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Pollak Library

Engineering & Computer Science: Engineering Law Resources

Research guide for engineering & computer science

Major Databases

Resources for U.S. Supreme Court Cases and Federal Regulations

U.S. Supreme Court Cases

  1. Library of Congress (1754-2003)

  2. FindLaw (1893-present)

    • Website: FindLaw Supreme Court Cases
    • Features:
      • Browse by year or U.S. Reports volume number.
      • Search by citation, party name, and keyword.
      • Useful for finding case summaries and opinions.
  3. Google Scholar (All years)

    • Resource: Google Scholar
    • Features:
      • Select "Case law" → "Select courts" → "U.S. Supreme Court."
      • Search by keywords, case names, or citations.
      • Free access to case texts with citations and related cases.
  4. Justia (All years)

    • Website: Justia Supreme Court Cases
    • Features:
      • Browse by year or U.S. Reports volume number.
      • Provides full opinions and analysis.
      • Well-organized by legal topic and decision date.
  5. U.S. Supreme Court Official Website (All years)

    • Website: Supreme Court
    • Features:
      • Search by citation, keyword, and docket number.
      • Access to recent and upcoming case dockets.
      • Official source for opinions and oral arguments.

Federal Circuit and District Court Cases

  1. Federal Court Finder

    • Website: Federal Court Finder
    • Features:
      • Locate federal district and appellate courts.
      • Useful for jurisdiction-based searches and filings.
  2. Google Scholar (1923-present)

    • Resource: Google Scholar
    • Features:
      • Search federal circuit and district court cases.
      • Filter by jurisdiction, case type, and relevance.
  3. GovInfo

    • Website: GovInfo
    • Features:
      • Official government resource with court opinions.
      • Search by docket number, court, and year.
  4. Justia (1901-present / 1924-present for District Courts)

    • Website: Justia Federal Cases
    • Features:
      • Provides opinions from federal circuit and district courts.
      • Organized by year and legal topic.
      • Case summaries and full-text search available.

Federal Regulations

  1. Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)

    • Website: e-CFR
    • Features:
      • Regularly updated database of federal rules.
      • Search by title (e.g., Title 40 for environmental regulations).
      • Organized by subject and agency.
  2. Federal Register (Proposed Rules and Notices)

    • Website: Federal Register
    • Features:
      • Official daily publication of federal regulations.
      • Search proposed rules, final rules, and notices.
      • Important for tracking regulatory updates.

Non-Governmental Organizations in Environmental Law and Issues

  1. Audubon – Focuses on bird and wildlife conservation, environmental policy, and climate change advocacy.

  2. Earth First! – A radical environmental advocacy group known for direct action and conservation efforts.

  3. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – Works on climate, energy, ecosystems, and health policy through science-backed advocacy.

  4. Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) – Investigates and campaigns against environmental crimes, focusing on wildlife, forests, and climate change.

  5. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – Promotes responsible forest management through certification and sustainable forestry practices.

  6. Friends of the Earth – Advocates for environmental justice and sustainable policies on climate, food, and biodiversity.

  7. Greenpeace USA – Focuses on climate change, deforestation, and ocean conservation through activism and policy change.

  8. National Geographic Society – Conducts research and educational efforts on environmental and scientific topics worldwide.

  9. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) – Uses science and legal expertise to advocate for clean air, water, and a healthy environment.

  10. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) – Protects wildlife and habitats through policy work, conservation efforts, and educational programs.

  11. Nature Conservancy – Works globally to protect ecologically important lands and waters.

  12. Rainforest Action Network (RAN) – Campaigns to preserve forests, protect the climate, and uphold human rights.

  13. Sierra Club – Advocates for clean energy, conservation, and environmental policy reforms.

  14. Water Education Foundation – Provides information and education on water resource management and policy.

  15. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – Works globally to protect wildlife and wild places through science and conservation efforts.

  16. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Focuses on biodiversity conservation and reducing the human footprint on nature.

  17. Worldwatch Institute – Provides research and solutions for sustainability challenges related to climate, energy, and agriculture.

 

Environmental Law blogs from Justia

Common resources and why?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Laws & Regulations

Why it's useful:
The official source for U.S. environmental laws and regulations, covering air, water, land, and hazardous waste management. Provides direct access to major laws such as:

  • Clean Air Act (CAA): Regulates air emissions.
  • Clean Water Act (CWA): Governs discharges into U.S. waters.
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Manages hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
    Includes compliance tools, enforcement policies, and monitoring guidelines.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) – Title 40 (Environmental Protection)

Why it's useful:
Title 40 of the CFR contains all federal environmental regulations issued by agencies such as the EPA, covering:

  • Air Quality (Part 50+): National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
  • Water Pollution (Part 122): National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
  • Hazardous Waste (Part 260-279): Waste treatment, storage, and disposal regulations.
    The content is regularly updated and searchable, making it an essential tool for legal professionals, researchers, and compliance officers.

Google Scholar – Environmental Case Law Search

Why it's useful:
Provides free access to federal and state environmental case law, searchable by:

  • Keywords: e.g., "Clean Water Act violations."
  • Citations: Locate cases by legal citation.
  • Jurisdictions: Filter by federal or state courts.
    Includes landmark cases such as:
  • Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) – Established EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
  • Rapanos v. United States (2006) – Defined federal jurisdiction over wetlands.
    Users can set alerts for new case law developments.

Justia – Environmental Law Cases and Statutes

Why it's useful:
A comprehensive legal database offering access to:

  • Federal and state environmental case law.
  • Statutes and regulations related to environmental issues.
  • Legal summaries and full-text court opinions.
    Users can browse by topics like pollution control and natural resources, making it an excellent resource for students, attorneys, and policymakers.

Regulations.gov – Federal Rulemaking and Public Comments

Why it's useful:
The official platform for tracking federal environmental regulations, providing access to:

  • Proposed and final rules from the EPA and other agencies.
  • Public comments and regulatory impact analyses.
  • Supporting documents such as environmental impact statements (EIS).
    Users can submit comments and track regulatory developments, staying informed on policy changes.

Free Resources for Federal Legislative and Legal Research

A listing of freely available federal legislative materials collections can be found under Free Sources of Legislative History on Free and Low Cost Legal Research Guide.

  • Congress.gov – U.S. federal legislative information, including Members of Congress, committees, the Congressional Record, and treaty documents. Users can create an account and set up alerts to track legislation.

  • GovInfo.gov – Official, authenticated publications from all three branches of the Federal Government, including legislative materials from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), covering 1993 to the present.

  • Justia – Free access to federal and state case law, codes, regulations, and legal resources, well-organized by topic and jurisdiction.

  • Legal Information Institute (LII) – Provides free access to federal and state legal materials, executive orders, primary sources, and research tools like the Popular Name Tool.

  • EPA Laws and Regulations – Comprehensive coverage of environmental topics, ranging from air and water quality to hazardous waste and wildfire smoke.

  • GovTrack - Environmental Protection Bills – Tracks environmental legislation in Congress, with bill summaries and progress updates.

  • LLSDC Legislative Law Book – Compiled by the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C., covering legislative processes, documents, and links to House and Senate committee hearings.

  • An Index to In Custodia Legis Legal Research Guides – Organizes research guides from the Law Librarians of Congress blog, offering insights into federal legislative history.

  • Popular Name Tool (LII) – Enables users to search the United States Code by the popular name of an act, with links to corresponding legislative texts.

  • Basic Legal Citations – A guide to legal citation best practices, useful for legal writing and research.

California Legal Research Resources