DeLay steps down as House Majority Leader under legal cloud News
DeLay steps down as House Majority Leader under legal cloud

[JURIST] Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) [official website; JURIST news archive] announced in a letter [AP text] to rank-and-file Republican Representatives Saturday that he was formally stepping down as House Majority Leader [official website]. DeLay was forced to temporaily step aside last fall after he was indicted [JURIST report] on campaign finance charges in Texas, his home state. He had hoped to resume his duties after clearing his name, but the Texas proceeding has taken longer than anticipated and DeLay had recently come under pressure from other Republicans concerned about their own campaigns in the wake lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty pleas to conspiracy and fraud charges [JURIST report] last week. The White House issued a statement Saturday supporting DeLay’s decision. House Republicans will likely elect a new Majority Leader the week of January 30, when lawmakers return to the Capitol. In a separate letter [AP text] to Speaker Dennis Hastert [official website], DeLay maintained that he will seek re-election to his House seat in November. AP 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.