Sen. Patrick Leahy , ranking Democrat on the US Senate Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday that he will support the confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States. 11:34 AM ET – In his statement to the Senate , Leahy expressed disappointment with the administration for failing to properly consult the Senate on [...]

In Wednesday's environmental law news, the European Commission will introduce a package of measures aimed at improving air quality. In July, the Commission shelved its initial air quality plans, which were criticized as being too costly. The plans have been amended, and are expected to be less expensive to implement. Reuters has more. In other [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has granted a stay of US District Court Judge Janet Hall's decision to lift the gag order imposed on plaintiffs suing the government over an FBI order issued under the Patriot Act. The ruling, issued late Tuesday, will prevent the unidentified library plaintiffs represented by the [...]

The Australian government said Wednesday it was pleased with the US decision to resume military commission proceedings against Australian Guantanamo detainee David Hicks in light of a US federal appeals court ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld . In a radio interview, Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock said it was appropriate that the trial should proceed [...]

Iraqi ex-president Saddam Hussein will not be allowed to represent himself at trial, according to new procedural rules adopted by the National Assembly . Under the new rules adopted late last month, the rights of all defendants appearing before the Iraqi Special Tribunal were altered, allowing defendants only to "procure legal counsel of ." Under [...]

Susette Kelo, whose case led to the June US Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. New London , where the court held local governments can take homes for private development, urged the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday to end government involvement in these seizures and protect people's homes. The panel is considering proposals to bar federal [...]

The European Court of First Instance Wednesday ruled that the European Union can freeze the assets of suspected terrorists under its treaty powers . The court dismissed complaints from alleged al Qaeda associates, Yassin Abdullah Kadi, Ahmed Ali Yusuf, and the Al Barakaat International Foundation, who had their bank accounts blocked by the EU. The [...]

Iranian Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh said Wednesday that Tehran does not plan to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty , despite threats from its nuclear negotiator Tuesday. Iran , which has opposed the attempts of the US and Europe to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for alleged failures and breaches of the treaty, met [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Scott Gerber of Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law says that while Judge John Roberts, Jr., President Bush's nominee for Chief Justice of the United States, may have trouble building consensus on the fractured US Supreme Court, it is unlikely any lower court appellate judge could do better… First things first. [...]

The Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and other gun control advocates are gearing up to block a Michigan bill that would allow people to use deadly force for self-defense. Earlier this year, the groups were unable to block similar legislation in Florida . The National Rifle Association is working for the deadly-force legislation to [...]