The standing committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday amended the national criminal law to remove 13 offenses from the list of crimes subject to the death penalty . Those removed are non-violent...

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday adopted a resolution condemning the recent violence in Libya and ordering an international inquiry into alleged abuses. During a special session, the 47-member council unanimously adopted the...

South Korean prosecutor Jeong Jeom-Shik announced Friday that five Somali pirates captured in January have been charged with six offenses, including attempted murder, maritime robbery and kidnapping. The attempted murder charge carries with it a possible...

The Maryland Senate approved legislation Thursday to legalize same-sex marriage . The bill, entitled Civil Marriage Protection Act, would alter existing legislation that validates only heterosexual marriage. Approval of the Act will give...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Friday called on the Libyan government to stop the violence directed at protesters within that nation. Pillay's statement, directed at Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ,...

The New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department on Thursday upheld a lower court decision allowing the surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage to inherit the deceased spouse's estate. Kenneth Ranftle...

A judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Thursday granted federal prosecutors' motion to dismiss three charges against former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in an apparent effort to...

The Kansas House of Representatives on Thursday approved several new restrictions on abortion . Bills 2035 and 2281 passed overwhelmingly, in voice votes of 96 to 25 and 91...

The trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday declined a request from lawyers for accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to stay the proceedings against him....

A group of law professors asked Congress Wednesday to extend the Code of Conduct for United States Judges to apply to the Supreme Court . In a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary...