I will propose Thursday that individual criminal responsibility of financial actors is finally recognized in European law. ... We have seen abusive behavior in the markets. Some have caused the current crisis. We will regulate these practices! Those who violate will incur penalties. It will be a first in European legislation and a strong signal.

The European debt crisis [BBC backgrounder] has led to calls for tougher regulation of financial sectors, especially in the less transparent markets for collateralized debt obligations and other exotic securities that sparked the worldwide financial crisis. Less solvent nations such as Greece and Spain have been forced to pass austerity measures and seek funds from more stable EU neighbors like Germany. JURIST Guest Columnist Larry Eaker of the American University of Paris recently wrote [JURIST op-ed] that the debt crisis in the EU has made it necessary to examine whether it is legally possible for a eurozone nation to leave the EU and abandon the joint currency altogether. Last month a German high court rejected challenges [JURIST report] brought against the constitutionality of EU rescue package and financial aid package given to Greece. In August Spain agreed to amend its constitution [JURIST report] to limit its national deficit. Italy and Spain have succeeded in lowering borrowing costs by taking advantage of a European bond-buying [Houston Chronicle report] program, and Sweden has resolved to protect its banking and financial institutions [The Local report] from effects of the debt crisis by increasing funds for more financial inspections and deposit guarantees. In June, Greece, proposed a constitutional referendum [JURIST report] aimed at eliminating the systemic governmental inefficiency and waste that led to the crisis that has wracked the country.

Earlier this month a similar SCAF amendment altered election rules to ban the use of religious slogans [JURIST report] in campaigning. The article came ahead of the upcoming November elections and is expected to have an immediate effect on the Muslim Brotherhood [party website; JURIST news archive] whose traditional slogan "Islam is the solution" was banned under the new electoral guidelines. However, two days later an Egyptian court overturned a ban [JURIST report] that prohibited presidential hopeful Ayman Nour [BBC profile] from forming the Islamic-based political party Al-Gama'a al-Islamiya [party website]. In March, Supreme Council of the Armed Forces announced that it would lift the state of emergency [JURIST report] before parliamentary polls were to be held. The election announcement came a week after an overwhelming majority of Egyptians voted to approve several constitutional amendments [JURIST report] in a national referendum. The majority approval is considered by some to be a milestone [JURIST comment] for Egypt during its transition to a democratic society following the national uprising [JURIST news archive] against Mubarak.

As a part of the investigation, Ocampo plans to meet with the Truth, Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission, which was launched by the Ivory Coast [JURIST report] last month. The country hopes the commission will help to resolve conflicts stemming from the post-election violence. The 11-member commission, modeled on similar efforts [AP report] taken by South Africa during the post-apartheid era, is composed of Ivory Coast religious leaders and other dignitaries and is headed by former prime minister Charles Konan Banny. Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo [BBC profile] was captured and forced from office [JURIST report] after refusing to leave despite losing last November's election to now President Alassane Ouattara [BBC profile], which resulted in months of fighting between Ouattara's and Gbagbo's forces. More than 3,000 people were killed from December to April following the election. The commission is likely to hear complaints from the families of people killed by Gbagbo's military. Rights groups are insisting that the government hear cases from families of those killed by Ouattara forces as well.

Given that the Ninth Circuit has just finished wrestling with the consequences of the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," Plaintiff should not be heard to contend that such issues cannot be rectified through the legislative process. Moreover, Plaintiff appears oblivious to the irony of maintaining that homosexuals have limited political power in a case in which her position is supported by the Department of Justice at the insistence of the President. In light of the Department's longstanding duty to defend the constitutionality of federal statutes, its decision to decline to defend the constitutionality of DOMA—notwithstanding its acknowledgment that reasonable arguments can be advanced in defense of Section 3, that it survives rational basis review, and that eleven Circuit Courts of Appeal, including the Ninth, disagree with its conclusion that heightened scrutiny applies—and instead adopt the very position advocated by Plaintiff, is particularly telling.

Even though the Obama administration has stopped defending the constitutionality of DOMA [JURIST report], benefits continue to be denied. Just this week, a disabled Navy veteran filed a notice of appeal [JURIST report] with the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims [official website] for denying her partner a share of her disability benefits under DOMA. Carmen Cardona filed for veterans' spousal benefits last year but was denied. The Department of Veterans Affairs [official website] reportedly told her she could not receive benefits because her spouse was a woman, which is not a recognized marriage under federal law. The Department has declined to comment [Fox News report] on the potential litigation. In February, congressional Democrats introduced the Respect for Marriage Act [text], which was intended to repeal DOMA [JURIST report], but it has not yet passed.