The US Justice Department is reporting that the number of people sentenced to death in the United States reached a 30-year low in 2003. Last year, 144 inmates in 25 states were given the death penalty, which is not only 24 fewer than in 2002 but less than half the average of 297 between 1994 [...]

The Hungarian parliament has rejected a proposal to keep its 300 non-combat troops in Iraq until March 31, 2005. The troops were to stay in Iraq until December 31. The Socialist-led government wanted to extend the mission of the transport contingent serving since mid-2003 in Hillah, south of Baghdad, until after Iraq's elections scheduled for [...]

Mark Godsey, University of Cincinnati College of Law: "An article that appeared last year in the Atlantic Monthly about clemency memos written by Alberto R. Gonzales to George Bush while he was Governor of Texas is of renewed importance after Bush last week nominated Gonzales to take Ashcroft's post as AG. The article deals with [...]

Human Rights Watch Monday called on the United Nations Security Council to act quickly to end ethnic cleansing in Sudan's Darfur region. The group is requesting an arms embargo and travel sanctions on Sudanese officials for their failure to disarm the Janjaweed militias. Six other aid agencies have also called for immediate action, saying previous [...]

A report released Monday by the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) says that lawyers' contingent fees in medical malpractice cases are essential in preserving access to justice, and that proposed limitations being considered in Florida and elsewhere risk compromising the availability of the courts to individuals. Among its findings, the [...]

In Monday's corporations and securities law news, Dow Jones & Co. has settled a defamation suit with Australian mining magnate Joe Gutnick. The suit arose out of an online publication of a story which portrayed Gutnick as a schemer given to fraud. This is considered a groundmaking case in Australia as the nation's Supreme Court [...]

American Express announced Monday that it is suing fellow credit card giants Visa and MasterCard, along with eight banks, alleging anticompetitive practices which prevented American Express from issuing credit cards through US banks. American Express said that it would seek damages "in the billions of dollars." In October, the Supreme Court denied hearing an appeal [...]

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey submitted his letter of resignation on Monday. The letter simply reads, "Dear Madam Secretary, I resign effective 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 15, 2004." Aides reported that McGreevey's last day in office was expected to be quiet. The governor is not expecting to grant pardons or conduct other state business. [...]

A Florida state judge issued an injunction Monday preventing a newly-approved constitutional amendment from coming into effect. Amendment 8, approved this month by 70 percent of voters, would cancel the license of any doctor who commits three acts of medical malpractice. The Florida Hospital Association sued to block the amendment until aspects of it can [...]

Reuters is reporting that Boeing's former CFO has pleaded guilty to aiding in the illegal hiring of an Air Force official. 12:10 PM ET – Former Boeing CFO Michael Sears pleaded guilty to a single count of aiding and abetting illegal employment negotiations. Boeing hired a top Air Force procurement officer who has admitted she [...]