The Asian Legal Information Institute (AsianLII) provides free online access to more than 100 databases from more than 20 Asian countries.  It also includes approximately 140,000 full text cases and more than 15,000 pieces of legislation.  AsianLII was developed by the Australasian Legal Information Institute, a joint facility of the Law Faculties at the University of Technology, Sydney and the University of New South Wales, in cooperation with partner institutions in Asian countries and other legal information institutes belonging to the Free Access to Law Movement.

The University of Michigan Library offers a comprehensive Elections 2006 online guide, with links to candidates (national, state, and local), public opinion polls, policy issues, voter registration and participation, state-by-state ballot issues, prior election results, election laws, media coverage, and countless other election-related items. Great one-stop shopping.

The Law Library of Congress has created a website providing information related to the trial of Saddam Hussein.  Among other things, the site offers a selection of reference materials that explain important aspects of the trials.  The site also provides extensive links to additional readings and related web sources, including laws, treaties and resolutions.

You should also visit Grotian Moment: The Saddam Hussein Trial Blog, previously featured as a website of the month.  This blog was created and is maintained by the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The web site features key documents related to the Iraqi Special Tribunal, answers to frequently asked questions, and expert debate and public commentary on the major issues and developments related to the trials of Saddam Hussein and other former Iraqi leaders.

The Law Library of Congress has launched a new online publication, the Global Legal Monitor. According to the Law Librarian of Congress, “this electronic publication will be updated frequently, drawing upon information selected from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources. Occasionally, a special section may be added to include lectures, conferences, symposia, and exhibits on timely legal topics sponsored by the Law Library of Congress.”

For those following the current debate over immigration reform, there are two new online resources to visit.  Check out A National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration Reform, available on the National Immigration Forum’s web site, as well as the TRAC Immigration Project, a self-described “centralized location for authoritative information about a vast range of immigration matters.”

The NYS Law Reporting Bureau is now offering free access to NYS Official Reports and slip opinions back to Jan. 1, 2000. All decisions of the Court of Appeals and Appellate Division are included. Additionally, they include all Appellate Term and lower court decisions selected for publication in either full text or abstracted form in the Miscellaneous Reports.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which became effective on October 17, 2005, makes sweeping changes to the nation’s bankruptcy laws.  Visit these sites for information or to learn more:  United States Bankruptcy Courts; Commercial Law League of America.

The UN Turns 60 on Monday, October 24, 2005.  Celebrate with a visit to The United Nations at 60, which provides an overview of the UN’s origins, charter, structure, and work.  The site was created by the Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan, a UN Depository Library.