The California Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will hear oral arguments on March 5 in the three cases challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8 , the ballot measure passed in November that banned same-sex marriage. The court issued an order listing the three issues to be briefed and argued as follows: (1) Is Proposition [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist William G. Ross of Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, says that for various constitutional, political and practical reasons made all the more pressing by controversies surrounding a number of high-profile and now even withdrawn nominees, the US Senate should subject President Barack Obama's cabinet picks to a robust confirmation process that [...]

Fourth Report of the Independent Reviewer Pursuant to Section 14(3) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, Lord Carlile of Berriew Q.C., February 3, 2009 . Read the full text of the report . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Snedden v Republic of Croatia, Federal Court of Australia, February 3, 2009, . Read the full text of the judgment. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

US Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday expressed his commitment to restoring a tradition of fairness and political neutrality to the Department of Justice (DOJ) . In video remarks to DOJ employees delivered after he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden , Holder said: there shall be no place for political favoritism, no reason [...]

The Australian Federal Court Tuesday dismissed the application of former Serbian paramilitary commander Dragan Vasiljkovic for review of a 2007 extradition order that he be handed over to Croatian authorities. Vasiljkovic, also known as Daniel Snedden, is accused of war crimes in connection with his treatment of Croatian prisoners during the 1991-1995 War of Independence [...]

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved a long-standing dispute between Ukraine and Romania Tuesday by drawing a new maritime border between the countries, giving Romania four-fifths of waters believed to sit atop a sizable crude oil reserve. At issue was whether Ukraine's claim to Serpent Island – a small, X-shaped limestone formation – gave [...]

Australia's Supreme Court of Victoria Tuesday sentenced Algerian cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika , also known as Abu Bakr, to at least 12 years in prison for his role in plotting large-scale terror attacks aimed at sporting venues and railway stations in Australia. Benrika received a prison sentence of 12 to 15 years after being convicted [...]

Six detainees from the Guantanamo Bay military prison, including three Uighurs, are seeking refugee status in Canada with the support of Canadian sponsors. The Uighurs were last year deemed not to be unlawful enemy combatants . Lawyers for the men have said that US authorities have admitted the men were mistakenly picked up, and are [...]

 Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) prosecutor Stephen Rapp  said Monday that a verdict in the war crimes case against former Liberian President Charles Taylor is expected in early 2010. Rapp said that the last of the prosecution's 91 witnesses was called last Friday and that the trial will likely remain in recess until April, when the [...]