Gonzales sought DOJ ruling on torture News
Gonzales sought DOJ ruling on torture

[JURIST] White House counsel Alberto Gonzales personally sought a legal ruling on the extent of the president's authority to permit extreme interrogation practices in the name of national security in 2002, current and former administration officials said Tuesday, a revelation that could have serious repercussions in Gonzales confirmation hearings for the post of Attorney General slated for Thursday. Until now, Gonzales's role in the production of the Justice Department's resulting memo was not clear, and Gonzales responded to questions without revealing that the answers given in the memo were answers to his own inquiries. Gonzales's request, the officials said, is unusual in that he bypassed the office of the deputy attorney general, which is usually notified of politically delicate requests for legal opinions by executive branch agencies. The New York Times has more. Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase:

THIS DAY @ LAW

President Harding signed "anti-beer bill"

On November 23, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed the Willis-Campbell Act, popularly termed the "anti-beer bill," prohibiting doctors from prescribing beer or liquor for medicinal purposes.

Convention on Cybercrimes opens for signature

On November 23, 2001, the Convention on Cybercrime was opened for signature in Budapest, Hungary, before entering into force on July 1, 2004. The Convention seeks to coordinate the Internet laws of signatory states and promote international enforcement of cybercrime laws. Learn more about the Convention on Cybercrime from the Council of Europe.