Dan Tokaji, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University: "Taking Yogi Berra's words to heart, Ohio voting rights advocates have announced their plan to proceed with a contest of the election. This is in addition to the recount planned by the Green and Libertarian candidates, now reportedly to be joined by the Democratic Party as [...]

Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal issued a legal opinion Monday holding that supermarkets cannot collect sales taxes on prepared foods and must issue refunds to consumers that had been overtaxed. Prepared foods include the precooked items one can find at a deli counter, such as rotisserie chickens, sushi, or potato salad. If the supermarket has a [...]

The Mississippi Supreme Court Monday overturned a verdict that had netted a Mississippi man $80 million. Carroll V. Hood and his company had been awarded the money, which included $75 million in punative damages, in a breach of contract claim against three insurance companies: Titan Indemnity Co., United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. and St. [...]

Canadian Press is reporting that US officials on Monday started the final review of draft rules that would drop the existing trade barrier against Canadian beef products. The US banned the import of all Canadian cattle and beef after an Alberta cow tested positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, [...]

While campaigning on behalf of fellow members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has called for a new constitution for the island, one that "fits today's realities in Taiwan." President Chen said Sunday that constitutional changes were necessary to "protect human rights, boost government efficiency, and upgrade the country's competitiveness." China [...]

Hate Crimes Statistics 2003, Federal Bureau of Investigation, released November 22, 2004. Read the full text of the report here . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

The FBI announced Monday that over 7400 hate crime incidents were reported in 2003. The total, which includes 14 murders, is mostly made up of intimidation, vandalism, and property destruction. The nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center indicates these incidents range from spray-painting of swastikas and racial slurs on people's property to menacing with guns and [...]

Jim Maule, Villanova University School of Law: "Well, the Congress has itself in a fine mess of hot water this time around. Readers of this blog know that I'm no fan of how Congress does business nor of most of what it generates. According to reports proliferating throughout web and print press (CNN, New York [...]

Jack Chin, University of Arizona College of Law: "Citing a poll indicating that 70% of Texans believe innocent people have been executed, a Texas representative proposed a moratorium on executions pending study of the DNA and capital punishment system; attending the press conference was Kirk Bloodsworth, the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA.  Another [...]

The ruling Fatah faction of the Palestinian Authority has chosen Mahmoud Abbas as its candidate in the January 9 election to replace Yasser Arafat, whom Abbas, 69, served as for many years as deputy of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Abbas has already been named to lead the PLO. AP has more.