Supreme Court to rule on Jerusalem birthplace law News
Supreme Court to rule on Jerusalem birthplace law

[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] on Monday granted certiorari [order list, PDF] in three cases slated for argument during the October 2014 term. In Zivotofsky v. Kerry [SCOTUSblog backgrounder], the court will address the constitutionality of a federal statute requiring the Secretary of State, on request, to endorse US passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad of US citizens born in Jerusalem with “Israel” as the place of birth. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] found the statute unconstitutional on grounds that it “impermissibly infringe[d] on the [p]resident’s exercise of the recognition power.”

In Heien v. North Carolina [SCOTUSblog backgrounder], the court will address whether a police officer’s mistake of law can provide the individualized suspicion that the Fourth Amendment requires to justify a traffic stop. The North Carolina Supreme Court [official website] found that an officer’s mistaken but understandable view of the law can form the basis for reasonable suspicion

In Johnson v. United States [SCOTUSblog backgrounder], the court will address whether mere possession of a short-barreled shotgun should be treated as a “violent felony” under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] held that such possession is “violent” for purposes of the statute.

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.