Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Wednesday, Feb. 16. The US Senate convenes at 9:30 AM ET today, and it will consider S. 384, the Nazi War Crimes Working Group Extension Act. Watch a live webcast of proceedings. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is [...]

In re: Grand Jury Subpoena, Judith Miller, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Circuit Judge Sentelle, February 15, 2005 .Excerpt: e agree with the District Court that there is no First Amendment privilege protecting the evidence sought. We further conclude that if any such common law privilege exists, it is [...]

The US Senate late Tuesday afternoon approved the nomination of federal appeals judge Michael Chertoff as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The vote, originally scheduled for last week, had been delayed while Senate Democrats unsuccessfully sought further information on an FBI internal memo written in 2004, after Chertoff had left the [...]

The European Court of Justice ruled Tuesday that a merger between Tetra Laval and Sidel can proceed over the objections of the European Commission's antitrust office . The decision is one of the first setbacks to the EU's antitrust division and is expected to reduce its influence somewhat. In its opinion, the court said the [...]

Microsoft has denied reports in the Danish media that Chairman Bill Gates threatened the Danish prime minister that the company would eliminate jobs in the country if it did not back an EU patent law proposal. Danish publication Børsen reported Tuesday that Gates told Danish Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen that he would move jobs from [...]

The Iranian Judiciary Tuesday denied accusations by Nobel Prize winning lawyer Shirin Ebadi that it had harassed her and placed restrictions on her representation of political prisoners. A judiciary spokesman said that no restrictions were placed on Ebadi, and that Iranian citizens had a right to legal advice from lawyers, including Ebadi. Ebadi said Monday [...]

Leading Tuesday's corporations and securities law news, the judge in the trial of former Enron Chairman Ken Lay and ex-Chief Executive Jeff Skilling is asking defense attorneys and prosecutors for potential scheduling conflicts between June and September. The dates indicate the judge is eyeing a summer start for the trial. Defense attorneys are already citing [...]

The Russian Supreme Court Tuesday rejected a petition for the legalization of same-sex marriage. In its opinion, the court held that it could not alter the Russian Family Code to allow for same-sex marriages. The plaintiffs in the case filed for a marriage certificate in January in Moscow, but were rejected because same-sex marriages are [...]

The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it will create an independent drug safety board, in response to criticism in the wake of the Vioxx recall. The FDA already has an Office of Drug Safety , but lawmakers have said it lacks sufficient independence and resources. The proposed board would include representatives from the [...]

President Bush Tuesday recalled the US ambassador in Syria amid rising tensions over the recent assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut. Syria quickly condemned the murder in a press release issued by its US embassy in Washington, but the White House has publicly criticized Syria's ongoing military presence in Lebanon. US [...]