UPDATE ~ National Archives releases Roberts DOJ memos News
UPDATE ~ National Archives releases Roberts DOJ memos

[JURIST] As anticipated Thursday in JURIST's Paper Chase, the National Archives has released a set of memos [NARA listing] written by US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts [JURIST news archive] while he was a Justice Department aide in 1981. In drafting answers to potential questions for Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Roberts described his approach [memo, PDF] as "to avoid giving specific responses to any direct questions on legal issues likely to come before the court, but demonstrating in the response a firm command of the subject area and awareness of the relevant precedents and arguments." This is expected to be Roberts' tactic when his own hearings begin September 6, where Judiciary Committee Republicans and Democrats, including committee chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), have stated plans to question him about specific cases [JURIST report]. The Bush administration continues to refuse to release documents relating to Roberts' work in the Solicitor General's office [JURIST report] from 1989-1993. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

President Harding signed "anti-beer bill"

On November 23, 1921, President Warren G. Harding signed the Willis-Campbell Act, popularly termed the "anti-beer bill," prohibiting doctors from prescribing beer or liquor for medicinal purposes.

Convention on Cybercrimes opens for signature

On November 23, 2001, the Convention on Cybercrime was opened for signature in Budapest, Hungary, before entering into force on July 1, 2004. The Convention seeks to coordinate the Internet laws of signatory states and promote international enforcement of cybercrime laws. Learn more about the Convention on Cybercrime from the Council of Europe.