Author: Maryanne Daly Doran

After the Votes: Election Outcomes and Legal Challenges

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As election season unfolds, the aftermath often brings its own set of challenges, particularly concerning the validity of the results. Challenges to election results can arise for various reasons—ranging from allegations of voter fraud to disputes over the counting process. We’ve gathered some resources that summarize and explore the legal framework surrounding election result challenges and their implications.   There are a number of open access resources to help with your research questions. 

Case Tracker

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law  tracks pending and resolved election cases from across the country. You can browse a list of cases, search by case name, or filter by jurisdiction and topic. This resource provides case summaries and court filings.

50 State Surveys

The National Conference of State Legislatures has assembled state laws from across the country on topics including absentee voting, voter ID requirements, felon voting rights, election recounts, poll watching, and the Electoral College. For some of these topics, the laws are synthesized and displayed in tables and infographics that allow for easy browsing and comparing.

U.S. Voting Laws & Legislation Center

A free, publicly accessible tool for locating U.S. federal and state voting and election law and for tracking proposed legislation on the topic. This voting law tool is provided by the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation to provide citizens with free access to the most comprehensive collection of US voting laws, and legislative developments.

HeinOnline Database (UConn Law Students, Faculty and Staff)

HeinOnline Voting Rights & Election Law
Browse and search through a collection of thousands of subject-coded titles that illustrate the nuances and complexities of elections and voting systems—the lifeblood of democracy—both in America and across the globe.

For additional insight, check out the UConn Law library display and make sure you get out there and vote!!!

 

 

Witches, Goblins and Ghosts…Oh My! Spooky Season Legal Research

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As Halloween approaches, it’s not just ghosts and goblins that come out to play; the spirit of inquiry and legal research also rises to the occasion.

While the rest of the world is busy preparing for trick-or-treating and costume parties, legal professionals can take a cue from the season to refresh their research strategies and explore the eerie yet fascinating intersections of law and Halloween.

A spooky gem for research into all things spooky and perhaps macabre, is Hein Online!

Hein’s Halloween themed blog: Behind the Bindings: Tricks and Treats in the Law Journal Library discusses great spooky research tips sure to result in some ghostly findings.

If you want to skip the line, check out Cleveland State University Law’s Top Ten Spookiest Law Review Articles. 

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

Student’s Perspective: Congo Week and Its Impact – Guest Blogger Toni-Ann Gayle

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Congo Week will be recognized on UConn Law’s campus for the second consecutive year.  Observed October 13-October 19, it’s a week of activities that supports the people of the Congo by raising awareness of Cobalt mining and the interrelated conflict in the Democratic Republic of The Congo. Congo Week is brought to you by BLSA (Black Law Students Association) in collaboration with HRLA (Human Rights Law Association), PILG (Public Interest Law Group), EELS (Energy and Environmental Law Society), ULBC (UConn Law Basketball Club) and The UConn Law Library.

UConn Law Student Toni-Ann Gayle
UConn Law 3L Toni-Ann Gayle

Guest blogger Toni-Ann Gayle launched the first ever Congo Week in 2023 and has spearheaded the event again for 2024.  She shares her perspective on Congo Week and what it means to her:

I’m so excited that we will be recognizing Congo Week for the second year in a row on campus! This year, we are extremely fortunate to be partnering with UConn undergrad to ensure that students in the undergrad can watch some of the events and know what is taking place on the law school campus. We are also partnering with Adelphi University and sitting in on one of their events!

This year, we were intentional in making Congo Week activities even more accessible for our day and evening students.  Here are just a few examples:

Scavenger Hunt

This will be available for participants throughout the week, so both day and evening students can participate,

Library Display 

Books covering Congo’s history and mineral rights are on display in the library are of course, available to check out.

Congo on Campus : A Live Conversation with Congolese Cobalt Miners

Our main event on Wednesday, which features cobalt miners from the Congo will be recorded and available in person as well as virtually, and on Thursday, we will be having 2 events both of which are virtual (with watch parties in person) – one of which is during the traditional lunch hour for day students, and another which is in the afternoon and is accessible to evening students.

Perhaps what I am even more excited about is, well, two things: first, that students get the opportunity to directly ask questions which will be answered by the miners themselves, and second, our basketball game on Saturday which will be in collaboration with ULBC where we will be encouraging students to donate to causes of their choice which benefit people in the Congo!

Buckets 4 Congo (Basketball Game)

Held in collaboration with ULBC – we will be encouraging students to donate to causes of their choice which will benefit people in the Congo!

Community

This year, we were very intentional about the community aspect of Congo Week (as it is a community service project at its core) and we have partnered with organizations in the community such as YACO International’s African Community Resource Center to assist Congolese migrants in the surrounding community with various immigration needs, and even the food we are getting is from an organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers from a number of countries, Congo being one of them.

Congo Week this year promises to be even better than last year, and this is because we have a team of dedicated people on board working around the clock to ensure that each day is intentionally planned with the cause at the forefront, and that each day is designed to accommodate as many students (and faculty) as possible!

I am excited that students will get the chance to learn about the plight of the Congolese people through various forms, and I am even more excited for the thoughtful discussions that will take place – we tried very hard to ensure that there is something for everyone – from watching films to playing basketball, we want to ensure that everyone knows that there is something that they can do!

As this is my final year at UConn, this year’s Congo Week is a bit emotional for me, as it will be the last time that I am planning and executing this event. However, I am confident that the baton will be passed to competent hands who will make the event even better for years to come. I hope that everyone can come out and support in any way that they can!

 

 

 

Prioritizing Wellness – Law Student Mental Health Day – 10/10

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Fall is beautiful in Connecticut!  Leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and there are apple cider donuts around every corner. However, for law students, Fall is also when coursework and extra-curricular activities begin to pile up and deadlines start to feel more imminent than the first hard frost.  

The American Bar Association designates October 10th as Law Student Mental Health Day to align with World Mental Health Day, recognized by the World Health Organization. This day recognizes stress, anxiety and substance abuse issues among the legal community, and is an opportunity to promote and educate about resources available to students and lawyers facing these issues.

UConn Law and the American Bar Association have an ongoing commitment to raise awareness, eliminate any stigma regarding help-seeking and self-care, and support a culture of well-being in law school and beyond.

UConn Law - Law Student Mental Health Day Featured Programs  (all on October 10th) :

Breakfast Break - stop by our firm sponsored breakfast break in partnership with CCD on Law Student Mental Health Day (10/10) hosted by Carmody, Torrance, Sandak and Hennessey LLP from 9-11am located at the library patio. Representatives from this firm will be handing out breakfast items from Dunkin’, so please stop by, grab a cup of coffee, and introduce yourself!

Mental Health Committee/Student Affairs Tabling -  10/10 from 12:30-2pm on the library patio to promote the importance of caring for our mental health and combating the stigma surrounding mental health in the legal profession.

Guest Speaker Heidi Alexander - Join us in the evening of 10/10 for our guest speaker, Heidi Alexander, from 5-6pm in JMB. Heidi is Massachusetts’ first Director of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being and is the President of the Institute for Well-Being in Law.

Year round, UConn Law offers various resources to help you recognize mental health concerns as well as resources available to help you focus on your well-being.  The UConn Law Office of Student Affairs staff is located in One Stop on the second floor of the library. Students can also book an appointment to talk with our On-Campus Mental Health Counselors through the UConn Law Student Portal.  

The following initiatives available to UConn Law students are offered in partnership with Student Health and Wellness at UConn-Storrs.

  • BeWell - offers free and confidential mental health support 24/7/365 by calling (833) 308-3040. This service can also be accessed outside of the U.S by calling +44-20-8987-6588 for in-the-moment support from a counselor, regardless of your location, to help you manage your concerns.  
  • On-campus Mental Health Counselor, Corrine, offers one on one counseling. Please email her at                       corrine.ochsner@uconn.edu to set up a time to meet!
  • Togetherall -completely anonymous online peer-to-peer mental health support community available free to UConn students 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Togetherall provides access to an online community and a wealth of useful resources, including self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, depression and more. Register with your UConn email at: https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student
  • Headspace - The City of Hartford partnered with the app Headspace for a self-care and mental wellness initiative. You can download it for free (expires 5/31/25)
  • Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Connecticut - offers free and confidential peer support, support groups and other mental health resources to all attorneys, judges and law students in Connecticut.

      Finally, there are numerous supportive resources online:

      Remember, the UConn Law Library and UConn Law are here to support you as your navigate the stressful years of law school and beyond.

      Pile of rocks near ocean

      Newsflash! Digital Access to New York Times and WSJ

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      Stack of Newspapers

      Digital Access to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal is available to all current law students, faculty and staff!  Once signed up, you can read the publications on your computer or phone apps! 

      New York Times 

      Students, faculty, and staff can create an account to view the New York Times website by following the instructions from our catalog.  To create an account, complete your registration (use your UConn email address and create a password!)  

      Once you have an account, you can access the New York Times from anywhere on any device by going to http://www.nytimes.com and logging in with your username and password. You can access from the New York Times app on your phone as well.  

       Wall Street Journal 

      Wall Street Journal access is provided by the UConn School of Business to all active students, faculty and staff at the University.  You can activate your complimentary membership by logging on to this link (you will be prompted for your NetID and password to activate your subscription using this link):  Wall Street Journal Sign Up. To access the WSJ from your phone, simply download the app and log in with your credentials.  

      Happy Reading!

      Hispanic Heritage Month: Student Spotlight

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      September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic American Heritage Month. This month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans and celebrates heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.

      Photo of UConn Law Student Dominic Bellido posed in front of museum exhibit.
      UConn Law student Dominic Bellido visiting El Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI), Lima, Peru.

      The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together”. In keeping with this concept, UConn Law recognizes the impact that Hispanic American students bring as advocates for reform, to UConn Law and the legal profession.

      This month we highlight Dominic Bellido, a first-year law student who joined the library this past summer. A Colby College graduate with a commitment to justice and advocacy, Dominic intends to pursue a career in human rights or immigration law.

      Dominic reflects on what it means to honor his heritage and the legacies he carries forward in his pursuit of legal education.

      As a first-generation Peruvian / American law student, I have often felt intimidated or anxious entering into higher levels of education. Being the first in my family to enter law school has come with not only a sense of pride but also fear for the all the unknowns ahead of me. But whenever I begin to doubt myself, I remember the way my grandparents used to sing me lullabies in Spanish whenever I had nightmares a child, soothing me with old bolero songs or nursery rhymes.

      Dominic’s family’s journey ignited a desire to pursue a career in law, aiming to create positive change and advocate for those in need.

      Now I draw my strength from the love my grandparents kept for me, from all the culture and pain and joy they carried on their backs, from all the hard work it took for them to help my parents build a new home in America.  And as I pursue my studies, I think to myself, if I am able to help my community and shed light onto the new paths which my generation and the next will forge—then, all credit is due to the ancestors that came before me. Only the mistakes are truly mine.

      Sentiments such as Dominic’s are a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and the positive changes that emerge from embracing diverse voices.

      Check out Dominic’s library display of print and digital titles highlighting Hispanic Heritage by the entrance to the law library. By celebrating all UConn Law students of Hispanic heritage and their achievements and supporting their journeys, we contribute to a more diverse and equitable legal profession.

      Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

      Welcome Alumni! 2024 UConn School of Law Reunion

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      Welcome back alumni! We look forward to the 2024 UConn school of Law Reunion.  This weekend’s reunion promises to be an event filled with nostalgia, reflection, and reconnection.

      Check Out Our Exhibits! 

      For a walk down memory lane, we have created an exhibit of photos for the classes ending in 4 and 9 near the stairs on the library’s main floor.

      We also currently have an exhibit, Honor Bound: Coming out in the Military, which highlights Joseph Steffan’s papers and other items from the Steffan Collection in the School of Law Archives.

      Book Jacket with title "Honor Bound"

      Remember, we are here to help!  

      Our expert law librarians are available to assist alumni with personalized research guidance long after graduation. Our comprehensive research guides, curated by librarians, offer step-by-step guidance on conducting legal research in a variety of practice areas.

      Connect with us!

      There are four easy ways to connect with us:  in person, thru online chat, via email or give us a call (860) 570-5200.
      Reach out with questions, and we’ll help you find the right tools to support your legal practice.

      The Law Library is turning 100! 

      The Law Library will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this Spring, we invite you to join us so stay tuned for details!

      FAQ – Top 5 Questions at the Law Library!

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      Questions and sticky notes with question marks

      We are a week into the new semester and are so excited to welcome (back) everyone!  Here are some of the most common questions we’ve seen at the front desk.  This way you can make the most of your time here on campus and focus on other things like getting ready for class!

      1. What are Course Reserves?

      One copy of all required textbooks from each class is kept on reserve at the library.  To check them out (four hours at a time) just stop by the Access Service desk to see if it is available.

      To return them when the library is open, just bring those books back to the front desk.  If you put them in the drop box, you may end up getting late fines, and you also deny your fellow students the ability to check the book out for themselves.

       


      1. What’s the scoop with Study Aids?

      In addition to electronic study aids such as  Cali and West Academic Study Aids, did you know you can also check out print copies of numerous study aids at the library?

      For example, you can check out Emanuel's, Nutshells and Examples and Explanations (AKA "E & E's) for Civil Procedure from Course Reserves at the front desk.   We even have copies of the trusty Blue Book if you happen to forget it!

      For more info on study aids broken down by topic, check out this research guide.

       

      1. Where are the printers and scanners located?

      Printing

      Law students have access to WEPA printers and release stations at several locations on campus. Printing costs $0.08 per side (black and white) and $0.35 per side (color). Students may upload print jobs from their own laptops directly to WEPA. Law Computer Lab workstations are also configured to allow printing.

      WEPA stations are located in the Computer Lab (Library 2nd Floor), Library 3rd Floor and Library 4th Floor.

      Lexis Printing

      It’s free to print material from Lexis to the Lexis printer also located on the 2nd floor! Lexis offers free printing from Lexis Advance from dedicated Lexis printers located outside the second floor computer lab. You can print Lexis materials from any computer using your Lexis account. For instructions:

      Lexis Printing Instructions

      Scanners

      The Law Library provides two sheetfeed and book-eye scanners on the 3rd Floor of the Law Library, adjacent to the circulation desk. There is no charge to use the scanner. You can email scans to yourself or save them on a flash drive.

       


      1. Where can I find a filtered water fountain/fill station?

      While there are a number of water fountains all over campus, the fill stations are located in a few specific spots.  From the front desk of the library, we often tell people to go through the double doors and take a right down the hallway to find the one we have in our building.  Otherwise, there is a station in the gym in Knight, and two in Hosmer, one of the first floor and one on the second.  They are located down the hallways amongst the faculty offices, so maybe say hi to a professor while filling up!

      1. How can I get my hands on library materials?

      You are always welcome to come into the building and pull things from the shelves yourself and check them out at the front desk, and reference librarians love to help locate them if you need a helping hand.  During the pandemic, we also created a new on-demand service called Library2Go.  It’s still a thing!  Check out our page explaining the Library2Go pickup and digital scanning service.  

      Always remember that we are here to help and available to answer any questions you may have.  Stop by the front desk anytime to say "hi" or feel free to reach out electronically.

      Labor Day: More Than Just a Long Weekend

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      UConn Law Library will be closed Monday, September 2, in honor of Labor Day. Although considered the “unofficial” end of summer and celebrated with cookouts, parades and athletic events, Labor Day’s purpose is to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.

      Labor Day  was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a bill, S. 730, establishing Labor Day as a national holiday.

      The earliest known celebration of Labor Day is recognized as September 5, 1882 when a parade, followed by a picnic, was sponsored by the Central Labor Union in New York City. Many workers risked their jobs to participate in this parade.

       

      Photo from 1882 showing first Labor Day Parade
      Illustration of the first American Labor parade held in New York City on September 5, 1882 as it appeared in the September 16, 1882 issue of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.

       

      Did you know that many Federal holidays fall on a Monday because of the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act? This act enabled federal and state employees to enjoy more three day weekends.

      For more information on the history of Labor Day, check out this collection of blog posts about Labor Day at the Library of Congress Blog.  and this article, What Is Labor Day? A History of the Workers’ Holiday by the New York Times.

      As we enjoy the holiday, let’s remember the dedication and struggles of those who came before us and continue to strive for a fair and equitable workplace for all. See you all on September 3, when the library reopens.

      Welcome Back to the Stacks!

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      Welcome Back to the Stacks!

      Welcome to our new and returning students! We are eager to get to know the ILs as you begin your law school journey and are thrilled to welcome back the 2 and 3L students!  The library staff are here to aid in a successful transition to law school and excel in your academic year.  We offer a variety of services and resources to support you in your learning and research:

      Study Rooms

      Our study rooms are available for group study! Students can reserve a seat at  s.uconn.edu/lawlibstudyrooms, by scanning the QR code outside the room you want to use, or by clicking the quick link on the Law Library homepage. Each student can reserve a room for up to two hours per day.  We ask that you please cancel your reservation if you no longer need it so that other students can use the space. You can always reschedule for another time that day as long as the time block is available. View the entire study room policy here.

      Library2Go

      Library2Go is a free book and article retrieval service. Simply request a book from the library’s collection and it will be retrieved and checked out to you. Need a book chapter or an article from a print journal? We will scan and email material that falls within our copyright guidelines.  For more information on UConn’s Copyright Policy, click here. Please allow for 5 business days to fulfill your requests. Learn more about Library2Go here.

      Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

      Need a book, chapter, or article that the Law Library doesn’t own? Law students, faculty, and staff can request these items using our ILL system, tILLapia. Staff will do their best to obtain the item from libraries all around the world. Just like Library2Go, scans will be emailed, and physical items will be made available across from the Circulation Desk. To learn more about ILL or to submit a request, click here.

      Reference Services

      The Reference team is here to answer your research questions. While they can’t do your homework for you or give legal advice, they can show you the ropes and help you when you get stuck in your research.   You can schedule a research consultation or find them at the reference desk on the main floor of the library. You can also email them at refdesk.lawlib@uconn.edu, call (860) 570-5200, or chat with them online.

      Course Reserves

      The Law Library keeps one copy of each required textbook that can be checked out at the Circulation Desk on short-term loan.   Please be mindful that we only have one copy to share with you and all your fellow classmates!  The Law Library also has study aids that will cater to a variety of different learning styles. For more information, check out the Study Aids section in our Student Toolkit.

      The law library is a welcoming space to research, study and relax.

      More questions?  You can find us at the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the Law Library, by email at lawlibrary@uconn.edu, or by calling (860) 570-5012.  Stop by with any questions or just to say "hi"!

      We can't wait to see you all!

      Image of students studying in the library