The Goodson Blogson

The Goodson Law Library has recently added a brand-new research guide to Health Law . Reference Librarian Jane Bahnson , who also teaches the advanced research course Health & Medical Research for Lawyers , curated this list of primary and secondary resources on health and medical law topics. Looking for a treatise or hornbook to explain health care-related legal concepts? Want a medical dictionary to illustrate complex terminology? Need statistics about a particular health care issue? It’s all in the guide. The "Primary Sources" section also describes and lists background and legislative history resources for nine major federal health statutes. These include the Americans with Disabilities Act (which marks its 25th anniversary next month), Medicare/Medicaid, and the recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, whose health care tax subsidies were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last week (see SCOTUSblog info page for King v. Burwell ). Color diagram of ...

The U.S. Supreme Court will close its October Term 2014 at the end of this month. With several blockbuster decisions still pending (including same-sex marriage, and the Affordable Care Act exchanges), the Court has scheduled opinion announcements at 10 a.m. each day on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. SCOTUSblog will live-blog each announcement, and post opinions and commentary to each case page on its website. The OYEZ Project at Chicago-Kent Law School will also feature live coverage of opinion announcements. Opinions will also be loaded to the Supreme Court's " Latest Slip Opinions " shortly after their announcement each day. Commentary and analysis of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions can also be found in United States Law Week , available via Bloomberg BNA or Bloomberg Law . For more resources devoted to the activities of our highest court, check out the Goodson Law Library research guide to the U.S. Supreme Court , or Ask a Librarian .

Whether you're planning a summer vacation or hoping to land a legal job abroad, it never hurts to become familiar with a foreign language. The Duke University Libraries offer access to two subscription databases for language learning , which are available to current students, faculty, and staff. Both use an audiovisual "flash card" style to reinforce lessons. Transparent Language Learning , formerly known as Byki, has been available to the Duke community for several years. Transparent Language Learning features more than 50 foreign-language modules (from Afrikaans to Zulu) as well as English-language learning modules designed specifically for native speakers of more than two dozen languages. Lessons reinforce all four major skills required to truly learn a language: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Pronunciator is a newer addition to the Duke Libraries' collection. Offering 80 language choices, as well as 50 customized ESL modules, Pronunciator provides...

Last week, the long-awaited 20th edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation hit bookshelves. While the Goodson Law Library's copies have yet to arrive, the 20th edition will replace its 2010 predecessor on Reserve after arrival and processing. Bluebook users with subscription access to the electronic version at LegalBluebook.com can already view the new edition online. (Purchasers of the print edition will also receive a code for a 30-day free trial of the online version; or the book can be purchased as a bundle with online access for up to 3 years.) In the meantime, legal researchers have already begun noting the latest rule changes. Law librarian Janelle Beitz compiled a list of differences between the 19th and 20th editions on Google Drive. The new edition clarifies rules regarding quotations within a quotation, adds sources and terms to various tables, and includes some new material in Rule 18, which governs the citation of electronic resources. Although the B...