California man found guilty under new sex tourism law News
California man found guilty under new sex tourism law

[JURIST] A judge in California has found an 86-year-old man guilty of "sex tourism," specifically traveling to the Philippines to sexually molest girls in violation of a new federal law aimed at protecting children. John W. Seljan was the first to go on trial under the Protect Act (Prosecuting Remedies and Tools Against the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003) and is one of only a dozen men who have been arrested under the legislation making it easier to prosecute people who molest children overseas. Two other men have pled guilty to violating the Act. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.