A panel of High Court judges in London Tuesday allowed an appeal by the fanily of an Iraqi man against the UK government's refusal to allow a judicial inquiry into his alleged killing by British troops. Lawyers for Baha Mousa, a 28-year old hotel receptionist in Basra, say that he was beaten to death while [...]

A Chilean appeals court Monday temporarily suspended Judge Juan Guzman's house arrest order for 89-year old General Ausgusto Pinochet just hours after Guzman had made it in connection with his indictment of the former Chilean president on human rights charges. Pinochet is being investigated in connection with the connection with the murder of one person [...]

AP is reporting that trials of the "symbols of Iraq's regime" will begin next week, according to Iraq interim prime minister Iyad Allawi. Iraq Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said Monday while on a visit to the Vatican that Saddam Hussein himself would go on trial for crimes against humanity after Iraq's elections at the end [...]

Tung Yin, University of Iowa College of Law: "Not surprisingly, the jury has recommended death for Scott Peterson, convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn son: In arguing for death, prosecutors called Peterson "the worst kind of monster" and said he was undeserving of sympathy. The defense begged jurors to "go back there and [...]

Dan Tokaji, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University: "Today's the day that the Electoral College meets in each of the state capitals. Just hours before, some congressional Democrats and other Democratic activists asked state officials to delay the Electoral College vote in Columbus, Ohio until the recount is completed. The A.P. has this report. [...]

Elizabeth Malloy, University of Cincinnati College of Law: "President Bush today selected Mike Leavitt, the current EPA Chief, to be the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. In making his selection, President Bush said that Leavitt is a "fine executive" and "a man of great compassion" and he further lauded Leavitt explaining that "He's [...]

A jury in Redwood City, California, has recommended that Scott Peterson be sentenced to death for the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner. Judge Alfred A. Delucchi will formally sentence Peterson on February 25. CourtTV provides background on the Peterson case. 5:10 PM ET – NBC-10 TV in Los Angeles has [...]

An Italian judge confirmed Monday that 28 Italian police officers will face trial in connection with violence against anti-globalization protestors at the 2001 G8 Summit in Genoa. One protestor was killed and hundreds of protestors and police were injured in rioting . Senior officers are accused of lying, slander and complicity to commit violence. Twenty-six [...]

AP is reporting that jurors in the Scott Peterson trial have reached a decision on his sentence, which will be announced at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT).

A hearing by the US 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Monday on disputed ballots in the Puerto Rico gubernatorial race drew protestors calling for no federal intervention in the election. The 1st Circuit will decide whether Puerto Rico's Supreme Court (in Spanish) or a US district court in San Juan has jurisdiction over the case, [...]