Connecticut lawmakers approve same-sex civil unions News
Connecticut lawmakers approve same-sex civil unions

[JURIST] The Connecticut Senate [official website] Wednesday voted 26-8 to approve legislation that would allow civil unions [SB 963 bill summary] for same-sex couples but specifically defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The Connecticut House [official website] has already approved the bill [JURIST report] and the measure will now go to Governor M. Jodi Rell [official website] for her signature. Rell has said she will sign the bill, making Connecticut the second state, after Vermont, to allow civil unions. AP has more.

5:48 PM ET – Wire services are reporting that Governor Rell has now signed the bill into law.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.