Articles Posted in Legal Research

SciTech Magazine is published by the Science and Technology Section of the  American Bar Association.

INTRODUCTION:

The Winter 2026 issue of The SciTech Lawyer, published by the American Bar Association’s Science & Technology Law Section, arrives at a pivotal moment in the legal profession’s evolving relationship with artificial intelligence. Centered on the theme of responsible AI use, this issue explores how rapidly advancing technologies are reshaping legal practice while raising urgent ethical, regulatory, and professional responsibility concerns.

In recent years, advances in neuroscience have sparked interest in whether brain stimulation technologies might contribute to crime prevention. Techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been studied for their effects on impulse control, aggression, and moral decision-making traits often associated with criminal behavior. While this research is scientifically intriguing, its relevance to criminal justice policy remains limited and contested.

The Neuroscience Rationale

Much of the interest in brain stimulation stems from findings linking antisocial or impulsive behavior to dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for executive control, emotional regulation, and judgment. Laboratory studies suggest that stimulating this area can temporarily enhance self control or reduce aggressive responses in controlled settings. These findings have led some commentators to speculate whether neurological interventions could someday complement traditional crime-prevention strategies.

A Congressional Budget Report, January 13, 2026.

Learn more about CBO’s work and its processes in a publication that is typically updated at the start of each Congress or a new session.

SUMMARY:

  • During the week ending January 9, 2026 we have received listings of 4 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  31 Constitutional Law summaries,  31 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 White Collar Law Summaries, 5 Intellectual Property Summaries, 2 Copyright Law Summaries,  and 1 Medical Malpractice Case Summary.   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  January 9,2026:

Criminal Law

Introduction

Territorial search and seizure lies at the intersection of constitutional law, international law, and foreign relations. While domestic legal systems generally define clear rules governing when and how governments may search persons, property, or data, those rules become more complex, and often contested, when enforcement activities cross national borders. In an era marked by transnational crime, cyber intrusion, terrorism, and global data flows, the traditional notion that a state’s law enforcement authority stops at its borders has been steadily eroded, even as the principle of territorial sovereignty remains central to international law.

This post examines territorial search and seizure as it relates to international affairs, focusing on the tension between state sovereignty, constitutional protections, and the practical demands of global security and law enforcement.

Introduction.

This posting draws on guidance and analysis from AALL, IFLA, ACRL, the ABA, Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, NIST, Stanford HAI, and the World Economic Forum, among others. Artificial intelligence is no longer a speculative “future issue” for law and justice information professionals. By 2026, AI will be embedded, sometimes invisibly, into many legal research platforms, court systems, compliance workflows, and knowledge-management environments. The central question is no longer whether AI will affect our work, but how it reshapes professional responsibility, judgment, and value.

From Research Assistance to Research Accountability

During the week ending October 24, 2025 we have received listings of 13 Government and Administrative Law Summaries,  20 Constitutional Law summaries,  54 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 White Collar Law Summaries,  2 Intellectual Property Summaries, and 6 Medical Malpractice 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  October 24, 2025:

Criminal Law

INTRODUCTION:

The legal tech landscape is accelerating, with major announcements spanning AI, blockchain, and automation. Highlights include the American Arbitration Association’s partnership with Integra Ledger on blockchain document authentication, Thomson Reuters expanding CoCounsel and Westlaw Deep Research into law schools, law firms, law libraries and new product launches from Exterro, Quo, Tonkean, and UnitedLex. Together, these updates signal how quickly legal practice, education, and dispute resolution are being reshaped by technology.

FROM CO COUNSEL TO BLOCKCHAIN…

Introduction

Stanford Law School has recently announced the launch of the Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (Liftlab),led by Stanford CodeX research fellow Megan Ma, who will serve as liftlab’s executive director, alongside professor of law Julian Nyarko. Liftlab ia a bold new initiative designed to explore how artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies can reshape the practice of law. Unlike earlier waves of legal technology that focused mainly on cost savings and efficiency, Liftlab has a broader ambition: to make legal services not just faster or cheaper, but better, more equitable, and more accessible.

This mission has implications well beyond law firms and classrooms. Law libraries: whether academic, government, court, firm-based, or public stand to benefit greatly from Liftlab’s research, tools, and experiments. By acting as trusted intermediaries between new technologies and legal practitioners, libraries could become vital testing grounds and educational partners in this era of transformation.

Introduction

Between now and 2030, law-librarian roles will transform rather than vanish. While routine tasks like first-pass reference triage, some technical cataloging, and current-awareness pathfinders will increasingly be automated, demand will rise for librarians with expertise in AI policy, knowledge architecture, data stewardship, research quality assurance, vendor evaluation, and legal analytics.

Institutions that pair clear AI governance, staff training, and data management will not only retain headcount but also create specialist positions, reshaping the profession.
Key sources: AALL State of the Profession 2025 · ILTA 2024 Tech Survey · ABA AI TechReport 2024 · Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals 2024 · WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025

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