JURIST Guest Columnist Benjamin Davis of the University of Toledo College of Law says that the overall theme of the "compromise" military commissions bill seems to be the highly-problematic creation of a unique legal regime for a specific group of human beings intentionally cut off from all other domestic and international legal processes… In this [...]
US Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) told CNN's Late Edition program Sunday that he believes the habeas corpus provision of the latest draft of the military commissions bill based on an agreement Thursday between Senate and White House negotiators may violate the US Constitution. Section 6 of the Military Commissions Act of [...]
A proposed federal shield law for journalists is on hold after the US Senate Judiciary Committee Friday postponed further consideration of the bill in the wake of strong opposition from Justice Department officials voiced in a hearing Thursday. Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty argued that the Free Flow of Information Act of 2006 would impose [...]
The US Legal Services Corp. debated firing the inspector general currently investigating the federally funded program's use of funds for luxuries , the Associated Press reported Sunday. Meeting transcripts obtained by AP indicate that board members criticized Kirt West and warned each other to be careful of their actions in his presence. The board planned [...]
Nearly 70 percent of Swiss voters Sunday approved new laws that limit immigration and asylum seeking in the country. The laws, passed by the Swiss parliament last year, require foreigners to produce valid travel documents within 48 hours or risk rejection. Those who have been rejected but who refuse to leave the country could face [...]
Saddam Hussein's top lawyer said Sunday the former Iraqi president's defense team will not attend his genocide trial when it resumes Monday in protest at the new chief judge's behavior, and will stay away "indefinitely," according to statements quoted by AP. The original judge was replaced last week by the government after he said in [...]
Members of Iraq's parliament reached a compromise Sunday establishing a committee to consider amendments to Iraq's constitution and allowing debate to proceed on a bill to create federal regions in the country. Constitutional amendment is a top priority for the country's Sunni Arabs, while Shiite politicians favor the federalism bill. Debate on the controversial draft [...]
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) , Taiwan's ruling political party, has opened debate on the drafting of a new constitution, a move promised by President Chen Shui-bian earlier this year. The current constitution , drafted by the Kuomintang party of China in 1947, has been amended seven times and was written 2 years before Taiwan [...]
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda insisted Sunday that the recent executions of three Roman Catholic militants convicted in 2001 of leading a Christian militia which killed at least 70 Muslims in 2000 were legally justified. In an attempt to defuse tension manifested in rioting by Christian protestors last week, Wirajuda defended the legal process leading [...]
The US military plans to turn a new medium-security building at Guantanamo Bay into a maximum-security facility and enhance security in its existing structures at the military detention center, according to deputy commander Brig. Gen. Edward A. Leacock . Leacock told reporters earlier this week that security upgrades include constant guard escorts around the facility, [...]
