Alito committee vote postponed until January 24 News
Alito committee vote postponed until January 24

[JURIST] Senate leaders announced late Monday that a US Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito [JURIST news archive] which could have taken place as early as Tuesday will be postponed by a week until January 24, with consideration by the full Senate to follow immediately afterwards. Ranking Democrat Sen. Patrick Leahy said [press release] that he and committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter had reached an agreement over the weekend that "allows all Senators, Republicans and Democrats, to conclude Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday events without having to rush back to Washington before the Senate returns to session." Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist slammed the delay in a statement, however, calling it "unjustified and desperate partisan obstructionism" on the part of Democrats. The additional week will nonetheless give Judge Alito more time to answer written questions from the committee and theoretically allows senators more time to reflect, although the nomination is expected to be readily approved without any filibuster [JURIST report]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.