[JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union expressed concern Wednesday that the new Terrorist Threat Integration Center [JURIST report] announced by President Bush in his State of the Union Address Tuesday night would "put the CIA back in the business of spying on Americans." Read the ACLU press release and a background memo on US domestic intelligence [ACLU press release].

[JURIST] Columbia Law School's Spring 2003 lecture series Columbia Goes to War [speaker series overview] features Columbia Law School faculty speaking on contemporary issues relating to war and peace. Watch Professor Richard Gardner on The Legality of Pre-emptive Force (recorded January 21), and Professor Oscar Schacter on Use of Force Under the UN Charter (recorded January 28) [links to recorded video].

[JURIST] The UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting Wednesday to consider Iraqi compliance with UN Resolution 1441 on weapons inspection and disarmament. Watch press statements from representatives of Iraq [recorded video], Russia, Syria, the IAEA, Pakistan, Bulgaria [recorded video], Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Syria and France [recorded video].

[JURIST] The International Crisis Group released a report Wednesday on judicial reform in Afghanistan, calling for the retirement of Afghanistan's current Chief Justice. Read Afghanistan: Judicial Reform and Transitional Justice [PDF text, free registration required]. An executive summary of the report is also available.

[JURIST] The text of Democratic Ranking Member Senator Patrick Leahy's opening statement at Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on judicial nominations is now available.

[JURIST] A US Department of Education panel holds public meetings in Washington DC Wednesday and Thursday to consider changes to federal laws and rules affecting college athletics, in particular Title IX [Education Department Q/A]. Learn more about the US Education Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics [official website].