Book Discussion: Give Us the Ballot, by Ari Berman

Tuesday, February 25, 2020: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join the LA Law Library book discussion group for the first discussion of 2020, the year of Voting! We will read and discuss Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America, by Ari Berman. After recounting the story of the civil rights movement's success in getting President Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act in 1965, Berman traces the erosion of that legislation over the subsequent half-century. The battles over race, representation, and political power continue as lawmakers devise new strategies to keep minorities out of the voting booth, while the Supreme Court has declared a key part of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. Through meticulous research, in-depth interviews, and incisive on-the-ground reporting, Give Us the Ballot offers the first comprehensive history of its kind, and provides new insight into one of the most vital political and civil rights issues of our time. "This is the best kind of popular history – literate, passionate, and persuasive, balancing detail with accessibility." (Publishers Weekly).

Awards:

  • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist 2015, Nonfiction
  • Notable Book of the Year (2015) by New York Times Book Review and The Washington Post
  • Named a Best Book of the Year (2015) by NPR, The Boston Globe, and Kirkus Review

Presented by: Katie O'Laughlin, Managing Librarian, LA Law Library

Registration fee: FREE
Register today to reserve your seat!

 

How to Access Court Records

Due to COVID-19, This class wil be broadcast online. Information, including the link, will be posted on this page shortly. Registrants will also be emailed the information.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020:  12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Many people need to find important court records, but doing so can be complicated. Although most documents filed with a court are public record and accessible to anyone, each court makes records available in different ways, and surprisingly few are freely available online. In this class, learn how to locate and access common types of court documents from state and federal courts.

Class covers:

  • Finding civil and criminal court documents in other state superior courts
  • Accessing older state court documents through county archives
  • Using Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) to find federal court documents
  • Finding state and federal appellate court briefs

Presented by: Austin Stoub, Senior Librarian for Reference & Research

Austin Stoub originally joined LA Law Library as a Reference intern in January of 2010. Upon receiving his MLIS from UCLA in June of 2010, he joined the staff full time as a Reference Librarian. Since that time, he has overseen development of the collection for all states except California, developed and taught a number of classes and has taken a role in operations at Circulation and Copy Center. After earning a BA in Political Science from Calvin College in 2001, he worked in various levels of government before entering UCLA School of Information Science in 2008.

Registration Fee: FREE

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

How to Access Government Records

Tuesday, March 24, 2020:  5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

This class will explore your right to government information in California, and the processes and procedures for obtaining public records from state and local agencies. Topics include what constitutes a public record, deadlines and timeframes, exemptions for confidential and other materials and how to formulate an effective request.

Class covers:

  • Importance of the Public Records Act, and why we need it
  • What constitutes a public record
  • Deadlines and timeframes
  • Exemptions for confidential and other materials
  • How to formulate an effective request

Presented by: Kelly A. Aviles

Registration fee: FREE

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

How to Access Court Records

Class recorded on March 16, 2021

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

Many people need to find important court records, but doing so can be complicated. Although most documents filed with a court are public record and accessible to anyone, each court makes records available in different ways, and surprisingly few are freely available online. In this class, learn how to locate and access common types of court documents from state and federal courts.

Class covers:

  • Finding civil and criminal court documents in other state superior courts
  • Accessing older state court documents through county archives
  • Using Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) to find federal court documents
  • Finding state and federal appellate court briefs

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Información sobre la corte de inmigración y los servicios de autoayuda para inmigrantes que enfrentan deportación

Los servicios provistos por Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project se brindan telefónicamente este mes y hasta nuevo aviso debido a problemas de salud pública. Si es un inmigrante no representado en un proceso de expulsión en la corte de inmigración, puede llamar al (323) 905-0404 (disponible solo los martes y jueves) para obtener información relevante para su caso de inmigración y referencias para servicios de autoayuda adicionales. Para obtener información sobre los servicios para inmigrantes no representados en los procedimientos de expulsión, haga clic aquí. Para obtener asistencia general de Esperanza por teléfono, llame al (213) 535-7594.

También puede obtener información relevante para su caso inmigración solicitando una consulta telefónica con un abogado aquí. Para solicitar una consulta telefónica gratuita con un abogado, haga clic aquí.

La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no brinda asesoría legal:
La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles no brinda asesoría legal. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles ofrece recursos legales y la asistencia con la investigación jurídica como un servicio educativo. La biblioteca jurídica de Los Ángeles se complace en ofrecer a nuestros usuarios la oportunidad de obtener asistencia de proveedores de servicios legales de terceros en este y otros eventos dentro de la biblioteca. Sin embargo, la biblioteca no controla y no es responsable del contenido o el alcance de la asistencia brindada por dichos proveedores.

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