JURIST Guest Columnist Douglas Branson of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law says that a comparison of the Andrew Fastow and Bernard Ebbers corporate fraud cases suggests that the sentences handed down for the two former high-flying executives – 6 and 25 years respectively – are unduly disparate and even perhaps backwards… For Andrew [...]

The US Supreme Court begins its fall term on Monday, assembling briefly to issue Orders and to swear in several lawyers to the Supreme Court bar. As its usual opening on the first Monday in October falls this year on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, the court will only start hearing arguments Tuesday; [...]

King Abdullah II of Jordan issued a "special amnesty" on Saturday for two opposition party lawmakers who were convicted of incitement in August for expressing sympathy after the death of al Qaeda Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi when they visited Zarqawi's relatives in his native Jordan. A military court in September had sentenced Mohammed Abu [...]

US House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) sent a letter to the Justice Department Sunday seeking an investigation into the developing sex and ethics scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) . Foley resigned Friday after ABC News reported that he had sent congressional pages inappropriate text messages, some sexually explicit in nature. On Friday, the House [...]

Serbian constitution draft, approved by the Serbian parliament October 1, 2006, subject to the results of a national referendum. Read the full text of the draft in Serbian. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Iran Freedom Support Act, HR 6198, signed into law by President George W. Bush, October 1, 2006 . Read the full text of the bill . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Bangladesh's Supreme Court has stayed the execution of seven Islamic militants sentenced to death for killing two judges in a car bomb attack last year after two of them appealed for clemency Friday. The militants, who have demanded the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh , killed at least 30 people, including judges, lawyers [...]

European airlines that transmit passenger data to the United States could face legal action or fines after EU and US officials failed to reach agreement by Saturday's court-imposed deadline on how to share passenger information without violating EU privacy laws. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the US has required airlines landing in the [...]

The Serbian parliament approved a new draft constitution for the country Saturday declaring Kosovo part of Serbia. The parliament's unanimous support for the draft, which still needs to be approved by a majority of voters, reflects the country's opposition to independence for the province. The preamble to the new charter reads:Starting from the fact that [...]

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand Sunday approved a new 39-article constitution for the country drawn up by the military leaders who seized power from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a September 19 coup . The new charter provides for a civilian government but, as anticipated , preserves the military's say in policy through a Council [...]