Republicans start countdown to judicial filibuster ban News
Republicans start countdown to judicial filibuster ban

[JURIST] Senate Republicans filed a motion Friday which starts the countdown towards the "nuclear option" [Wikipedia backgrounder] – a procedure to wipe out the Democrats' power to block President Bush's judicial nominees. The motion would end the Senate debate for federal court nominee Priscilla Owen [DOJ profile] who was renominated by Bush after Democrats blocked her nomination in the last Congress. A Senate majority is required to confirm a nominee, but 60 votes are needed to end a filibuster. Republicans believe they can gain the needed support to ban judicial filibusters, but Democrats contend those are necessary to provide a check by the minority on the majority's power. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of the filibuster debate [JURIST news archive]. Reuters 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.