Federal judge impeached

For only the eighth time in US history a federal judge was impeached in the Senate yesterday. Judge Thomas Porteous, a federal judge in Louisiana, was impeached on all four charges of corruption including lying to Congress. See the BBC's reporting of the story and Politico's.

The Supreme Court opens today

The new Supreme Court justices of the UK Supreme Court are to be sworn in today. A 'milestone in British legal history' and one not to be missed by Politics students. See here for the President of the Supreme Court's comments and here for some pictures of the newly transformed building in Parliament Square.

Free tonight? NO2ID at Bourne Hall

If anyone has any time on their hands tonight, there is going to be quite an interesting debate at Bourne Hall in Ewell on civil liberties held by the pressure group NO2ID, see here. Speakers include the Justice Minister, Michael Wills and the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling. Do comment on the blog if you go!

The Judiciary in focus

Two news stories that will keep the judiciary in the news for some time. The last decision that the Law Lords have taken in their current home in the House of Lords is causing controversy - the Debby Purdy decision on assisted suicide. See the Channel 4 news excerpt here. Its move across Parliament Square in October as the newly formed Supreme Court will only highlight such decisions in the future. Secondly, the Iraq War Inquiry, to be headed by Sir John Chilcot will have political implications throughout its hearings, probably well into 2011, see the Channel 4 news story here.
And another thing - a good link here to the Guardian's special on the Human Rights Act.