In Tuesday's environmental law news, signatories of the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer meet this week to discuss the progress that has been made in the reduction of ozone depleting substances (ODS). It is expected that at least 17 developed countries will ask for an extension of the final phase [...]

Congress has approved a program that creates a federal copyright enforcement czar, as part of the omnibus spending bill passed over the weekend. Under the new legislation, the president can appoint a copyright law enforcement officer to coordinate federal agencies responsible for administering intellectual property law and law enforcement efforts to stop international copyright infringement. [...]

Three UN workers who were kidnapped in Afghanistan while helping to conduct the recent Afghan presidential election were released unharmed Tuesday morning. As previously reported on JURIST's Paper Chase, the hostage-takers had said they would release the UN workers in exchange for the release of 26 Afghan prisoners, some of whom are believed to be [...]

Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Tuesday, November 23. The US House and Senate are in recess. The US House will reconvene on Monday, December 6 at 2 PM. The US Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, December 7 at 9:30 AM. US Army General Paul Kern [...]

Dan Tokaji, Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University: "Taking Yogi Berra's words to heart, Ohio voting rights advocates have announced their plan to proceed with a contest of the election. This is in addition to the recount planned by the Green and Libertarian candidates, now reportedly to be joined by the Democratic Party as [...]

Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal issued a legal opinion Monday holding that supermarkets cannot collect sales taxes on prepared foods and must issue refunds to consumers that had been overtaxed. Prepared foods include the precooked items one can find at a deli counter, such as rotisserie chickens, sushi, or potato salad. If the supermarket has a [...]

The Mississippi Supreme Court Monday overturned a verdict that had netted a Mississippi man $80 million. Carroll V. Hood and his company had been awarded the money, which included $75 million in punative damages, in a breach of contract claim against three insurance companies: Titan Indemnity Co., United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. and St. [...]

Canadian Press is reporting that US officials on Monday started the final review of draft rules that would drop the existing trade barrier against Canadian beef products. The US banned the import of all Canadian cattle and beef after an Alberta cow tested positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, [...]

While campaigning on behalf of fellow members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has called for a new constitution for the island, one that "fits today's realities in Taiwan." President Chen said Sunday that constitutional changes were necessary to "protect human rights, boost government efficiency, and upgrade the country's competitiveness." China [...]

Hate Crimes Statistics 2003, Federal Bureau of Investigation, released November 22, 2004. Read the full text of the report here . Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.