New UK law enforcement bill to formalize practice of witness immunity News
New UK law enforcement bill to formalize practice of witness immunity

[JURIST] A bill to establish a new FBI-style security agency in the UK being considered Wednesday will also formalize and encourage the practice of offering witnesses immunity from prosecution. Ministers hope that by formalizing the practice, more people will be willing to testify for the government. A Home Office report earlier this year found that plea deals with the government, known as Queen's evidence, were only used in less than 1 percent of drug trafficking cases. The practice was used in about 26 percent of cases in the US. The bill was announced as part of the Queen's speech, opening the 2004-2005 session of Parliament. Read the Serious Organized Crime and Police Bill [PDF]. The security agency created by the legislation will be the Serious Organized Crime Agency. The Guardian has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.