The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday reversed the convictions of four former Merrill Lynch executives found guilty in connection with an Enron Nigerian barge scam. The Fifth Circuit overturned conspiracy and wire fraud convictions for James Brown, William Fuhs, Daniel Bayly and Robert Furst "on the legal ground that the [...]

The US Senate voted 71-25 Tuesday to approve the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 , which would allow oil and gas drilling in about 8.3 million acres of federal waters in the central Gulf. The bill garnered broad support in the wake of soaring gas prices, but its critics asserted that the [...]

Authorities in Burundi on Tuesday arrested five former government officials, including Vice President Alphonse Kadege, as well as a rebel leader and two others suspected of plotting a coup to overthrow the African nation's government, according to intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Adolphe Manirakiza. Police were also searching for former President Domitien Ndayizeye's spokesman, Pancrace Cimpaye, [...]

New York Times v. Gonzales, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, August 1, 2006 . Read the full text of the opinion and the dissent. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Amnesty International urged Haiti's government Tuesday to release political prisoners being held indefinitely pending trial. According to the human rights group, about 2,000 people are under "prolonged detention," and close to 100 of them could be political prisoners. Amnesty called on Haiti to initiate trial proceedings under legitimate criminal charges or release the political prisoners, [...]

Secretary of State for the Home Department v JJ & Ors, Supreme Court of Judicature (UK), Court of Appeal EWCA Civ 1141, August 1, 2006 . Read the full text of the judgment. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Records concerning assault, harassment or humiliation of US personnel by detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, US Department of Defense . Review the full text of the records. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Federal prosecutors may review two New York Times reporters' phone records while trying to determine who leaked information about a terrorism investigation, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled Tuesday. A three-judge panel held that "on the present facts," neither common-law privilege nor the First Amendment protected the Times from disclosing the [...]

A US magistrate in Houston agreed Tuesday to delay the trial of three former British bankers facing fraud charges related to the Enron scandal so that two of the defendants can hire American lawyers. A trial had been scheduled for Sept. 11, but Magistrate Stephen Smith granted the defendants' request and ordered the men to [...]

A US military court on Tuesday began Article 32 hearings, similar to civil grand jury proceedings, to determine whether four Army soldiers charged with premeditated murder of Iraqi detainees will face courts-martial. The four men from the Third Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division – Sergeant Raymond Girouard, Specialist William Hunsaker, Pfc. Corey [...]