Georgia to appeal same-sex marriage ban ruling News
Georgia to appeal same-sex marriage ban ruling

[JURIST] Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue [official biography] said Wednesday that the state will appeal [press release] a judge's ruling [order, PDF; JURIST report] that a voter-approved amendment banning same-sex marriage [text] is unconstitutional. Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker [official website] said he would seek an expedited review. Baker noted that even though the constitutional amendment was struck down, a statute [text] banning same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive] is not affected by the court's Tuesday ruling.

Furthermore, if the Georgia Supreme Court [official website] does not rule on the ban by August 7 or doesn't overturn the decision, Perdue plans to call a special session of the General Assembly [official website] to write a new constitutional amendment that can be placed on the ballot in November. AP has more. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has local coverage.

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.