Bush administration appeals ‘partial birth’ abortion ruling to Supreme Court News
Bush administration appeals ‘partial birth’ abortion ruling to Supreme Court

[JURIST] The Bush administration has asked the US Supreme Court to reinstate a legislative ban on late-term "partial birth" abortions, appealing a July ruling by the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis that upheld [JURIST report] a Nebraska federal district court ruling [JURIST report] finding the federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act [PDF text] unconstitutional because it lacks an exception for the health of the mother. The appeal in Carhart v. Gonzalez [PDF text] was filed Friday and released Monday. The "partial birth" abortion case has been a contentious two-year legal battle, but it is as yet unclear if the Supreme Court will take the latest appeal. It has already scheduled arguments in November in another abortion case involving New Hampshire's parental notification statute [text]. 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.