Roberts wraps up final day of testimony in confirmation hearings News
Roberts wraps up final day of testimony in confirmation hearings

[JURIST] US Chief Justice nominee John Roberts [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] finished his fourth and final day of confirmation testimony Thursday morning by declaring "I am not an ideologue," adding that ideologues do not belong on the court. Though Roberts' views were again challenged by Democrats, it appears increasingly likely that he will be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] in a vote scheduled for next week and then confirmed by the full Senate in time for the opening of the Supreme Court's 2005-2006 term in October. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) [official website] and other Democrats questioned Roberts Thursday about memos he wrote as an lawyer in the Reagan administration that advocated a narrow application of civil rights laws. Roberts claimed his memos reflected White House policies rather than his own views. Read a transcript of Thursday's hearing. Following the conclusion of Roberts' testimony, the Judiciary Committee is now hearing from several other witnesses [witness list and prepared testimony] on the nomination. 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.