Israel's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the country can recognize non-Orthodox conversions to Judaism not performed in Israel, a decision which challenges the Orthodox monopoly over Israili religious affairs. Up to this time, converts who sought Israeli citizenship needed an Orthodox rabbi to perform the conversion in Israel. Now, however, people who are converted by [...]

Myanmar's military junta announced Thursday that it has adjourned talks to draw up a new democratic constitution for the country. Military officials blamed high temperatures and the upcoming monsoon season for the closing of the National Convention, suggesting the talks will not restart until November at the earliest. Western critics have labelled the move a [...]

A military court in Germany Thursday found US Army Captain Rogelio "Roger" Maynulet guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of an Iraqi civilian last year, a lesser charge than that sought by military prosecutors who wanted him convicted of assault with intent to commit murder. The [...]

In what is expected to be the very last high court appeal by the parents of Terri Schiavo , the US Supreme Court late Wednesday rejected another petition to have Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted pending a legal review. The petition against a Wednesday Eleventh Circuit ruling refusing a full court rehearing of the case was [...]

Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Thursday, March 31. The US Senate and US House are in recess until April 4. The American Society of International Law is hosting a speech by Human Rights Watch Deputy Director Joanne Mariner on human rights in Sudan. Watch a [...]

Mahmoad Abdah, et al. v. Bush, et al., US District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Henry Kennedy, March 29, 2005 . Excerpt: Presently before the court is Petitioners' motion for a preliminary injunction. Asserting that Respondents have contemplated or are contemplating transferring them to the custody of foreign nations to be further detained [...]

Schiavo, et al. v. Schiavo, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, March 30, 2005 . Excerpt: The Court having been polled at the request of one of the members of the Court and a majority of the Circuit Judges who are in regular active service not having voted in favor of it [...]

Rhines v. Weber, Supreme Court of the United States, March 30, 2005 . Read the full text of the opinion here . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Exxon Mobil v. Saudi Basic Industries, Supreme Court of the United States, March 30, 2005 . Excerpt from the opinion by Justicde Ginsburg: ExxonMobil plainly has not repaired to federal court to undo the Delaware judgment in its favor. Rather, it appears ExxonMobil filed suit in Federal District Court (only two weeks after SABIC filed [...]

Smith v. City of Jackson, Supreme Court of the United States, March 30, 2005 . Read the full text of the opinion here . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.