and Frederick Douglass' birthdays) and would place emphasis on the education of African Americans contributions to history.

Negro History Week would eventually grow into Black History Month in 1970, but became officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1979, as part of the United States Bicentennial.

And thus concludes this very, very brief history lesson on the history of Black History Month. Stop by the Law Library to see our Black History Month display, and get some suggested readings on other notable people and moments in African American history.

LAW LIBRARY CLOSING AT 1PM TUESDAY

Due to the blizzard conditions, the Law Library will be closing to the public at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2.  Law students will continue to have 24/7 access using their University ID cards, but the Law Library staff will not be available.

We anticipate opening at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday.  Stay warm and safe everyone!

Good News for those who Trust Groundhogs

Photo Courtesy ShannonPatrick17

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow! An early spring is predicted amongst this terrible winter storm. This was independently verified by Shubenacadie Sam (Canada's foremost Groundhog weatherman) that it is indeed true - we can in fact expect an early spring. So enjoy this winter wonderland, it won't be long till we're hit with tornadoes and daffodils!

Febrrrrrrary

We're kickin' off February with blizzards! Aside from that though, February is a pretty big month, what with groundhogs, and love, and birthdays, and it's a leap year.

Be sure the check out this month's displays and learn some fun facts about our nation's leaders in this book, remember that Valentine's Day isn't always for lovers, and discover notable achievements by African American pioneers in history.

It's an exciting, albeit short month. Before you know it, SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!

Professor Simmons Reviews New Title: A Legal Theory for Autonomous Artificial Agents

Professor Tom Simmons is contributing to the collection development effort of the USD Law Library. Under this program, professors make recommendations for titles to be added to the Law Library's collection. Consistent with the Collection Development Policy of the Law Library, titles recommended for acquisition by the faculty are given priority consideration. Below Professor Simmons provides a review of a title acquired under the program. Thank you Professor Simmons!

Review of: Samir Chopra & Laurence F. White, A Legal Theory for Autonomous Artificial Agents (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2011)



Philosophy Professor Chopra and attorney White’s work synthesizes both the philosophical and legal dilemmas of emerging autonomous entities with some measure of artificial intelligence. They consider thinking robots in the context of contracts, agency, and tort. Their concluding chapter on the possibility of legal personhood contains their most stirring and creative propositions.

Noting that legal personhood does not necessarily signify moral personhood, the authors emphasize that when the law endows personhood on a non-human, it does so largely for functional and practical reasons: “The law might or might not require this change in status given the functionality and social role of artificial agents. But pragmatism can be wedded to normativity: the case for artificial agents’ legal personality can come to acquire the aura of an imperative depending on the nature of our relationships with them, and the roles they are asked to fulfill in our future social orderings.” (p. 154)

Legal personhood does not necessarily imply full personhood. Corporations are persons insofar as they can own property, contract, hire agents, sue and be used, and suffer prosecution for misdeeds. Yet corporations cannot adopt children. Nor may corporations be considered victims of assault and battery. The contours of personhood for non-humans are drawn according to social norms and functionality.

Chopra and White’s book explains how the capacity of autonomous entities for consciousness, awareness, or at least the ability to execute discretionary decisions will drive the recognition of personhood. The technological future of thinking robots will meet the law in recognizable and perhaps even predictable encounters.