Mayfield Madrid bombings mistake settlement and apology [US DC] News
Mayfield Madrid bombings mistake settlement and apology [US DC]

Mayfield v. United States, US District Court for the District of Oregon, November 29, 2006 [agreement in which the US government agreed to pay $2 million to Brandon Mayfield, an Oregon attorney arrested and detained for two weeks in May 2004 after the FBI mistakenly established that his fingerprints matched those found on a bag containing detonators used in the 2004 Madrid terrorist train bombings]. Read the full text of the settlement [PDF]. Read the associated US Government apology [PDF}. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed as first female US Supreme Court justice

On September 21, 1981, the US Senate approved the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to the US Supreme Court by a vote of 99-0, making her the first female Supreme Court justice. Learn more about Justice O'Connor from Oyez.

Ferdinand Marcos declares martial law in the Philippines

On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081, implementing martial law in the Philippines. Marcos used the proclamation not only to suppress a communist insurgency but to eliminate political opponents as well. He remained in power until he was forced from office and into exile by the People Power Revolution in 1986.