Roberts headed for bipartisan Senate confirmation News
Roberts headed for bipartisan Senate confirmation

[JURIST] With Democratic Senators divided on Chief Justice nominee Judge John Roberts [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive], it appeared all but certain Wednesday that he would be confirmed as early as Thursday by a solidly bipartisan Senate vote. At least 76 senators – including 21 Democrats – have thusfar indicated they will support the 50-year-old Roberts, set to be the youngest chief justice on the Court since Chief Justice John Marshall [Oyez profile] took the center seat in 1801. At the same time, Democrats have warned President Bush that he should nominate a moderate to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor [Wikipedia profile]. Bush is expected to make that nomination [JURIST report] soon after Roberts is confirmed. The full Senate [official website] is scheduled to continue its week-long debate on Roberts' confirmation at 9:30 AM ET Thursday. Watch a live webcast of the session. 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.