US District Judge Reggie B. Walton questioned President George W. Bush's determination that the 30-month prison sentence for former vice-presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was "excessive" and therefore appropriate for commutation in a lengthy footnote to his memorandum opinion in the case published Thursday. Walton wrote: Although it is certainly the President's prerogative to [...]

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Friday withdrew a motion seeking to hold for questioning an Indian doctor possibly linked with the failed UK car bomb attacks an additional 72 hours without charges. Attorney General Philip Ruddock suggested that police may have withdrawn the request because they feel they can complete their interrogation of Dr. Mohammad [...]

Canadian-born financier and former media mogul Conrad Black was convicted of mail fraud and obstruction of justice by a Chicago jury Friday after twelve days of deliberations that included a deadlock . His conviction on three counts could lead to a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison, and fines of up to $1 million. [...]

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the US District Court of Southern New York ruled in an opinion published Friday that six wrongful death suits filed by survivors of victims who perished in the September 11 terrorist attacks will proceed to trial on the the issue of damages on September 4. In an unusual decision, Hellerstein [...]

The Liberian government has submitted a draft bill to the country's legislature which, if approved, would authorize the government to seek foreign assistance in "tracking, freezing, and confiscating the funds, properties, and assets" of former Liberian President Charles Taylor . Taylor, who claims he is indigent and has been allocated a $100,000 monthly defense budget [...]

A Japanese group consisting of 13 right-wing parliamentarians and more than 200 local politicians, nationalist intellectuals and historians called on the US House of Representatives Friday to retract a proposed non-binding resolution asking Japan to formally apologize in a clear and unequivocal manner for enslaving hundreds of thousands of women in East Asia and the [...]

The Mexican federal Third United Criminal Tribunal Thursday absolved former President Luis Echeverria of any criminal responsibility for a 1968 student protester massacre , despite ruling that the student massacre, which took place during Echeverria's term as Interior Minister, constituted genocide. Chief judge Jesus Guadalupe Luna announced that the tribunal found no evidence that Echeverria [...]

Peru filed an appeal Thursday against a Chilean court ruling denying a Peruvian request for the extradition of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori . Peruvian prosecutor Carlos Briceno said he was disappointed with the Wednesday ruling, but remained optimistic that the Chilean high court would reverse. Judge Orlando Alvarez rejected the extradition request and ignored [...]

Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders submitted a legislative proposal to prohibit the public wearing of burqas Thursday, proposing a fine of up to €3,350 euros or 12 days in jail for violators. Wilders, the leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom and who has previously made controversial remarks against Islam and Muslims in the Netherlands, claims [...]

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, announced reforms to judicial working dress Thursday, abolishing the traditional wigs , wing collars, and bands for civil and family court judges, as well as advocates in civil proceedings. Judges sitting in criminal proceedings will continue to be dressed in traditional attire. [...]