JURIST - Paper Chase: Evening legal news brief - Ex-Enron executive and wife agree to guilty plea

Leading the legal news this evening, AP reports: "Former Enron Corp. finance chief Andrew Fastow and his wife, Lea, will plead guilty to charges Wednesday related to their roles in the stunning 2001 implosion of the once-envied energy company." AP has more.

In other legal news...

Court deals President Bush setback in air conditioner rules
Reuters reports: "A federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned a Bush administration decision to weaken energy-efficiency standards for new air conditioners."
Former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor indicted
AP reports: "A former South Carolina lieutenant governor turned investment executive was indicted Tuesday on 24 counts of securities fraud, the state attorney general said."
Court won't suspend Yellowstone snowmobiling decision during appeals
AP reports: "A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected requests to suspend a judge's order that curtailed snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park while it considers several appeals of his decision."
Judge denies Rep. Janklow's acquittal request
AP reports: "Rep. Bill Janklow's long-shot request to have his manslaughter conviction thrown out was denied by a judge Tuesday."
SEC says mutual funds made improper payments to brokers
NYTimes.com reports: "Opening a new front in the investigations into the mutual fund industry, federal officials reported today that they had uncovered widespread instances of brokers being illicitly compensated by the funds for promoting them."
Man charged with falsely accusing relatives of being terrorists
AP reports: "A man was charged Tuesday with falsely accusing his relatives of being terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden in a series of anonymous calls to federal agents."

In international legal news...

Milosevic's war crimes trial continues
AP reports: "Slobodan Milosevic returned to court Tuesday and scoffed at the testimony of a Serbian reporter as U.N. prosecutors entered the final weeks of their attempt to prove the former Yugoslav president committed war crimes."
Rumsfeld believes a US military trial of Saddam unlikely
Reuters reports: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday called a U.S. military trial of Saddam Hussein unlikely but did not rule it out, and said the United States reserved the right to change his prisoner-of-war legal status."
Major test for Iran's reformers
The Christian Science Monitor reports: "Sweeping moves by Iranian hard- liners to disqualify reform opponents before next month's key elections are sparking a political crisis that could lead to the resignation of President Mohamad Khatami's government."
Israeli Prime Minister faces opposition on boundary plan
AP reports: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced stiff opposition as he promised to seek parliamentary approval and consult with the United States before imposing what he calls a temporary boundary on the Palestinians."

That's all for now. Check back after 10 AM ET tomorrow for the AM legal news brief on JURIST's Paper Chase.