Senate confirms Crawford as new FDA chief News
Senate confirms Crawford as new FDA chief

[JURIST] The Senate on Monday confirmed Lester Crawford [official profile] as the new head of the US Food and Drug Administration [official site] by a 78-16 vote [roll call], ending an earlier debate [JURIST report] about his nomination stalled by legislators' concerns. At issue was the FDA dragging its feet on a determination about the sale of an emergency contraceptive. The FDA has now promised a ruling on whether Plan B [FDA Q & A], the drug in question, may be sold over-the-counter by September 1 2005. 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.