Nevada ban on criminals profiting from biographies held unconstitutional News
Nevada ban on criminals profiting from biographies held unconstitutional

[JURIST] The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that a law prohibiting criminals from profiting from sales of their memoirs controverted constitutional rights to free speech. The so-called "Son of Sam" law was deemed too broad, despite the state's compelling interests in preventing profiteering for criminal misconduct and compensating victims of crime. Justice Maupin wrote in the Tuesday opinion that "the primary impediment to [the law's] validity stems from its potential application to works only partially or tangentially related to the crime committed," and would therefore unduly limit free speech. The full text of the Nevada Supreme Court opinion can be found here. The Las Vegas Sun 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.