UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay , in a speech to the UN General Assembly on Monday, called for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) . Pillay urged an investigation of Syrian government and military officials for possible crimes against humanity. She emphasized [...]

The US Department of State (DOS) on Monday dispatched a team of international law experts to Haiti to assess how to reinforce the Haitian judiciary’s power and independence, according to Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille . Conille said that one of the experts’ goals would be to investigate a ruling involving former Haitian ruler Jean-Claude [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Vivian Curran of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law says that the Armenian genocide law must be viewed in the context of French lois mémorielles, the complex history of France and EU law, noting that the French Constitutional Court will have to carefully balance dedication both to human rights and to [...]

Apple requested that the US District Court for the Northern District of California grant a preliminary injunction against Samsung on Wednesday, to block the company from selling its new phone, the Galaxy Nexus . The smartphone uses Google’s newest version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich, which Apple alleges infringe on four patents held by [...]

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation Monday legalizing same-sex marriage , making Washington the eighth jurisdiction in the US to offer marriage to same-sex couples. Washington had previously granted expanded domestic partnership rights rather than full marriage or civil union rights to same-sex couples. Gregoire’s signature completed a campaign for marriage rights that started in [...]

The trial of seven of nine indicted Hutaree militia members began with jury selection and opening statements Monday in the US District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan . Nine members of the militia were indicted in March 2010 on charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, teaching the use [...]

The first trial of alleged Indonesia bomber Umar Patek began Monday in the West Jakarta District Court over his role in several terrorist plots including the Jakarta church bombings in 2000 and the 2002 Bali nightclub bombing . Patek was arrested in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011, just a few weeks before US special forces killed [...]

The Greek Parliament approved austerity measures late Sunday, securing a second bailout for the country to avoid bankruptcy amidst rioting and violence in downtown Athens. A total of 199 lawmakers voted for the measures with 74 members of parliament voting against the package. Protesters clashed with police outside parliament after the vote, looting and burning [...]

The Supreme Court of Pakistan charged Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with contempt of court Monday for disobeying a court order to open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari . Gilani appeared before the court and pleaded not guilty, saying he will fight the charges. The Supreme Court claims Gilani defied a court [...]

The UK High Court of Justice ruled Friday that the Bideford Town Council does not have authority to conduct prayers at the beginning of its official meetings. The judgment followed a Judicial Review initiated by the National Secular Society (NSS) to challenge the practice of prayers as part of the formal business of council meetings, [...]