Pentagon official stays Marine Corps general’s contempt conviction News
Pentagon official stays Marine Corps general’s contempt conviction

A Pentagon official on Friday ordered [POLITICO report] the release of a Marine Corps general, who was sentenced last week to 21-days confinement [JURIST report] to his quarters by Guantánamo Bay military commissions judge Air Force Col. Vance Spath.

Marine Brigadier General John Baker, acting as chief defense counsel, argues that his conviction is invalid due to a lack of authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009 [text, PDF]. He filed a petition in the US District Court for the District of Columbia seeking for his conviction to be voided.

Military Commissions Convening Authority Harvey Rishikof suspended the sentence pending its review, causing district judge Royce Lamberth to halt review of the petition.

The dispute arose from Baker’s refusal, after an order by Spath, to reverse the release of three civilian defense lawyers from the USS Cole [text] case. According to Baker, the authority to release war court lawyers lies with him.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.