Ashcroft immunity ruling [9th Circuit] News
Ashcroft immunity ruling [9th Circuit]

Al-Kidd v. Ashcroft, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, September 4, 2009 [holding that John Ashcroft is not entitled to absolute and qualified immunity, thereby allowing an unlawful detention lawsuit by US citizen Abdullah Al-Kidd to go forward].

Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here. Latest commentary available here. JURIST has more on John Ashcroft.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Shoe-bomber sentenced to life in prison

On January 30, 2003, British-born Richard Reid was sentenced to life in a US prison for attempting to destroy an American passenger plane using a bomb hidden in his shoe. Reid attempted to ignite the explosive device on a flight leaving Miami International Airport bound for Paris on December 21, 2001. Before he could light the fuse, Reid was restrained by passengers and crew on board. Reid was convicted on eight counts, and sentenced to life plus 110 years in prison. Read a copy of the indictment in U.S. v. Reid.

Nixon aides convicted for Watergate burglary

On January 30, 1973, former Nixon aides G. Gordon Liddy and James W. McCord Jr. were convicted of conspiracy, burglary and wiretapping in connection with a politically-motivated break-in at the Watergate hotel.

Read more about Liddy and McCord from the Washington Post.