Elizabeth Ann Kronk Warner, of the University of Kansas, has recently published the article Examining Tribal Environmental Law in the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law. The article is available for download here from SSRN. Importantly, the article "describes and classifies the laws of 74 federally recognized tribes, highlighting environmental laws the tribes have enacted." As such, Warner's article serves as an important resource for researchers in this area. The citation is 39 Colum. J. Envtl. L. 42 (2014).
Looking to access environmental or other laws of recognized tribes? The Prairie Law Blog previously posted about the new Library of Congress Indigenous Law Portal, available here, which organizes materials by state and tribe.
For more information on environmental law issues affecting Native Americans and tribal nations, consider the following titles available in the McKusick Law Library:
Native American Natural Resources Law: Cases and Materials / Judith V. Royster and Michael C. Blum
Closing the Circle: Environmental Justice in Indian Country / James M. Grijalva
Model Tribal Environmental Code / Native American Rights Fund
Friday, August 22, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Law School Alarm System
Several of the doors within the law school are connected to the law school's alarm system, including the doors that provide entrance to the law library on the upper level (near the Dean's Suite) and the lower level (at the bottom of the stairwell by the courtroom entrance). These doors are closed and the alarm system set at the same time the outer doors to the building are secured (at 5:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter). If you attempt to open one of these doors after they have been closed, the alarm will trigger. Accordingly, after 5:00 p.m., law students are advised to enter the library through the double doors on the main level and use the staircases at the rear of the library to access the upper and lower levels. Because the law library staff is available at the circulation/reference desk until 6:00 p.m., the double doors may be left open between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. as a courtesy to our students. However, all students attempting to access the law school building or law library after 5:00 p.m. should have their University ID card available.
Also, all students should be aware that the controls for the alarm system are secured and the controls are not accessible by the Law Library staff. Accordingly, even if library personnel are at the desk, if an alarm is triggered between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., the alarm will not be turned off until University Police personnel are contacted and arrive at the Law School. If you trigger the alarms after hours, on weekends, or during a holiday, you will need to contact University Police. The University Police number for non-emergencies is 605-677-5342. In the case of an emergency, dial 9-911 from any campus phone.
Because the alarm system is not automatically disarmed after a set period of time, failure to contact University Police will result in the alarm continuing to sound. Please be courteous to your colleagues by taking extra care not to set off the alarms.
Also, all students should be aware that the controls for the alarm system are secured and the controls are not accessible by the Law Library staff. Accordingly, even if library personnel are at the desk, if an alarm is triggered between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., the alarm will not be turned off until University Police personnel are contacted and arrive at the Law School. If you trigger the alarms after hours, on weekends, or during a holiday, you will need to contact University Police. The University Police number for non-emergencies is 605-677-5342. In the case of an emergency, dial 9-911 from any campus phone.
Because the alarm system is not automatically disarmed after a set period of time, failure to contact University Police will result in the alarm continuing to sound. Please be courteous to your colleagues by taking extra care not to set off the alarms.
A Reminder About Noise Levels in the Law Library
As the fall semester gets underway, the Law Library would like to provide a brief reminder to law students about appropriate noise levels in the library:
The main floor of the Law Library receives the greatest amount of traffic, as it houses many of the library's most frequently used reference materials, the new Technology Learning Center, as well as the public access terminals and copier. However, noise on the main floor should be kept at a conversational level. Out of courtesy to other library users, cell phone calls should be moved outside the double doors of the Law Library and into the lobby area. Communications on the lower level and should also be kept at a conversational level. The upper level of the library generally receives less traffic and provides a place for quiet study. Please keep communications on the upper level to a minimum.
If you desire a quieter place to study in the Law Library, study rooms on both the lower level and upper level are available on a first come, first serve basis or may be reserved in the Dean's Suite. Also, as indicated, the upper level of the library generally receives less traffic, and four new study tables have been installed on this level with lighting, access to power, and network connections.
The main floor of the Law Library receives the greatest amount of traffic, as it houses many of the library's most frequently used reference materials, the new Technology Learning Center, as well as the public access terminals and copier. However, noise on the main floor should be kept at a conversational level. Out of courtesy to other library users, cell phone calls should be moved outside the double doors of the Law Library and into the lobby area. Communications on the lower level and should also be kept at a conversational level. The upper level of the library generally receives less traffic and provides a place for quiet study. Please keep communications on the upper level to a minimum.
If you desire a quieter place to study in the Law Library, study rooms on both the lower level and upper level are available on a first come, first serve basis or may be reserved in the Dean's Suite. Also, as indicated, the upper level of the library generally receives less traffic, and four new study tables have been installed on this level with lighting, access to power, and network connections.
Monday, August 18, 2014
ABA Votes to Expand Membership Eligibility to Tribal Court Practitioners
On August 11, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates unanimously voted to amend the ABA Constitution to allow tribal court practitioners to become full members of the ABA. In the past, only persons licensed in a state, federal or territorial jurisdiction within the United States could join the ABA as a full member. The ABA's policy did not extend to persons solely licensed through a tribal court of a federally recognized tribe.
The National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) issued a press release commending the decision of the ABA, stating that the decision will "put tribal court bar admissions on equal footing with the bars of states, territories and possessions of the United States."
Coverage is also available here from Turtle Talk, the blog of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University College of Law. Turtle Talk also provides a link to the ABA Section Report in support of the amendment, available here.
The National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) issued a press release commending the decision of the ABA, stating that the decision will "put tribal court bar admissions on equal footing with the bars of states, territories and possessions of the United States."
Coverage is also available here from Turtle Talk, the blog of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University College of Law. Turtle Talk also provides a link to the ABA Section Report in support of the amendment, available here.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Law Student Printing Balance
Law students should take note that the pre-loaded printing balance should now be available on their accounts.
If you have additional questions about copying or printing in the Law School, please visit the Law Library's LibGuide on this topic, available here.
If you have additional questions about copying or printing in the Law School, please visit the Law Library's LibGuide on this topic, available here.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Update - QR: Quick Response: Locating Electronic Resources When the Print Is No Longer Being Updated
In February, the Prairie Law Blog posted about the Law Library's initial efforts to label materials that are no longer being updated in print.
The goal is to clearly notify all of our patrons as to whether a
particular print resource is being kept current. Items that are no
longer being updated in print are being labeled with a yellow sticker
stating: "No Longer Being Updated by Library."
With the help of our student workers last spring and this summer, the Law Library has labeled the materials on the lower level of the library. We hope to complete labeling and/or signage on the main floor in the near future. In the interim, some print resources that are not being kept current may not have yet been labeled. If you have any questions as to whether a resource is being updated in print by the Law Library or whether an electronic version of a resource is available, please do not hesitate to ask a member of the Law Library staff. Also, if you have any questions about using QR codes, the Law Library staff is available to provide assistance.
Welcome to the Class of 2017!
The McKusick Law Library staff would like to welcome all the incoming first year students to the University of South Dakota School of Law!
We hope that you found the law library orientation and tours helpful. If you are reading this post, you have navigated successfully to the Law Library's website. While here, we invite you to take a quick look at the Library's LibGuides, Research Databases, and online catalog, while orientation is still fresh in your mind. If you have any questions over anything covered at orientation, please don't hesitate to ask!
Also, if you are looking for study aids and other academic success materials, don't forget about the display on the lower level which was pointed out on the tour. More materials are located on the main level in the Reserve Room and the Study Aids and Academic Success collection. For even more information, take a look at the Law Library's Academic Success LibGuide, available here.
We hope that you found the law library orientation and tours helpful. If you are reading this post, you have navigated successfully to the Law Library's website. While here, we invite you to take a quick look at the Library's LibGuides, Research Databases, and online catalog, while orientation is still fresh in your mind. If you have any questions over anything covered at orientation, please don't hesitate to ask!
Also, if you are looking for study aids and other academic success materials, don't forget about the display on the lower level which was pointed out on the tour. More materials are located on the main level in the Reserve Room and the Study Aids and Academic Success collection. For even more information, take a look at the Law Library's Academic Success LibGuide, available here.
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