Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he doesn't intend to change the Russian constitution or take more power for the presidency when reforming Russia's government structure. Putin said proposals in his reform package, which includes replacing elected governors with Kremlin nominees and moving to party-list elections to parliament, "are totally unconnected with any attempt [...]

The European Parliament voted 449-149 (with 82 abstentions) Thursday to approve the slate of incoming EU Commissioners as put forth by new Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso withdrew his original slate of commissioners from consideration by the European Parliament after Rocco Buttiglione, who was nominated for the EU justice portfolio, received harsh criticism for [...]

Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Thursday, November 18. On Capitol Hill, the US Senate will convene at 9:30 AM ET. Watch a live webcast (via C-SPAN)…. The US House will convene at 10 AM ET. Watch a live webcast (via C-SPAN)…. The US House Judiciary [...]

In Wednesday's environmental law news, the US has encouraged 13 other countries to join an international agreement to reduce methane emissions by trapping the gas and using it for power generation. The program, Methane to Markets, is an attempt to reduce methane emissions by up to 50 million metric tons annually by 2015. The EPA [...]

Three plaintiffs supported by the Kentucky Fairness Alliance have filed a lawsuit against Kentucky's recently-approved constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the grounds that it applies both to marriage and civil unions. The suit says that by not allowing voters to vote on the two aspects separately, the proposed ban violated constitutional provisions on how [...]

Cross examination of Disney CEO Michael Eisner began Wednesday in a shareholder suit against Walt Disney Co. over whether the executive board neglected its duty to shareholders in allowing former president Michael Ovitz to leave with a $140 million severance package after only 14 months of work. The case threatens to set a high-profile precedent [...]

Petco Animal Supplies has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the animal supply company's website violated federal law by misrepresenting privacy promises it made to its customers, the FTC announced Wednesday. The Commission said Petco did not take reasonable or appropriate measures to prevent hacker attacks, allowing access to consumer records and credit [...]

An Federal Communications Commission spokeswoman said Wednesday that the FCC has received a number of complaints about the opening scene of ABC's most recent airing of Monday Night Football. The agency may decide to investigate the incident, which could result in a maximum indecency fine of $32,500 per ABC affiliate. The scene, filmed the previous [...]

In Wednesday's corporations and securities law news, federal officials are investigating former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay's wife in connection with a $1.3 million Enron stock sale just days before the energy company went under. The couple's lawyer indicated the Lays learned about the investigation in circumstantial ways and have not been charged with anything as [...]

AP is reporting that House Republicans have adopted a change in rules that would protect re-elected GOP Majority Leader Tom DeLay from having to relinquish his party leadership post in the event of his indictment by a Texas grand jury. DeLay could face such an indictment in the wake of an ongoing investigation into campaign [...]