Judge issues second order blocking release of UN oil-for-food documents News
Judge issues second order blocking release of UN oil-for-food documents

[JURIST] A federal judge issued a second 10-day restraining order Thursday blocking US congressional efforts to obtain documents that former investigator Robert Parton took with him when he resigned his role [JURIST report] in the probe of the UN Oil-for-Food Program [official website]. A United Nations-appointed committee independently investigating the program agreed to the delay after discussing the matter with the two congressional committees requesting the documents. No agreement had been forthcoming during the lifetime of the initial 10 day-restaining order [JURIST report] issued last week. Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker [Wikipedia profile] is heading the probe and says release of the documents will jeopardize his investigation and the lives of witnesses. AP 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.