US Senate confirms Mukasey as attorney general in 53-40 vote News
US Senate confirms Mukasey as attorney general in 53-40 vote

[JURIST] The US Senate voted 53-40 [roll call] late Thursday evening to confirm former federal judge Michael B. Mukasey [WH profile; JURIST news archive] as the 81st attorney general of the United States. The nomination was backed by the Senate Judiciary Committee [JURIST report] earlier this week by an 11-8 vote. Much of the opposition to Mukasey's nomination [JURIST report] has centered on his refusal to unequivocally denounce waterboarding [JURIST news archive] as torture. Mukasey's supporters, however, have praised Mukasey's promises for greater Justice Department independence [JURIST report] from the executive.

After he is sworn in, Mukasey will succeed former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [JURIST news archive] whose resignation [JURIST report] took effect in September. Gonzales resigned from his post after months of controversy over the Justice Department's handling of the firings of eight US Attorneys [JURIST news archive] and subsequent allegations that he may have perjured himself [JURIST report] in testimony before Congress.


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.