The American Law Reports (A.L.R.) are a great place to start your research.  First appearing in 1919, the title's focused articles have offered expert guidance on legions of legal topics to generations of lawyers for over a century now.

Each article or annotation, as they are called, includes a concise overview of a topic covering a specific point of law, detailed analysis of those cases on point, a table of cases and statutes by jurisdiction, practice pointers, and research references to other secondary sources by West.

To review any of these annotations and many, many more simply log on to your Westlaw account.  A print copy of all the American Law Reports since their inception is available in the library's Reference Collection at Ref KF132.

(The ALR databases are made current by the weekly addition of relevant new cases.) -Westlaw note

Here is a sampling of citations from 2020 you may find of interest, beginning with several annotations on the topic of COVID-19:

  1. Jay M. Zitter, J.D., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Effect of Pandemic on Release from State and Local Custody, 54 A.L.R. 7th Art. 3 (2020).

  2. Fern L. Kletter, J.D., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Effect of Pandemic on Release from Federal Custody, 54 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 1 (2020).

  3. Elizabeth Williams, J.D., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Challenges to Election and Voting Practices During COVID-19 Pandemic, 54 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 3 (2020).

  4. Danielle Bolong, LL.M., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Effect of Pandemic on Deadlines for Federal Court Filings and Hearings, 54 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 4 (2020).

  5. Jay M. Zitter, J.D., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Effect of Pandemic on Deadlines for State Court Filings and Hearings, 55 A.L.R. 7th Art. 3 (2020).

  6. Linda A. Sharp, J.D., Annotation, COVID-19 Related Litigation: Constitutionality of Stay-at-Home, Shelter-in-Place, and Lockdown Orders, 55 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 3 (2020).

Next are some additional annotations representative of the wide range of legal topics you will find in A.L.R.:

  1. Daniel A. Klein, J.D., Annotation, Disclosure, Under State Freedom of Information or Records Act, of Video Obtained by Police or Other Law Enforcement Authorities from Dash Camera, Mobile Video Recorder, Security or Surveillance Camera, 48 A.L.R. 7th Art. 2 (2020).

  2. Fern L. Kletter, J.D., Annotation, Federal Anti-Riot Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C.A. sec. 2101, 2102), 50 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 4 (2020).

  3. Eric C. Surette, J.D., Annotation, Driving While Intoxicated: Duty of Law Enforcement Officer to Advise Suspect of Their Rights Under Implied Consent Law, Including Offers of Test Alternatives, 51 A.L.R. 7th Art. 2 (2020).

  4. James L. Buchwalter, J.D., Annotation, Treaties Between United States and Indian Tribes - Supreme Court Jurisprudence, 51 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 4 (2020).

  5. Ann K. Wooster, J.D., Annotation, Products Liability: Necessity and Admissibility of Expert or Opinion Evidence as to Causation of Injury to User of Food Products and Equipment, 52 A.L.R. 7th Art. 4 (2020).

  6. Kimberly J. Winbush, J.D., Annotation, Civil Liability Arising from Cell Phone or Smartphone Use While in Traffic, 53 A.L.R. 7th Art. 4 (2020).

  7. Oliver G. Hahn, J.D., Annotation, 2019 to 2020 A.L.R. United States Supreme Court Review, 53 A.L.R. 7th Art. 9 (2020).

  8. Darian B. Taylor, LL.M., Annotation, Service Animals Under Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. sec. 12101 et seq., 53 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 1 (2020).

  9. Jay M. Zitter, J.D., Annotation, Selection or Transfer of Venue as Unconstitutional Discrimination as to Jury Pool Under Batson, 53 A.L.R. Fed. 3d Art. 6 (2020).

Submitted by Eric Taylor, Evening Reference Librarian on May 5, 2021

This article appears in the categories: Law Library

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