both yesterday and today, my time was mostly consumed researching an issue that came up last week. A bob threat was emailed to Brandeis University. The police traced the email as sent from a local public library, and then further narrowed to 3 of the public-use computers. A warrant was secured, and the computers were seized (removed from the library seized) by the FBI. There was some press that before a warrant was secured, the librarians were all heroic and refusing to turn over the computers, and it took 12+ hours for the agents to get the warrant, and there was a stand off at the library until well beyond closing. that's sort of in dispute by those in the know.

My job was to find out whether all the OTHER users of the computers - those who did not send bomb threats, have any claims available to them, considering that it is unlikely that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy while on a public-use computer. I personally wouldn't mind taking a stab at that argument, knowing how my public library works, with security measure after security measure, requiring you to type in your library card number at least 410 times.

So I was researching the wiretap act, the stored communications act, etc. For a long time.

Now I'm back to looking into what kind of damages are available in a 1983 (first amendment violation) action when there may or may not be causation problems. I'm trying to bolster an argument for presumed damages.

Then I'm moving on toward buffer zone legislation - as in the buffer zone that some states (mine included) provide around an abortion clinic/provider where protesters are not allowed. my organization is not so comfortable with buffer zones, and despite my disagreement with that discomfort, my job is to see what else can be crafted.

I've got to fit in here, somewhere, some research to "follow the money" for a creepy 1984 post-9/11 information gathering collaborative thing b/t the state and federal watchers.

Feb. 10th is my last day. I have a feeling I may be burning some midnight oil in the near future!!!! I will probably be donating a few extra unpaid days to the organization after the official "end" of co-op. One thing I do not like about our system is that just as you're getting your sea legs on, and the people around you start to trust you, and compete over your time, the stupid co-op is over.

posted by Zuska @ 8:08 PM

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