JURIST - This Day at Law

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Watergate burglary trial began (U.S.)

On January 8, 1973, seven men went on trial in Washington DC in connection with a June 17, 1972 break-in to Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate Hotel.

DOMESTIC_ONLY

Read more about the Watergate burglary and cover-up.

Link post | IM post | go to JURIST | © JURIST, 2004

France approves self-determination for Algeria (International)

On January 8, 1961, voters in France overwhelmingly approved self-determination for Algeria. By a 75% margin, French citizens voted in favor of a referendum, which allowed the colony of Algeria to determine its own future. On July 1, 1961, Algerians elected to become an independent nation by a near-unanimous margin.

French President Charles De Gaulle held the referenda to validate his controversial Algerian policies. In opposition to the demands of many of his generals and French settlers in Algeria, De Gaulle resolved to end the French-Algerian War by permitting Algerians to decide their own future. This decision led to revolts among French living in Algeria and a brief military revolt in Algeria. Read about the history of the French-Algerian War from Global Security.

Link post | IM post | go to JURIST | © JURIST, 2004

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

President Carter authorizes Chrysler bailout (U.S.)

On January 7, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-185) into law.

The Act granted to Chrysler $1.5 billion to save the company from bankruptcy. Twenty-eight years later in 2008, President George W. Bush authorized $17.4 billion to again bailout Chrysler in addition to the other two major American automobile manufacturers, Ford and General Motors.

Link post | IM post | go to JURIST | © JURIST, 2004

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Supreme Court heard New York Times v. Sullivan (U.S.)

On January 6, 1964, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the free speech/free press case of New York Times v. Sullivan.

Columbia Law School professor Herbert Wechsler argued for the petitioner. Listen to the oral arguments on Oyez, the Supreme Court multimedia database at Northwestern University.

Link post | IM post | go to JURIST | © JURIST, 2004

Monday, January 05, 2009

Dr. Benjamin Spock indicted for aiding draft dodgers

On January 5, 1968, a federal grand jury indicted child psychologist Dr. Benjamin Spock and several others for conspiring to aid draft dodgers.

Spock was tried and convicted, but his conviction was later overturned. Read United States v. Spock by the US First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Kent State shootings settlement reached (U.S.)

On January 4, 1979, the state of Ohio reached an out-of-court settlement with victims and relatives of victims shot by National Guardsmen at Kent State University on May 4, 1970.

Under the settlement, plaintiffs received $675,000. Learn more about the Kent State settlement.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Roman lawyer Cicero born (International)

The Roman lawyer Cicero was born on January 3, 106 BC.

Learn more about Cicero and read selections from his work On the Laws.