Jury selection begins in Moussaoui 9/11 sentencing trial News
Jury selection begins in Moussaoui 9/11 sentencing trial

[JURIST] Jury selection begins Monday in Virginia for the sentencing trial [court information for the public; case docket] of Zacarias Moussaoui [JURIST news archive] to determine if the al-Qaida follower should be given life in prison or a death sentence for his role in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks [JURIST news archive] on the US. Moussaoui, a French Muslim of Moroccan extraction, pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to six charges of conspiracy [indictment, text] in 2005; he admits knowing that al-Qaida had plans to fly planes into US buildings and that he traveled to the US to participate, but claims he never knew specifically of the Sept. 11 plan because his involvement was in another plot to fly into the White House. The jury selection process will begin with 500 potential jurors answering a questionnaire including inquiries about whether the individuals belong to the National Rifle Association [official website] or veterans groups, what bumper stickers they have on their cars, and what their favorite television shows are. Opening statements are scheduled to begin before US District Judge Leonie Brinkema in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia [official website] on March 6 after 12 jurors and six alternates are chosen. 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.