AG confirmation vote delayed pending action on human trafficking bill News
AG confirmation vote delayed pending action on human trafficking bill

[JURIST] US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) [official website] on Sunday halted the confirmation vote on Attorney General Nominee Loretta Lynch [official profile] until the Senate passes the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 [text]. The vote on bill came to a standstill when senators read anti-abortion language within the act. The provision of the act bars money obtained through the victims fund from being used to pay for abortions. Democrats have said they will not budge until the restrictive language is removed. Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, said [press release], “[t]here is nothing stopping the Senate from confirming Lynch and continuing to debate the trafficking bill this week, except Senator McConnell’s unwillingness to bring her nomination up for a vote.” President Barack Obama chose Lynch as the successor to Eric Holder four months ago.

Senate confirmations hearings for Lynch took place [JURIST report] in late January. Obama formally nominated [JURIST report] Lynch to serve as the next attorney general in November.

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.