A Kosovo court on Wednesday began trial of three former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members accused of committing war crimes during the 1998-1999 Balkan ethnic conflicts . The trial, being held in the Kosovo's District Court of Prishtina, involves a mixed team made up of local and European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) [...]

A commission created by the French National Assembly began hearings Wednesday to consider whether to enact laws banning the wearing of burqas or other "full veils." The commission heard testimony from anthropologist Dounia Bouzar who suggested that a broad ban on covering one's face to conceal identity is preferable to a law that singles out [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday upheld the state of Washington's mandates prohibiting patient discrimination and requiring that pharmacies deliver lawfully-prescribed, approved medications. Under the rules, pharmacists are not required to dispense medication if they personally object to it, but will be subjected to professional discipline for destroying or refusing [...]

People arrested in Iran after last month's disputed presidential election have been beaten, deprived of sleep, and threatened with torture in an effort to force false confessions, according to a report released Wednesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW) . HRW alleges that Iranian authorities are attempting to support accusations that the post-election civil unrest was [...]

US President Barack Obama announced Tuesday his intent to nominate war crimes prosecutor Stephen Rapp as Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues. In this position, Rapp will head the Office of War Crimes Issues at the US Department of State , coordinating US support for war crimes prosecutions in international and domestic tribunals. Rapp [...]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said Wednesday that it is still seeking the arrest of Ugandan rebel leader and war crimes suspect Joseph Kony and his deputies, four years after warrants for the men were issued by the court. Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) , is wanted by the ICC on 33 [...]

John Harris, former chief of staff to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich , pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois . The guilty plea is the first in the high-profile case concerning the suspected efforts of Blagojevich to sell President Barack [...]

Projet de Loi relatif à la protection pénale de la propriété littéraire et artistique sur internet (Bill relating to the penal protection of literary and artistic property on the internet), French Senate, July 8, 2009 . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here. Latest commentary available here. JURIST has more on internet piracy.

Stormans, Inc., et al. v. Selecky, et al., US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, July 8, 2009 . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here. Latest commentary available here. JURIST has more on Plan B-related legal issues.

McCullen, et al. v. Coakley, US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, July 8, 2009 . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here. Latest commentary available here. JURIST has more on abortion issues.