Fastcase at the Library

One question we're frequently asked is where to find Wisconsin Jury Instructions online. As of this blog post, they're available through Fastcase.

Anyone can use Fastcase at our three libraries to access current and some prior Wisconsin Jury Instructions online. Jury instructions are keyword searchable and browsable. If you haven't used Fastcase to access a treatise-like collection before, a librarian can help get you started.

We recently added a new book on using Fastcase to our collection. Fastcase: the definitive guide includes tips and step by step instructions for getting the most out of the database with every search.

Contents include:

• The nuts and bolts of searching
• Case research
• Bad law bot : is that case still good law?
• Statutes and other legislative resources
• Regulations and administrative law
• Treatises, law reviews, and other secondary resources

Check out Fastcase: the definitive guide today!

Libraries Closed on Memorial Day

The David T. Prosser Jr. Library, and Dane and Milwaukee County Law Libraries will be closed on Monday, May 28th for Memorial Day. We will respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, May 29th.

To ask a question while we are closed, call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.

image source

New in HeinOnline: Prestatehood Legal Materials

Researchers trying to locate primary law materials from US colonies all the way to statehood can turn to a single source: HeinOnline's Prestatehood legal materials.

It's easy to use! From the main page of the collection, use the map to navigate to the geographical area (state) you're researching. You'll get an overview of the history and dates pertinent to your research, along with suggested sources for constitutional, judicial, legislative, and executive materials.

Sign into this database with your library card. HeinOnline is available to most cardholders outside of the library, and all visitors to our three libraries can use HeinOnline from a law library computer or wireless network.

Information has been adapted from the book, Prestatehood legal materials: a fifty state research guide, including New York City and the District of Columbia. The print edition is also available digitally from HeinOnline's prestatehood collection.

The author of Wisconsin's entry, Duane Strojny, notes in the conclusion, "A quick phone call to the Wisconsin State Law Library will confirm actual content and the existence or appropriate referral to obtain a copy of documents." Yes! Please call or email us with questions. We're happy to help.

Downtown Madison road closures on May 19

Potentially affecting our after hours users, there are a few street closures in downtown Madison on Saturday, May 19. 

The Judge Doyle Square Project will require a closure of E. Doty St. between MLK Jr. Blvd. and S. Pinckney St. from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

CBD oil in the news

CBD oil and industrial hemp have been in the news for the past couple of weeks. On May 10, the Wisconsin Department of Justice released an updated statement on Wisconsin's industrial hemp pilot program and CBD oil.

image source

This was prompted by discussion over a recent guidance statement from the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center. (link updated 5/23/18)

This statement was briefly hosted on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) industrial hemp research pilot program website, where they linked to the document and included a brief statement. (Archived version of the DATCP page from May 3, 2018)

Here's an overview of sources and laws relating to these topics:

Wisconsin sources

The WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has information on the industrial hemp program on their website Wisconsin DATCP Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program. This page includes FAQs and other information. 

Wisconsin statute 961.38 discusses cannabidiol. Read an overview of 2017 Wisconsin Act 4 which affected possession and distribution of CBD and of 2017 Wisconsin Act 100 which relates to industrial hemp.

Wisconsin statute index listings for "hemp" and "cannabidiol":

• Agriculture & farming, industrial hemp
• Controlled substances, industrial hemp
• Controlled substances, marijuana, cannabidiols, and synthetic cannabis
• Industrial: Hemp
• Pharmacy, prescriptions, regulation; cannabidiols for seizure disorders

The Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board administers sections of chapter 961 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

Other sources

The US Department of Agriculture has a page on industrial hemp, which discusses section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill. Information on the pending 2018 Farm Bill, H.R. 2 can be found online.

US Drug Enforcement Administration final rule: Dec. 2016 Establishment of a New Drug Code for Marihuana Extract

Court rules CBD is Schedule 1 controlled substance, cannabidiol sales only where pot legal, Statesman Journal (May 4, 2018)

The National Conference of State Legislatures has an overview of other state industrial hemp statutes on their website.

Research guides for Criminal Law & Sentencing Institute

The annual Wisconsin Court System Criminal Law & Sentencing Institute is this week. Jennifer Waite, librarian at the Milwaukee County Law Library, will be available to share information about our three libraries to judges in attendance. 

For those who won't be at the conference, or can't stop by the table, here's a sampling of some of the information you can walk away with, in addition to our brochure and bookmark.

Legislative History Research in Wisconsin
Get an overview of legislative history research in a clear diagram. Links and coverage for online and print resources are included. 

Our Start Here research guides are short two page lists of books and articles which feature essential or newer sources on a topic. 

• Briefs and Opinion Writing
• Criminal Law Judge Resources
• Electronic Evidence
• Juries
• Jury Trials
• Scientific Evidence
• Sentencing

We look forward to meeting you this week!

WSLL @ Your Service May 2018

The May issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. As always, your comments are welcome. Please direct them to the editor, Carol Hassler.

In this issue:

Congratulations to New Graduates

The Wisconsin State Law Library congratulates May graduates of Wisconsin's law schools and invites new attorneys to sign up for library cards. Read more

New Flyer for Public Service Desks

The Library is making it easier to refer people to our services with our public service desk handout. Read more

New Books

Our featured new resources this month are Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court, Renters' Rights, and Gun Regulation and Legislation in America. Check our new book list for more new titles. Read more

Tech Tip

Learn how to jump to the top of the Wisconsin Legislature's website, and get general tips for skipping to the top of just about any website. Read more

Library News

Get information about a free legal clinic in the Dane County Law Library on Law Day, our new microfiche scanner, spring classes, and last month's National Library Week displays. Read more

May Snapshot

Lady Justice contemplates the National Library Week theme, The Art of Law. Read more