Category Archives: Court Cases

A relational tale

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

The language of the law. Part Latin, part Anglo-Saxon, all confusing. In the year 1840, in the state of South Carolina, a man named E.B. Bronson claimed to have been properly elected an Ordinary in that jurisdiction. But M.W. Hunter, … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Legal definitions | 2 Comments

Freedom of information: residents only

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Supreme Court upholds limits Information access took a hit last week, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that states have no constitutional obligation to treat non-residents the way they treat residents under their freedom-of-information laws. To be sure, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Records Access | 9 Comments

Copyright & the first sale rule

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Court upholds ‘first sale’ rule You’re in Bangkok for a business meeting and you have some time to kill. You wander around the streets and happen across a bookstore with some English-language books at amazing prices. You grap up 12 … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright, Court Cases | 7 Comments

Gideon’s genealogy

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

No nobodies here Fifty years ago yesterday, on the 18th of March 1963, Justice Hugo Black delivered a message for a unanimous United States Supreme Court to an inmate in a Florida prison. You’re right, the message — set out … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, General | 17 Comments

Facebook privacy and the law

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

No such thing as privacy Do you have a Facebook account? The Legal Genealogist does. Do you have “friends” on Facebook? The Legal Genealogist does. Do you have what the law considers to be a “reasonable expectation of privacy” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases | 15 Comments

The puzzling probate

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

The aftermath of death on the rails It was the night of the 10th of August 1887. A train left Peoria, Illinois, heading east with vacationers wanting to see Niagara Falls. But a trestle it needed to cross had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Legal definitions, Statutes | 10 Comments

Affirming our rights

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Court upholds 19th amendment It wasn’t all that long ago, really — just a mere 91 years ago today — that the right of women to vote in the United States hung in the balance. It began in Maryland with … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases | 7 Comments

And the answer is…

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

The language of the law. Part Latin, part Anglo-Saxon, all confusing. J. K. Russell went into the District Court in Mills County, Texas, in May of 1890 and said enough was enough. He told the court that he and Esther … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Legal definitions | 2 Comments

Philippina’s choice

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Sensible or silly? When Frederick Kicherer of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, wrote his will on the 6th of June, 1896, he made only one bequest to his wife Philippina: “I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Phillippina Kicherer the sum … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, Legal definitions, Statutes | 4 Comments

Trademark vs. trade name

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Judy G. Russell

Not the same beastie Yesterday’s blog post about state trademarks prompted a flurry of reader questions, particularly from those who live in states where registering a state trademark is either expensive or complicated (or both). “It will cost me an … Continue reading →

Posted in Court Cases, General | 2 Comments