Grabado el 16 de marzo de 2022

Muchas personas necesitan encontrar registros judiciales importantes, pero hacerlo puede ser complicado. Aunque la mayoría de los documentos presentados ante un tribunal son registros públicos y accesibles para cualquier persona, cada tribunal hace que los registros estén disponibles de diferentes maneras y, sorprendentemente, pocos están disponibles gratuitamente en línea. En esta clase, aprenda a localizar y acceder a tipos comunes de documentos judiciales de tribunales estatales y federales.

La clase cubre:

• Búsqueda de documentos judiciales civiles y penales en otros tribunales superiores estatales
• Acceso a documentos judiciales estatales más antiguos a través de los archivos del condado
• Uso del Acceso Público a los Registros Electrónicos de la Corte (PACER) para encontrar documentos de la corte federal
• Búsqueda de escritos de tribunales de apelación estatales y federales
• Presentado por: Mary García, bibliotecaria de referencia

Cuota de inscripción: GRATIS

Class recorded March 16, 2022

Journalists, scientists, and even many members of Congress have long wondered: Is the federal government hiding information about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)? The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires the U.S. government to disclose what it knows and what documents it has – but this general requirement is subject to many important exemptions, including national security. Join this discussion to learn about the legal realities behind the UFO controversy. 

Class covers:

• The surprising amount of government information that has been disclosed about UFOs/UAPs, including that available from the CIA’s UFO Reading Room – thanks, in part, to the efforts of activists in FOIA litigation
• What types of government information are subject to “classified” status, and why such information cannot be disclosed under FOIA
• Why FOIA has a national security exemption and what it covers
• Best practices for making a FOIA request, from both the government and requestor perspective
• Library resources available to help you with FOIA issues

Earn 1.0 hour general California participatory MCLE credit: After registration, a staff member will email you the course materials, an evaluation form, and your Certificate of Attendance (usually the next business day). Register first, then watch the recording to the end and answer the questions provided in the popup to verify your attendance.

Presented by: Grace Cheng, Director, Government Practice, Practical Law at Thomson Reuters, Michael Morisy, Cofounder and Chief Executive, Muckrock, and John Greenewald, Founder and Owner of The Black Vault.  

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. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

Registration Fee: $25, Non-refundable.

Class recorded March 16, 2022

Journalists, scientists, and even many members of Congress have long wondered: Is the federal government hiding information about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)? The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires the U.S. government to disclose what it knows and what documents it has – but this general requirement is subject to many important exemptions, including national security. Join this discussion to learn about the legal realities behind the UFO controversy.   

Class covers:

• The surprising amount of government information that has been disclosed about UFOs/UAPs, including that available from the CIA’s UFO Reading Room – thanks, in part, to the efforts of activists in FOIA litigation
• What types of government information are subject to “classified” status, and why such information cannot be disclosed under FOIA
• Why FOIA has a national security exemption and what it covers
• Best practices for making a FOIA request, from both the government and requestor perspective
• Library resources available to help you with FOIA issues

Presented by: Grace Cheng, Director, Government Practice, Practical Law at Thomson Reuters, Michael Morisy, Cofounder and Chief Executive, Muckrock, and John Greenewald, Founder and Owner of The Black Vault.  

Registration fee: FREE

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. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

Class recorded July 19, 2024

A criminal record can prevent a person from accessing employment, housing, and other important opportunities – even if it involves a minor offense or something that happened long ago. Fortunately, many California state court criminal convictions can be cleaned from your record. Although “expungement” is not available in this state, California law does provide many of the same benefits through reduction and dismissal of old or minor convictions. In this class, learn what types of convictions are eligible, the process involved for different types of records, and resources available to help.

Class covers:

• What it means to clean your criminal record in California (and what “expungement” means)
• The process for petitioning to dismiss misdemeanor and some felony sentences
• The process for petitioning to reduce felony sentences, and which felonies are eligible for reduction
• Information and forms required for petitions
• Resources for additional information and assistance

Presented by: Alicia Friedman, Library Associate, LA Law Library
Alicia Friedman is a Library Associate at LA Library. She received her Master of Library and Information Science from Syracuse University. Alicia has worked in the law libraries of private law firms and at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County, helping with reference and other research services. Alicia is dedicated to help the members of her community with their legal information needs.

Registration Fee: FREE

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. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).