Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Tuesday, November 16 News
Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Tuesday, November 16

[JURIST] Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Tuesday, November 16.

On Capitol Hill, the US House and Senate both reconvene for legislative business today after being in recess since October. AP has more…. The Senate will meet at 12 PM ET and after a period of morning business will consider the nomination of Francis J. Harvey to be Secretary of the Army. Watch a live webcast (via C-SPAN)…. The US House meets at 2 PM ET. Watch a live webcast (via C-SPAN)…. The US Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a 9 AM ET hearing on judicial nominations. Watch a live webcast…. The US Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Management, the Budget, and International Security will hold a 10:30 AM ET oversight hearing on insurance brokerage practices, including potential conflicts of interest and the adequacy of the current regulatory framework. Witnesses include NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Richard Blumenthal, CT Attorney General. Watch a live webcast.

The US Sentencing Commission will hold a 1 PM ET public hearing on possible changes to sentencing guidelines. Read the hearing agenda.

The trial of Fatmir Limaj and his co-defendants continues Tuesday at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Watch a webcast of the trial beginning at 9:30 AM local time (3:30 AM ET); the webcast is on a 30-minute tape delay. The ICTY has background on the case…. The defense phase of Slobodan Milosevic's trial will resume Tuesday. Watch a webcast beginning at 2:45 PM local time (8:45 AM ET); the webcast is on a 30-minute tape delay. The ICTY has case information.

At the United Nations, the Security Council will meet at 9:30 AM ET and will discuss the situation in Timor-Leste…. The General Assembly will meet at 10 AM ET for a debate on oceans and the law of the sea. Watch a live webcast.

The European Parliament Legal Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Franco Frattini as EU Justice Commissioner. A recorded webcast of Tuesday morning's hearing will be available at 1 PM local time (7 AM ET). JURIST's Paper Chase has background on Frattini's nomination.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.