Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage News
Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage

[JURIST] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [official website] has agreed to hear oral arguments on a request to block the court's May 17, 2004 ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health [PDF] that legalized same-sex marriage [JURIST Hot Topic news archive] in the state. The appeal, filed by The Thomas More Law Center on behalf of C. Joseph Doyle, the executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, calls for the decision on this issue to be determined by the "democratic processes outlined in the Commonwealth's Constitution rather than by the [court]". The decision to hear the appeal comes one week after the New York State Supreme Court ruled that state's ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution [JURIST coverage]. CNSNews.com has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.