Violence, chaos at New Orleans jail after guards fled from Katrina, survivor says News
Violence, chaos at New Orleans jail after guards fled from Katrina, survivor says

[JURIST] Guards at a New Orleans jail fled their posts after Hurricane Katrina [JURIST news archive] struck, leaving prisoners behind in appalling conditions, according to Australian tourist interviewed [text] for the Sydney Sunday Telegraph. Ashley Macdonald was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and was thrown in jail just before the hurricane hit New Orleans. He described a chaotic situation lasting for four days where inmates were able to obtain or make weapons and two inmates locked in underground cells drowned. According to Macdonald, authorities only came to the rescue of the prisoners who were without food, water, toilets or power after inmates began escaping from the jail once the roof had been ripped off. The Orleans Parish Prison and other local jails were evacuated in the aftermath of the storm, and a temporary detention facility has been set up [JURIST report] at the city's Greyhound bus station. AFP has more.

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.