UN panel condemns US trial of Castro spies News
UN panel condemns US trial of Castro spies

[JURIST] The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention [official website] Thursday condemned the 2001 Miami federal court conviction of five Cubans who spied on US anti-Castro groups ["Free the Five" advocacy website], calling their long jail terms – including three life sentences – "arbitrary." In an opinion obtained by Reuters on Thursday, the independent five-person panel of lawyers said that the trial lacked "objectivity and impartiality," and also noted that the five had been held in solitary confinement for 17 months prior to trial. The UN group, whose rulings are not binding on countries, urged the US government "to adopt the necessary steps to remedy the situation." 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.