Democrats preparing for the upcoming confirmation hearings for US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts say his nomination as Chief Justice means Roberts should face tougher scrutiny, while Republicans say the elevation should not change the confirmation process. In a statement Monday, Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy said, "Before the Senate acts on John Roberts' new nomination, [...]

A member of the Iraqi constitution drafting committee said Tuesday that the extended negotiations over the final wording of the draft constitution have ended without an agreement on changes to the draft. Iraqi lawmakers had resumed negotiations over the weekend in an attempt to achieve consensus on several issues, including Sunni demands that the constitution [...]

A closed session of the Iraqi National Assembly debated a broad new anti-terrorism bill Monday, which would authorize the execution of perpetrators and accomplices of offenses classified as terrorist acts. The bill reportedly includes the following as punishable offenses: attacking Iraqi soldiers, police and diplomatic missions, kidnapping for political, sectarian, ethnic or racial purposes, acts [...]

Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v. Sharman License Holdings Ltd, Federal Court of Australia, September 5, 2005 . Read the full text of the opinion here. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

The chief of Iran's Judiciary said Monday that Iran objected to the "insignificant and petty" indictment on which former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein will be tried beginning October 19. The Iraqi government confirmed Sunday that Hussein and several of his lieutenants would go on trial that day for the slaughter of Shiite residents of the [...]

A Republican source said Monday that Senate leaders have agreed to postpone the start of the confirmation hearings for US Supreme Court nominee and now Chief Justice nominee John G. Roberts from Tuesday until at least Thursday, and perhaps to as late as Monday. No formal announcement of a revised schedule has yet been made [...]

A prosecutor argued at the opening of a much-anticipated British court-martial Monday that seven British paratroopers patrolling in southern Iraq in 2003 killed an Iraqi civilian and abused others after stopping a truck carrying them three weeks after hostilities had officially ended. Nadhem Abdullah was said to have beaten at the scene by the British [...]

Leading Monday's states brief, opponents of a recently approved Georgia voter identification law are expected to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit this week. The bill calls for voters to have photo identification and was recently been approved by the US Department of Justice . The Coalition for the People's Agenda, the Georgia Association [...]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested Monday that a change may have to be made to Britain's Human Rights Act in order to allow the deportation of foreign Islamic extremists in the UK to home countries where they may face torture or inhumane treatment. Currently, Britain seeks "memorandums of understanding" with such countries to assure [...]

Kenya will hold its first-ever national referendum November 21 when voters decide on the country's new constitution , Kenyan officials announced Monday. The draft of the new charter has divided the country over issues including presidential power controls, separation of church and state, and distribution of government powers. Protests against the constitution killed at least [...]