Australia PM says new anti-terror law will be in place by Christmas News
Australia PM says new anti-terror law will be in place by Christmas

[JURIST] The Australian Government and Prime Minister John Howard [official website] committed Sunday to passing new anti-terror laws before Christmas after weekend meetings to discuss a revised draft [JURIST report] of a proposed anti-terror bill. Howard gave premiers until Monday to respond to the revision after the initial Friday deadline passed, and hopes to introduce the final draft to the Australian parliament this week. Though the full details of the final draft have not been disclosed, the main terms include tough control orders and preventative detention, as well as a provision to give authorities the right to shoot-to-kill suspected terrorists [JURIST report]. The controversial bill has sparked free speech demonstrations outside Howard’s home, but Howard insists the legislation will not curb free speech. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.