Illinois school moment of silence ruling [US DC] News
Illinois school moment of silence ruling [US DC]

Dawn S. Sherman, a minor, through Robert I. Sherman, her father and next friend, on behalf of herself and all other similarly situated, v. Township High School District 214, US District Court for the Northern of Illinois, January 21, 2009 [ruling that an Illinois state law requiring a moment of silence in public schools is unconstitutional]. Read the full text of the opinion [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Republic of Ireland Act enters force

On April 18, 1949, the Republic of Ireland Act went into force, creating a republic in the state of Ireland. The Act repealed the Executive Authority Act, which had given governing authority in Ireland to the King of England.

Treason charges against poet Ezra Pound dropped

On April 18, 1958, treason charges against American poet Ezra Pound, first laid in 1943 in connection with his wartime broadcasts for the Italian Fascist government of Benito Mussolini, were dropped.

Read Jonas Doberman, The Treason Debate: Ezra Pound and his Rome Radio Broadcasts[PDF].

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