A new poll shows that sixty-one percent of Japanese voters support amending the country's US-drafted pacifist constitution but there is disagreement about how far Japan should move from its renunciation of war. Article 9 of the Japanese constitution renounces the right to keep a military or threaten military action. This is the second year in [...]

The two main parties in Mexico's Congress joined forces late Thursday to strip Mexico City's mayor Manuel Lopez Obrador of immunity so he can be charged with contempt of court, threatening his bid for the presidency in 2006 . The charges stem from a relatively minor land expropriation dispute and it is unclear if Lopez [...]

Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Friday, April 8. The US House opens its session at 10 AM ET today. Watch a live webcast. The US Senate is not in session. The University of South Carolina School of Law is hosting the 2005 Rudolph C. Barnes [...]

Ruling modifying publication ban, Justice John H. Gomery, Gomery Commission, April 7, 2005 . Excerpt: I am of the opinion that almost all of Mr. Brault's testimony and the documentation filed as part of his evidence have little to do with the accusations of fraud and conspiracy that he is facing. It is in the [...]

Resolution 1595, UN Security Council, April 7, 2005 . Read the full text of the resolution as incorporated in a UN press release. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Reforming UN Human Rights Machinery, address by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the UN Commission on Human Rights, April 7, 2005 . Excerpt: As you know, I have recommended that Member States replace the Commission on Human Rights with a smaller Human Rights Council. The Commission in its current form has some notable strengths. It [...]

Doe. v. Rumsfeld, US District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Emmet Sullivan, April 6, 2005 . Read the full text of the order . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

Justice John Gomery Thursday ordered a partial lifting of a publication ban prohibiting the dissemination of testimony provided on a sponsorship scandal that has created significant political problems for Canada's governing Liberal Party. Canadians had previously been barred from reporting any testimony to Gomery's judicial commission of inquiry by Quebec advertising executive Jean Brault so [...]

Will and spiritual testament of Pope John Paul II, as released in English full text translation from Polish and Italian by the Vatican press office, April 7, 2005: Excerpt: I leave no property behind me of which it is necessary to dispose. As for the everyday objects that were of use to me, I ask [...]

Leading Thursday's international legal news, the continuing dispute over how to remove former Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev has resulted in the postponement of the national elections originally scheduled for June. Akayev signed legal resignation papers Monday in Moscow, but the Kyrgyz Parliament has not yet accepted his resignation. Kyrgyz legislators are arguing over whether to [...]