Brenda Haglund, executrix vs. Philip Morris Incorporated, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, May 18, 2006 . Read the full text of the opinion. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

A federal judge Thursday dismissed a highly-publicized lawsuit brought by the ACLU against CIA Director George Tenet and other agency officials and employees on behalf of Khalid El-Masri , a German national who alleges that he was kidnapped in Macedonia in 2003 in an instance of extraordinary rendition , held by the CIA in Afghanistan [...]

Proclamation, Nepal House of Representatives, May 18, 2006 . In respect of the sacrifices and participation made by the Nepalese people in the peaceful joint people's movement, In due attention to the fact that the people had shown keen interest through the peaceful joint people's movement that took place some time back, on establishing that [...]

General Michael Hayden defended the legality of the NSA's domestic surveillance program Thursday and said that the program was a critical tool in tracking down terrorists, in testimony during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on his nomination as CIA director. Though Hayden, who headed the NSA from 1999-2005, answered questions [...]

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned in a speech delivered in Japan Thursday that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty faces a twin crisis of "confidence and complicity":The Treaty embodies a contract between the nuclear weapon States and the rest of the international community. The former committed themselves to move towards general disarmament, and to refrain from threatening [...]

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday that tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc. cannot avoid liability in a wrongful death lawsuit by claiming that smokers should know that cigarettes are dangerous. Brenda Haglund had sued the tobacco company for the wrongful death of her husband. The court said that her lawsuit could proceed because the [...]

The US Supreme Court on Thursday reheard oral arguments on whether police must continue to knock and announce themselves before entering a person’s home to seize evidence with a warrant in order for the seizure to be constitutional under the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable search and seizure. In Hudson v. Michigan , Booker Hudson [...]

A disciplinary panel for two Egyptian judges who complained of alleged fraud in last year’s parliamentary elections Thursday reprimanded pro-reform judge Hisham Bastawisi but cleared Mahmoud Mekki of whistleblowing allegations. The rulings came amid clashes between riot police and supporters of the judges which began last week; protesters have also been rallying in Cairo to [...]

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori will be freed on bail as he fights extradition to Peru on corruption and human rights charges . A panel of the Supreme Court of Chile voted 4-1 Thursday to free Fujimori, who must remain in Chile pending a decision on Peru's extradition request . Fujimori was arrested in Chile [...]

Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities, Congressional Research Service, May 17, 2006 . Read the full text of the report .