Judge clears GOP challenge in WA gubernatorial election dispute News
Judge clears GOP challenge in WA gubernatorial election dispute

[JURIST] Washington State Superior Court Judge John E. Bridges ruled in favor of Republicans Friday by allowing a court challenge to proceed against election totals that resulted in last month's swearing in of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire [official website]. Gregoire was declared the winner of the state gubernatorial election by only 129 votes out of 2.9 million cast. While Democrats argue that any challenge should rest in the hands of the state Legislature, GOP candidate Dino Rossi [campaign website] and supporters contend that the election results, allegedly tainted with errors and fraud, should be thrown out and a new election should be ordered. Gregoire's rejected defense relied on a term in the WA state constitution stating that contested gubernatorial elections "shall be decided by the Legislature in such a manner as shall be determined by law." Judge Bridges, however, agreed with the Republicans that the words "as shall be determined by law," warranted court action. JURIST's Paper Chase has previous coverage of the dispute here. Read about Rossi's court actions. 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.