Libraries are bridges to information and knowledge.

by

Introduction

On June 17, 2026, representatives of the United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to halt escalating hostilities and establish a framework for broader negotiations. The agreement attracted immediate international attention because it touches upon several of the most consequential issues in Middle Eastern and global politics: military conflict, nuclear proliferation, economic sanctions, energy security, and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Although some commentators have described the document as a “peace agreement,” it is more accurately characterized as an interim political understanding. It does not fully resolve the longstanding disputes between the two countries. Instead, it creates a temporary framework within which negotiators hope to reach a more comprehensive settlement.

Continue reading

by

During the week ending June 19, 2026 we have received listings of 17 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  29 Constitutional Law summaries,  69 Criminal Law Summaries,   3 Intellectual Property Summaries, 1 Copyright Law Summary, 7 White Collar Summaries,  3 Medical Malpractice Summaries,  and 3 U.S. Supreme Court Summaries.    We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated.  To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending  June 19 ,2026

Criminal Law

Continue reading

by

Introduction

This discussion guide provides a practical, non-technical introduction to estate planning in New Jersey, including wills, probate, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, trusts, and digital estate planning. Developed from a discussion I recently moderated, the guide is designed to encourage informed conversation and thoughtful planning rather than provide legal advice. Whether you are just beginning to think about estate planning or reviewing an existing plan, this overview offers useful questions, key concepts, and resources to help you better understand the issues involved and identify topics that may warrant professional guidance. Estate planning remains one of the most important gifts we can leave to those we care about. Estate planning is the process of deciding how your property, finances, healthcare decisions, and personal wishes will be handled during your lifetime and after your death. It is not just for wealthy individuals. Anyone who owns property, has savings, maintains retirement accounts, or wishes to provide guidance to family members can benefit from having an estate plan.

Key Questions to Consider

Continue reading

by

Budget reconciliation is a special congressional procedure created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that allows Congress to consider legislation affecting federal spending, revenues (taxes), and the debt limit under expedited procedures. Most notably, reconciliation bills can pass the Senate with a simple majority vote rather than the 60 votes normally needed to overcome a filibuster. As a result, reconciliation has become one of the most important tools for enacting major fiscal policy changes. The following is an overview of the congressional budget reconciliation  process and a discussion of its importance to librarians, researchers, and the general public.

What Is Reconciliation?

Reconciliation is designed to align existing laws with the fiscal goals established in a congressional budget resolution. It can be used to:

Continue reading

by

Source: Mohamed Obaidy, Associate Director, Economic Policy Team, Center for New York City Affairs (CNYCA), Income Polarization Redux: NYC’s Wage Gains Are (Again) Flowing to the Top (2026).

Introduction

In Income Polarization Redux: NYC’s Wage Gains Are (Again) Flowing to the Top, Mohamed Obaidy examines recent wage, employment, and productivity trends in New York City and concludes that economic gains are becoming increasingly concentrated among higher-income workers and higher-paying industries. While New York City’s economy continues to grow and workers are becoming more productive, the benefits of that growth are not being distributed evenly across the workforce.

Continue reading

by

During the week ending June 12, 2026 we have received listings of 13 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  20 Constitutional Law summaries,  35 Criminal Law Summaries,   5 Intellectual Property Summaries, 1 Copyright Law Summary, 1 White Collar Summary and 6 U.S. Supreme Court Summaries.    We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated.  To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending  June 12 ,2026

Criminal Law

Continue reading

by

At its April 2026 meeting, the AALL (American Association of Law Libraries) Executive Board approved two proposed revisions to Article IV of the AALL Bylaws, both related to student membership. These proposed changes align with AALL’s Strategic Plan—specifically on strengthening the pipeline to the profession. By broadening the definition of student membership and increasing flexibility in dues, the Association aims to reduce barriers to entry, support a wider range of educational pathways, and expand opportunities to engage future legal information professionals. This approach also supports efforts to increase visibility of the profession and foster early connections through mentorship, skill development, and community engagement.

HOW TO VOTE

To access the online ballot, please log in with your email address and the unique voting PIN provided below. Ballots must be submitted by Tuesday, June 30 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Continue reading

by

From: Congressional Budget Office (CBO), June 8, 2026.

By Chapin White,  CBO’s Director of Health Analysis.

This week, several of my colleagues in the Congressional Budget Office’s Health Analysis Division are participating in sessions at the 15th Annual Conference of the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) in Minneapolis. The sessions are part of CBO’s ongoing efforts to engage with the broader research community. Such engagement improves the quality of CBO’s analysis and makes the agency’s methods and findings more transparent and available. CBO looks forward to discussion and feedback on the following topics.

Continue reading

by

Can a government investigate allegations of politically motivated law enforcement without creating new concerns about political influence over the justice system? That question lies at the center of the debate surrounding the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group. This article explores the origins and objectives of the Working Group, summarizes its stated mission, and reviews the differing reactions it has generated within the criminal defense community. In doing so, it seeks to highlight the broader constitutional and institutional questions raised whenever government examines the exercise of its own prosecutorial power.

In February 2025,  Pam Bondi, soon after being sworn in  as Attorney General of the U.S Department of Justice , signed a  memorandum creating the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group, a special initiative charged with examining allegations that federal law enforcement and prosecutorial powers may have been used for political purposes. The establishment of the DOJ Working Group followed President Donald Trump’s more broadly based Executive Order 14147 entitled Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which directed federal agencies to review actions allegedly taken against individuals or groups based upon political considerations.

To clarify:

Continue reading

by

During the week ending June 5, 2026 we have received listings of 19 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  27 Constitutional Law summaries,  76 Criminal Law Summaries,   4 Intellectual Property Summaries, 1 Copyright Law Summary, 4 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 6 U.S. Supreme Court Summaries.    We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated.  To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending  June 5 ,2026

Criminal Law

Continue reading
Contact Information
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2016 – 2026, David Badertscher
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design