The photographs of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison that US President Barack Obama does not want to release include depictions of rape and sexual assault, according to former US Major General Antonio Taguba on Wednesday. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Taguba maintained support for Obama's decision not to release the photos, maintaining [...]
The Knesset , Israel's parliament, on Wednesday approved 47-34 the preliminary reading of a bill that would punish public statements likely to "cause an act of hatred, scorn or disloyalty to the state" with one year in prison. Introduced by MK Zevulun Orlev of the Habayit Hayehudi party, the bill is aimed at criminalizing public [...]
A disciplinary panel of judges ruled Wednesday that former US District Court judge Samuel Kent engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for impeachment , and urged prompt action on the matter. Kent, who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying about allegations of sexual harassment of two female assistants, had sought to retire on [...]
The Myanmar court hearing the trial of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi has rejected the defense's request to call four witnesses. While the prosecution has been allowed to call 14 witnesses, Suu Kyi's lawyers will only be permitted one defense witness , who is scheduled to testify Thursday. Suu Kyi's lawyers believe that the [...]
J.B. Harris : "On May 22, 2009, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in large part one of the most damning verdicts ever rendered against the tobacco industry. US v. Philip Morris USA Inc., et. al. . Upholding the liability findings of District Court Judge Gladys Kessler, set forth in her massive 1600 page [...]
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions , the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee , said Wednesday that he does not anticipate a filibuster against US Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor . Sessions addressed the Judiciary Committee's process, stressing the importance of Sotomayor understanding that "the proper role of a judge is to act as a [...]
The Spanish Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will accept a challenge accusing Audiencia Nacional Judge Baltasar Garzon of knowingly giving an unjust verdict or resolution. The decision comes as the result of a complaint filed by Manos Limpias , a union of public servants in Spain, which alleged that Garzon acted without jurisdiction in [...]
The Constitutional Court of Moldova has upheld a recent law barring certain government officials from holding dual citizenship. The controversial law no. 273 was passed by the Communist Party in April 2008 and, among other provisions, requires citizens to relinquish foreign passports before taking a seat in parliament. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) [...]
Former US solicitor general Ted Olson and prominent litigator David Boies announced Wednesday that they have filed suit challenging California's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage , Proposition 8 , on federal constitutional grounds. The complaint, filed Friday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California , seeks to enjoin enforcement of the [...]
Mexican security forces arrested 27 government officials in Michoacan Tuesday on corruption charges related to the illegal drug trade . Those arrested include 10 mayors, the chief adviser to the Michoacan attorney general, the director of the Michoacan police academy, and the top public security aide to Governor Leonel Godoy . Michoacan is the home [...]
