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Well, the meeting is now over and was definitely a success! Many thanks to the Harvard Law School Library and all presenters for a fabulous program!

During the reception in the Caspersen Room, Mike Hughes awarded the prizes for our trivia contest. The grand prize winner? Byron Hill of Bowditch and Dewey, with only 2 incorrect answers! Byron took home a wonderful assortment of wines from various countries connected with our theme, the war on terrorism. They were as follows: Trapiche Malbec (Argentina); Oxford Landing Chardonay (Australia); Carpineto Dogajolo (Italy); Geisen Savignon Blanc (New Zealand); Margues de Daroca Red (Spain); and Berardiere Rhone (France).

Ten dollar gift certificates were also awarded to Anne Acton (New England School of Law Library); Mary Liz Brenninkmeyer (Northeastern University School of Law Library); Ann DeVeaux (Quinnipiac University School of Law Library); Judy Gire (Franklin Pierce Law Library); and Cornelia Trubey (Ropes & Gray).

Answers will soon be posted on the LLNE website!

Mary Liz Brenninkmeyer brings us a research tip about the Washington & Lee Most Cited Legal Periodicals database. Mary Liz found this site particularly useful for answering a faculty question about popularity of several law review journals she was considering publishing in.

Juliette Kayyem, Acting Executive Director at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, is speaking on preserving security and democratic freedoms in the war on terrorism. She has a report on this topic available on the Belfer Center web site. Kayyem is also the co-editor of First to Arrive: State and Local Response to Terrorism.

Prof. Henry Steiner, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, spoke about international responses to terrorism. He is the director and founder of Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program.

Ryan Goodman , Assistant Professor of International, Foreign and Comparative Law, Harvard Law School, mentioned a recent cases from the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (In re Guantanamo Detainee Cases) that defines the term “unlawful combatants.” One of the hypos in the case explains that, in theory, an old woman in Switzerland, who sends a check to a terrorist organization thinking it is a charity, could technically be categorized as an unlawful combatant because she has supplied financial support to a terrorist organization.

Coming up later today:

Juliette Kayyem will be presenting on Preserving Security and Democratic Freedoms in the War on Terrorism. Nathaniel Berman will speaking on Privileging Combat? Contemporary Conflict and the Legal Construction of War. Harvard Law School Library’s Annette Demers will be giving us some information on Researching Terrorism and Paul Deschner will introduce Harvard’s Nurember Trials Project.

Kim Dulin of the Harvard Law School Library got the meeting off to a great start early this morning by welcoming guests and promising us an exciting program of events.

Annette Demers, who will be presenting later today, introduced the morning panel, Ryan Goodman, Henry Steiner, and Noah Weisbord. Henry Steiner gave an erudite presentation on universal jurisdiction. He noted that one advantage of universal jurisdiction is the ability to reach parties that would otherwise elude the reaches of law. The first instance of this extension of jurisdiction was applied to pirates on the open seas. Steiner is the director and founder of Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program.

Although universal jurisdiction can work well to reach otherwise elusive parties, it does have certain drawbacks. Professor Steiner pointed out one potential problem – that in highly politicized cases there is no consensus on the fairness of the indictment, trial, and conviction.

2006 will be a big year for LLNE and AALL! It is the 60th anniversary of LLNE and the Centennial for AALL. Help us start celebrating by taking part in a trivia contest about us! While you are at the Spring Meeting at Harvard Law School tomorrow, look for entry forms and submission boxes at the registration table in Austin Hall and at the luncheon in the Ropes Gray Room. Entries will be due by 3:30pm, and winners will be announced at the Closing Reception in the Caspersen Room (4th floor of the Law Library, Langdell Hall). We will be awarding a “mystery box” valued at $50 as a grand prize, as well as five smaller prizes.

Special thanks to Diane D’Angelo, Mike Hughes and Joan Shear for making this contest possible.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Michelle Pearse
LLNE Vice-President/President-Elect

SNELLA is holding its Legal Research Workshop on April 30, 2005 in Stamford, Connecticut.

Just a reminder that the LLNE Service Committee has put together an
opportunity for LLNE members to donate career clothing for women in need. We will be collecting career clothing at the Spring LLNE meeting on Friday, April 1.

There is an organization called Dress for Success, with an office located in Springfield, Mass. This organization provides “interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to more than 45,000 women in over 73 cities each year.”

It is a “not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women make tailored transitions into the workforce. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a second suit when she gets the job. The Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group program then provides ongoing support to help the client build a successful career.”

“Women are referred to Dress for Success by a continually expanding array of not-for-profit and government agencies including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, immigration services and job training programs.”

All clothing should be clean and on hangers. They also will accept accessories, and new, unopened packages of pantyhose.

They will only accept unworn or completely unblemished shoes.

While this organization has parameters on what they will accept, we are willing to take any gently used clothing and distribute to local Goodwill Centers.

If anyone has extra wire hangers they would like to donate, that would be helpful for those who wish to donate clothes but use wooden or plastic hangers.

If anyone is interested in participating in this project, please bring clothing to the spring LLNE meeting on Friday, April 1, 2005 at Harvard. Pat Newcombe will accept the clothing at this meeting and distribute to the organizations.

Thanks for your help.

Barbara West
Pat Newcombe
Co-chairs, LLNE Service Committee