War criminals seeking safe haven in Australia, ex-UN prosecutor says News
War criminals seeking safe haven in Australia, ex-UN prosecutor says

[JURIST] Former ICTY deputy prosecutor Graham Blewitt said Monday that Australia has become a safe haven for war criminals avoiding prosecution [ABC Radio interview, recorded audio]. Despite confessing to immigration officials about committing acts of torture, murder and rape, more than 30 suspected war criminals have been granted temporary residency in Australia by the Australian Immigration Department [official website]. Included in the list is a former bodyguard and family member of Saddam Hussein, Oday Adnan Al Tekriti [AFP report]. Tekriti, who was originally denied a visa because customs officials believed he was involved with crimes against humanity, was later granted temporary residency and has since married an Australian citizen, strengthening his claims for residency. Over the last ten years, war criminals from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Turkey and the former Yugoslavia, have been allowed to live in Australia until their lengthy appeal process was complete. The Sydney Morning Herald has local coverage. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.