Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Wednesday, Jan. 26 News
Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Wednesday, Jan. 26

[JURIST] Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Wednesday, Jan. 26.

On Capitol Hill, the US Senate [official website] will open its daily session at 9:30 AM ET. The Senate is expected to confirm Condoleezza Rice [VOA News report] as secretary of state today. A live webcast is available via C-SPAN. The US House [official website] begins its session at 10 AM ET, with a live webcast available via C-SPAN.

MO Gov. Matt Blunt [official website] will deliver his state of the state address today at 10:30 AM ET. SC Gov. Mark Sanford [official website] will also deliver a state of the state address at 7 PM ET.

The World Economic Forum [official website] will open its annual meeting today in Davos, Switzerland. The five-day event's theme is "Taking Responsibility for Tough Choices." Read a program of sessions. Watch a webcast of the event opening, and view a list of webcasts from the forum.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Vice-President Margot Wallstrom will hold a press conference outlining the strategic guidelines and legislative program for 2005. Watch a live webcast beginning at 5:30 PM local time [11:30 AM ET] from the European Commission.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly [official website] is holding its 2005 winter session this week. Watch a live webcast of proceedings.

The UN will hold an 11 AM ET press conference on electoral assistance to Iraq with Carina Perelli, director of the Electoral Assistance Division [official website]. Watch a live webcast of the press conference.

At the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, trials continue today for Slobodan Milosevic [ICTY case backgrounder] and Fatmir Limaj and others [ICTY case backgrounder]. A webcast of the Milosevic trial will begin at 9:30 AM local time [3:30 AM ET], and a webcast of the Limaj trial is scheduled for 2:45 PM local time [8:45 AM ET].

The Heritage Foundation is hosting a forum called "The Constitutional Treaty: The Future of Europe?" A live webcast of the event is available beginning at 12 PM ET.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.