Nigeria lawyers strike to protest government disregard of court judgments News
Nigeria lawyers strike to protest government disregard of court judgments

[JURIST] Nigerian lawyers have begun a two-day boycott of the country's courts in protest at what they say is "failure of the government to comply with court orders and the violation of human rights." Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) [profession website] President Lanke Odogiyon says that disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria [JURIST news archive] is reminiscent of the country's military dictatorship and that the NBA wants to demonstrate the effects of a legal system that ceases to function. As next year's general elections approach, the NBA wants to be sure the government will respect court judgments, as Nigerian political battles often end up in the court system.

The Nigerian government has also been reticent in following international legal directives. Thusfar it has rejected UN demands [JURIST report, Reuters article] for the extradition of former Liberian president Charles Taylor [PBS profile] whom the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone [official website] has indicted for war crimes. BBC News 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.