Senate to consider expanding FBI access to business records without judicial OK News
Senate to consider expanding FBI access to business records without judicial OK

[JURIST] Officials on Wednesday said a proposal is on the table that would allow the FBI greater access to business records without requiring judicial approval. After consultations with the Bush administration, Republican leaders of the US Senate Committee on Intelligence [official website] have proposed allowing the FBI to subpoena records from businesses without a judge's approval if it was declared necessary to a terrorism investigation. The legislation is part of a broader plan designed to make permanent some provisions of the Patriot Act [JURIST news archive] that expire at the end of this year. The New York Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.