Supreme Court hears arguments without Rehnquist News
Supreme Court hears arguments without Rehnquist

[JURIST] Chief Justice William Rehnquist remained at home Monday while the Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases. Rehnquist continues to work from home while he receives radiation and chemotherapy for thyroid cancer. Justice John Paul Stevens commented from the bench at this morning's court session that Rehnquist "is unable to be present but will participate in the consideration and discussion of the cases on the basis of the briefs and the transcripts of oral argument.” The Supreme Court heard arguments in Devenpeck v. Alford and Shepard v. United States (case summaries from Duke Law School). The Court also issued an order list Monday, but made no new grants of certiorari.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.