WSLL @ Your Service October 2024
Contents
Celebrating Lavinia Goodell
The Wisconsin State Law Library's main library location was named the Lavinia Goodell State Law Library in a ceremony on Monday, September 30. The library is named in honor of Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin's first woman lawyer, and commemorates Goodell's legacy and her groundbreaking contributions to the legal profession. On June 17, 1874, Goodell became the first woman to practice law in Wisconsin, overcoming significant barriers and advocating for legislative changes that opened doors for generations of women to follow in her footsteps.
The ceremony included remarks on Goodell's legacy by Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley (pictured). Banners featuring Lavinia Goodell's life and work are on display at the library through November. Stop by the library to check them out!
More information on the life and work of Lavinia Goodell is available at LaviniaGoodell.com
New Criminal Jury Instructions Released
The September 2024 release of the Criminal jury instructions is now available at: https://wilawlibrary.gov/jury/criminal/ The Wisconsin Jury Instructions are created and edited by the Wisconsin Jury Instructions Committees of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference.
Instructions may be released more frequently throughout the year, and will continue to follow the same release numbering and month/year date patterns for easy version tracking. The Criminal instructions feature new and updated instructions for September 2024. This set was last updated in July 2024. Updates include:
- JI-700 Law Note: Theory of Defense Instructions Instructing the Jury on Defensive Matters
- JI-775 Alibi
- JI-1319 Interference with Fire Fighting Equipment 941.12(2)
- JI-1398B Publishing a Depiction That Is Known to Be a Private Representation of Nudity Without Consent - 942.09(3m)(a)2
- JI-2125 Causing a Child to View or Listen to Sexual Activity - 948.055
- NEW JI-2139B Sexual Misconduct Against a Pupil by a School Staff Member or Volunteer - 948.098
- JI-2682B Failing to Install an Ignition Interlock Device or Violating a Court Order Restricting Operating Privilege - 347.413
- JI-6030 Possession of a Controlled Substance - 961.41(3g)
The printable release for this set can be downloaded at any time from the "Update releases" page. Blank pages have been inserted to make double sided printing easier. File new, updated, and revised instructions, along with the updated tables and index in your print set. Complete printable files of each instruction set and finding aids are also available for those who need to print a complete set. Download them at https://wilawlibrary.gov/jury/
For information on the status of the Committee's work, please contact Bryce Pierson at bryce.pierson@wicourts.gov.
New Books - Chris Schroeder
New Edition! Opening statements: winning in the beginning by winning the beginning, by Dominic Gianna
Call number: KF 8923 .O74 2024
"Opening Statements: Winning in the Beginning" is a helpful guide for trial advocates, offering a lesson in persuasion and jury engagement. Authored by experts in persuasion science, it smartly covers the nuances of story creation and theme building, helping readers to craft compelling opening statements that resonate with a multigenerational jury. With practical tips, critical do's and don'ts, and rich illustrations, this book is an essential resource for anyone looking to persuade juries from the very start.
Topics include:
- Persuasion
- Advocacy
- Opening statements
- Deliberation
- Storytelling
New Edition! Black's law dictionary, Chief Editor, Bryan Garner
Call number: K 50 .B53 2024
The 12th edition of Black's Law Dictionary sets a new standard in legal reference, boasting over 70,000 defined entries and more than 2,500 new terms. Under the expert guidance of Bryan A. Garner, this comprehensive resource remains the definitive legal dictionary, offering clear explanations in plain English while enhancing historical scholarship. Essential for every legal professional, it combines accuracy and accessibility, making it an invaluable tool for understanding contemporary legal terminology.
Included in this edition:
- Each term clearly defined to explain the law
- Thousands of citations that provide authority and help with further research
- New font/page design to improve readability
- Related terms grouped together
See our latest New Titles list for a list of new books and other resources.
For assistance in accessing these or other resources, please contact our Reference Desk.
Tech Tip - Heidi Yelk
Twas a month before the election ... getting ready to vote
The Wisconsin Elections Commission website myvotewi.gov has been providing voting information for well over a decade. This website is a statewide resource for all voters and it really has "something for everyone." New voters can register to vote. Absentee voters can request a ballot and later track their ballot. In-person voters can verify their polling place. All voters can get in touch with their local clerk.
One favorite feature is the ballot preview "What's on my Ballot?" This allows you to read your ballot before going to the polls on election day. You can discover and research local races or local referendum questions that may be less publicized. For more information on voting and voting laws, see our Legal Topics page.
As election coverage heats up in October, knowing how to spot or debunk disinformation becomes even more important. Check out this LibGuide on fact checking which includes several websites to detect images created using AI.
Library News - Carol Hassler
Fall class signup
As the leaves start to turn, don't forget to sign up for our last two classes of the 2024!
Concept to Codification
Wednesday, October 16, noon-1:00 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room - Register for Concept to Codification
Registration limited to 12. - Almost full!
Follow a bill through all the stages of the legislative process. This class starts with a proposal for a law, then follows that proposal through conception, drafting, introduction, hearings, debates, amendments, passage, approval, and finally codification into the statutes.
Researching the Wisconsin Administrative Code
Wednesday, November 20, noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Live webinar - Register for Researching the Wisconsin Administrative Code
Discussion and instruction of the history and function of the administrative code, with tips and examples to show how to research the history of a rule.
Welcome New Librarians
Please join us in welcoming new librarians Daphne Goldfinch and Chris Schroeder to the library. Daphne brings her years of reference experience to the library, as the new Reference and Electronic Services librarian. Chris draws from his experience with law library collections to join the library as the new Acquisitions Librarian. Welcome, Daphne and Chris!
October Snapshot
Aztalan State Park is home to one of Wisconsin's most significant archaeological sites. Located near the Crawfish River in Jefferson County, Aztalan was discovered in 1835. The state legislature appropriated funds in 1947 to purchase acreage and the Wisconsin Archaeological Society and the Lake Mills-Aztalan Historical Society donated additional lands towards the park. Signage throughout the park explains what is known about the culture and history of the people who resided here, specifically members of the Mississippian civilization, 1050-1100.
