The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our October 2022 New & Noteworthy list.
Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website or contact the library at 512-463-1252.
1. Hope and Hard Truth: A Life in Texas Politics
By Mary Beth Rogers
Presents the political and personal memoir of Mary Beth Rogers, campaign manager and chief of staff for Governor Ann Richards. Provides an insider's account of the political intrigue and legislative maneuvering during Richards' administration, including insurance reform and state government reorganization initiatives. Reflects on maintaining a family life while working in politics.
University of Texas Press, 2022, 230 pages
976.4 R724H 2022
2. Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System
By M. Chris Fabricant
Argues that forensic science in the U.S. legal system is unregulated and often leads to wrongful convictions. Describes the history and use of disproven forensic techniques, including bite marks and arson investigations, in criminal cases which were later overturned or judged to have led to wrongful executions. Highlights the wrongful conviction case of Steven Chaney, which led to the Texas Forensic Science Commission recommending in a 2016 report that bitemark comparison not be admitted in criminal cases in Texas.
Akashic Books, 2022, 359 pages
364.089 F126J 2022
3. Lockdown Drills: Connecting Research and Best Practices for School Administrators, Teachers, and Parents
By Jaclyn Schildkraut and Amanda B. Nickerson
Details the role of lockdown drills as a school safety measure and provides guidance for planning and conducting them according to best practices. Presents historical precedent for using such drills and research findings on their effectiveness, as well as common arguments for and against their use. Includes 50-state survey of laws relating to annual drill requirements for lockdowns or other emergencies.
MIT Press, 2022, 213 pages
371.7 SCH334L 2022
4. Phyllis Frye and the Fight for Transgender Rights
By Michael G. Long and Shea Tuttle
Examines the life of Judge Phyllis Frye, founder of the first national organization devoted to shaping transgender law and the first openly transgender judge appointed in the U.S. Describes her early life, previous career as an engineer, dismissal from her alma mater Texas A&M University, family life, faith, and her years of LGBTQ+ activism.
Texas A&M University Press, 2022, 309 pages
306.76 L848P 2022
5. Cryptocurrencies and Cryptoassets: Regulatory and Legal Issues
By Andrew Haynes and Peter Yeoh, editors
Provides an overview of cryptocurrencies, the supporting blockchain technology, and the associated opportunities and risks with this market. Presents in-depth examination and analysis, including tables of case law and statutes, of the legal and regulatory policies regarding cryptocurrency and cryptoassets in American, Asian, and European economies. Addresses why there is resistance to regulating digital currencies and what is considered the essentials of good regulation.
Informa Law from Routledge, 2020, 277 pages
343.032 H424C 2020
6. Lone Star Suburbs: Life on Texas Metropolitan Frontier
By Paul J. P. Sandul and M. Scott Sosebee, editiors
Compiles a series of essays on the history of Texas suburbs and the influence of suburban areas on Texas culture and land use policies. Includes topics on environmental activism, increasing racial diversity, the development of urban expressways, and cities' decisions to incorporate, expand, or annex. Mentions HB 13, 58th Legislature, R.S., known as the Municipal Annexation Act of 1963.
University of Oklahoma Press, 2019, 250 pages
307.764 SA194L 2019
