UPDATE ~ Jury seated for Abu Ghraib trial News
UPDATE ~ Jury seated for Abu Ghraib trial

[JURIST] Following up on a report this morning in JURIST's Paper Chase, jury selection came to a close Friday after the seating of a 10-man jury in the military trial of Spc. Charles Graner, named by prosecutors as the ringleader of the alleged prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. The jury, consisting of four officers and six enlisted men, must return seven votes of guilty to warrant the conviction of Graner on the charges of conspiracy to maltreat detainees, assault, dereliction of duty. The jury selection process resulted in the dismissal of two prospective jurors, including Col. Allen Batschelet, who was excused when he told the judge that he was embarrassed to be an Army officer upon seeing the photos. With the jury selection completed, opening statements in Graner's case are scheduled to begin Monday. While Graner's trial is the first, three other soldiers face related prisoner abuse charges. AP has more.

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.