[JURIST] Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Tuesday, Jan. 18.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases today beginning at 10 AM ET. In the first case, Rompilla v. Beard [case backgrounder from Duke Law School], the Court will consider whether a jury must be instructed that a life sentence will not include the possibility of parole and other issues in a defendant's habeas petition. The ABA has merit briefs filed in the case. In the second case, Johnson v. US [case backgrounder from Duke Law School], the Court considers whether the vacatur of a state conviction on which an enhanced federal sentence was based supports the reduction of the federal sentence. Merit briefs are available from the ABA.

At the US Senate, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Condoleezza Rice's nomination as Secretary of State beginning at 9 AM ET. Watch a live webcast of the hearings via C-SPAN. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Mike Leavitt at 10 AM ET. A live webcast is available via C-SPAN 2.

The trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic continues today at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. A webcast of the trial will begin at 9:30 AM local time (3:30 AM ET). The ICTY has case background. Also today at the ICTY, the trial of Fatmir Limaj and others continues. A webcast will begin at 2:45 PM local time (8:45 AM ET), and case background is available.