DOJ, DOD watchdogs pass up probes of NSA spying program News
DOJ, DOD watchdogs pass up probes of NSA spying program

[JURIST] US Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine [official profile] has forwarded a request to investigate President Bush’s authorization [JURIST report] of National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping on US residents [JURIST report] to the Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, citing a lack of jurisdiction to begin his own inquiry into the controversial program. On Tuesday the Pentagon’s inspector general also declined to open an investigation by forwarding a Democratic party request for an inquiry to his NSA counterpart. Increasing numbers of legal experts from both major political parties have raised questions about the legality of the domestic surveillance program and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) [official website] called for a congressional probe [JURIST report]; the House of Representative and Senate intelligence committees both plan to conduct their own investigations, with the Senate Judiciary Committee having already invited US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to testify in February [JURIST report]. President Bush said Wednesday that he had no objection [AP report] to the congressional probes so long as they did not disclose information to America's enemies. 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.