Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Wednesday, April 20 News
Legal agenda and live webcasts ~ Wednesday, April 20

[JURIST] Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Wednesday, April 20.

The US Supreme Court [official website] hears oral arguments in two cases beginning at 10 AM ET today. In the first, Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences I, Ltd. [Duke Law School case backgrounder], 03-1237, the Court will consider whether patent law exceptions for pharmaceutical development cover animal studies related to new drug development. The ABA has merit briefs in the case. In the second, Graham County Water District v. US [Duke Law School case backgrounder], 04-169, the Court will consider whether the six-year statute of limitations under the False Claims Act [text] applies to retaliatory discharge claims under the Act. The ABA has merit briefs in the case.

The US Senate [official website] convenes at 9:30 AM ET today, when it will consider H.R. 1268 [bill summary], the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations bill. Watch a live webcast of the session. The Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee is holding a hearing at 2:30 PM ET today to review the Material Support to the Terrorism Prohibition Improvements Act. Watch a live webcast of the hearing.

The US House [official website] convenes at 10 AM ET today. Watch a live webcast of the session. The House Judiciary Committee [official website] will mark up H.R. 1279 [bill summary], the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act, at 10 AM ET today. Watch a live webcast of the session. The Committee is also holding a hearing at 2 PM ET today to consider competition in the telecommunications industry following the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Watch a live webcast of the hearing. The Courts, Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee is holding an oversight hearing at 4:30 PM ET today on the committee print regarding patent quality improvement. Watch a live webcast of the hearing. The House International Relations Committee [official website] Middle East and Central Asia Subcommittee is holding a hearing at 1:30 PM ET today on the Middle East and the UN. Watch a live webcast of the hearing.

The Eleventh UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice [official website] continues today in Bangkok, Thailand. View the agenda for the session.

At the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the trial of Slobodan Milosevic [ICTY case backgrounder] continues at 9:30 AM local time [3:30 AM ET] today. Also today, the trial of Enver Hadzihasanovic and Amir Kubura [ICTY case backgrounder] continues at 2:45 PM local time [8:45 AM ET]. Watch a webcast of proceedings.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.