Legal Resources
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FCL Legal Information Collection:
Federal Law Sites
Nina Harris and Elyse Streit, Selector Librarians
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules that elaborate upon and set rules for the interpretation, effectuation, and administration of federal statutes. These regulations are first published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The CFR can be searched by keyword and by sections.
- Core Documents of U.S. Democracy online from the Government Printing Office
Key documents such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights can be accessed here, as well as links to Congressional legislation, Public Laws, the U.S, Code, Supreme Court Decisions, et al.
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute's Bankruptcy—An Overview
Describes bankruptcy law and regulations.
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute's Federal Courts
This site provides access to decisions of the Federal Courts of Appeal, U.S. District Courts, Tax Court, Bankruptcy Court, and other courts of special federal jurisdiction. There are significant time limits as to how far back decisions go, but print versions are available, without time limits, at the Wayne State University and Oakland County law libraries, to which the general public is allowed access.
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute's U.S. Code
The U.S. Code interfiles all the session laws passed by Congress under topical Titles. Cornell University's Legal Information Institute (LII) server offers the latest version of the U.S. Code available from the U.S. House of Representatives. The code is searchable by title, section, popular name or keywords. From the LII home page you can also access federal and state court decisions, state statutes, the CFR and more.
This federal agency administers and is in charge of the judicial and administrative enforcement of civil rights laws. The web site contains information for employers and employees.
Maintained by the Federal Courts' Agency for Research and Continuing Education. Among many other resources, this site offers a federal judicial biographical database Federal Judicial History containing the service record and biographical information for all judges who have served on the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court since 1789
Choose Links to select one of the federal circuits and find links to U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, Court of Veterans Appeals and the Court of International Trade.
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure from Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
These are federal court rules. Individual federal courts may also have local rules.
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) provides free access to over 1,000 databases of Federal Government information and law products. Here you can follow links to Federal agency files, the CFR & Federal Register, the Congressional Record, the U.S. Code, plus other Congressional documents, and much more. Farmington Community Library will have a local version of this available from our own server in the next few months.
Information about immigration laws and regulations.
- Patent & Trademark Office of the United States
Information about patent and trademark law and procedures. See also our Patents, Trademarks & Copyright page for further resources
- Social Security Law from Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
Access to material about social security, including disability benefits. Persons with disabilities, who are not of retirement age, may still be entitled to monthly social security benefits with limited health care coverage.
- THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet
The Library of Congress provides this database for quick access to what's happening in Congress: bill summaries and status, plus text, the Congressional Record, House & Senate Committee information, voting records, and Public Laws, from the 93rd Congress (1973–1974) to the present. Searching by number, keyword or phrase is available.
- Supreme Court of the U.S. of the United States
This official U.S. Supreme Court site offers general information about the Court, its rules, and case handling guides. Recent slip opinions, special notices, the Court's schedules and calendars are all accessible from this site.
- Supreme Court Decisions (Web Sites from FedLaw)
A variety of Internet sites are offered here to access historical Supreme Court decisions.
Access to the Constitution, but without references to court cases that interpret it.
The Farmington Community Library offers this legal
resource information as a service to the community. This material should not
be considered legal advice or a substitute for expert legal consultation as
appropriate to the circumstances.
Try to keep in mind that learning about legal research and the law is an
imposing task. It is no substitute for professional advice. Just as you would
not consider taking out your own appendix, even though you may have read
about how it is done, consider seeking the advice of a lawyer, or other
appropriate counsel, before making any major legal decision.
FindLaw Legal Search Engine.
 Last modified on Thursday, 13-Mar-2008 12:57:19 EDT
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