Criminal Law Library BlogDavid G. Badertscher
“Every generation of legal researchers inherits new tools. Their enduring responsibility is to learn how to use them wisely.”
Introduction
Articles Posted in Legal Research
Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending July 3, 2026
During the week ending July 3, 2026 we have received listings of 29 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 48 Constitutional Law summaries, 74 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 Intellectual Property Summaries, 4 White Collar Summaries 4 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 7 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 July 3 ,2026
Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 26, 2026
During the week ending June 26, 2026 we have received listings of 22 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 39 Constitutional Law summaries, 46 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 Intellectual Property Summaries, 1 Internet Law Summary, 2 Medical Malpractice Summaries, and 10 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 26 ,2026
The 2026 U.S. Iran Memorandum of Understanding: Ceasefire, Diplomacy, and Unfinished Business
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.
Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 19. 2026
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
Estate Planning in New Jersey: A Discussion Guide
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
Understanding Budget Reconciliation: How Congress Fast Tracks Major Fiscal Legislation
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:
Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 12, 2026
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
The DOJ Weaponization Working Group: Mission, Objectives, and the Debate Within the Criminal Bar
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:
Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending June 5, 2026
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