Kansas death penalty law ruling [Kansas SC] News
Kansas death penalty law ruling [Kansas SC]

Kansas v. Marsh, Supreme Court of Kansas, December 17, 2004 [ruling that the state's 1994 death penalty law is unconstitutional in providing that when juries weigh aggravating and mitigating factors in determining a sentence, a tie goes to the state]. Read the full text of the opinion here. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First German spy convicted for World War I espionage in the US

On August 16, 1918, Lothar Witzke was convicted of espionage by a military commission sitting at Ft. Sam Houston, becoming the first German spy convicted by the United States in World War I. Witzke was sentenced to hang, but President Wilson commuted the sentence on May 27, 1920. In 1922 Witzke was pardoned by President Coolidge and deported to Berlin. Learn more about the Mare Island sabotage.

Cyprus gains independence

On August 16, 1960, Cyprus became independent of the United Kingdom. In May 2004, Cyprus became a member of the European Union.
Read the constitution of Cyprus.