Bush presses Congress for prompt vote on Patriot Act renewal News
Bush presses Congress for prompt vote on Patriot Act renewal

[JURIST] During his weekly radio address [transcript] Saturday, President George W. Bush urged Congress to limit debate on the bill [summary] reauthorizing sections of the Patriot Act [PDF text; JURIST news archive] and vote soon on the compromise [JURIST report] announced by House and Senate Republicans on Thursday. The President lauded the original Act, saying it "allowed federal investigators to pursue terrorists with the same tools they already use against other criminals. For example, before the Patriot Act, it was easier to track the phone calls of a drug dealer than the phone calls of a terrorist. Before the Patriot Act, it was easier to get the credit card receipts of a tax cheat than those of an al Qaeda bankroller." The bill reauthorizes roving wiretaps and FBI access to library and business records for another four years, allows courts to review issuances of National Security Letters (NSL) [PDF sample text; ACLU backgrounder] and permits NSL recipients to consult a lawyer before complying. Reuters 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.