Former Bush administration solicitor general Theodore Olson told the conservative Federalist Society's National Convention in Washington Thursday that Bush nominees to the Supreme Court would likely face a "political firestorm" in the Senate. Olson predicted that the President could make as many as three appointments in his second term, all of which could prove extremely [...]

The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe, which four years ago rejected government plans to seize thousands of white-owned farms and turn them over to black Zimbabweans, has upheld a controversial law passed in 2002 to enable the government to expand farm seizures. The Independent Online has more. Human Rights Watch has details on the human rights [...]

With vote counts showing a slim victory for write-in candidate Donna Frye, a Democratic city councilwoman and local "surfer-activist," a lawsuit has been filed to declare her candidacy illegal and 124 local judges have been excused from hearing the case due to potential conflicts of interest. Presiding Judge John Einhorn recused the entire San Diego [...]

In the wake of FCC crackdowns on media outlets, several broadcasters have changed Veterans' Day programming and a North Carolina radio station has banned the phrase "reproductive rights". ABC stations owned by Cox Television, Citadel Communications, Belo Corp., Hearst-Argyle, E.W. Scripps, and others are refusing to air Saving Private Ryan tonight, fearing six-figure fines and [...]

In Thursday's corporations and securities law news, PeopleSoft executives have unanimously recommended its shareholders reject Oracle's $8.8 billion hostile takeover bid because the offer was too low. Oracle, upon learning of the news, said it was prepared to walk away from its bid. Read the PeopleSoft press release here and listen to the webcast here. [...]

A Nigerian federal appeals court today blocked an upcoming general strike which would effectively shut down oil exports in the world's seventh largest exporter. Justice Tanko Mohammed Yusuf ruled that the main Nigeria Labor Congress "shall not embark on any strike from 16th of November 2004 or any day thereafter." Earlier this year, the government [...]

John Norton Moore, University of Virginia Law School: "As a matter of national honor we owe a special debt to our prisoners of war. Surely this country also should adhere to treaty obligations that are designed to deter torture of our POWs, including the obligation in the POW convention never to "absolve" a torturing state [...]

Ralph Nader, who ran as an independent presidential candidate this year, has called for recounts of November 2 voting results. Nader says he want to ensure every ballot was counted amid growing allegations of irregularities. Nader is partiuclarly urging recounts in the hotly disputed states of Ohio and Florida, which were won by President Bush. [...]

In the wake of early morning raids on the El Geer camp near Nyala in southern Darfur, Amnesty International is calling for the creation of an international body to monitor the Sudanese police. Amnesty will urge the UN Security Council in its meeting next week to find better ways to protect the people of Darfur. [...]

Jack Balkin, Yale Law School: "There are two reasons why Bush might have nominated Gonzales to be Attorney General. The first is that he is grooming him for a further appointment to the Supreme Court. The second is that he never plans to appoint him but wants to send a strong signal that he might. [...]