AP is reporting that civil rights lawyer Lynne Stewart has been convicted of helping imprisoned Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman communicate with his terrorist followers. 3:45 PM ET – After 13 days of deliberation, a jury has convicted Stewart on charges of conspiracy, giving material support to terrorists and defrauding the US government for smuggling messages of [...]

AP is reporting that the US Senate has approved the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 , which will limit class action lawsuits. 3:54 PM ET – The Senate passed the bill, which will require multistate class action lawsuits to be brought in federal court, by a 72-26 vote. The House is expected to consider [...]

Ruling by the German Federal Prosecutor, February 10, 2005 . Read the press release on the ruling in German. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

The UK House of Lords Thursday granted the request of film director Roman Polanski that he be allowed to pursue a libel suit via video tape. Polanski is suing Vanity Fair magazine for libel in the UK, but doesn't want to travel to Britain for fear of being extradited to the US, where he is [...]

AP is reporting that the US House has approved the REAL ID Act , legislation aimed at preventing entry by terrorists into the country. The act sets regulations for the use of state driver's licenses by immigrants and facilitates deportation procedures. The White House gave approval to the legislation earlier Thursday. Read more about H.R.418 [...]

Saudi Arabian men went to the polls Thursday to vote in municipal elections around the country, marking the first elections ever held by the country. The election was for 127 local government seats around the country in the first of three local elections to be held through April. More than 1,800 candidates stood for the [...]

The Washington Post reported Thursday that allegations by Guantanamo Bay detainees that female soldiers at the military base used sexually suggestive tactics during interrogations of detainees have been confirmed by a Pentagon investigation. The women allegedly rubbed their bodies against the men, wore little clothing and touched them provocatively in an effort to obtain information, [...]

The Federal Communications Commission Thursday rejected a proposal that would have required cable providers to offer multiple digital channels from local broadcasters. Commissioners upheld by a 4-1 vote a 2001 regulation requiring cable operators to carry only one digital channel for each broadcaster. Broadcasters contended that the cable providers were trying to prevent competition against [...]

Some Canadian MPs have reported that they have been lobbied by US citizens and advocacy groups over – primarily against – pending federal legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage. Several legislators say they have received e-mails, phone calls and faxes from concerned Americans, while several US conservative groups have launched advertising campaigns in an attempt [...]

Russian president Vladimir Putin welcomed an international dialogue on human rights issues Thursday during a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour , but warned that rights issues should not be exploited for political and economic ends. Arbour is making her first visit to Russia in her UN role this week. During [...]