Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage News
Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage

[JURIST] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [official website] has agreed to hear oral arguments on a request to block the court's May 17, 2004 ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health [PDF] that legalized same-sex marriage [JURIST Hot Topic news archive] in the state. The appeal, filed by The Thomas More Law Center on behalf of C. Joseph Doyle, the executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, calls for the decision on this issue to be determined by the "democratic processes outlined in the Commonwealth's Constitution rather than by the [court]". The decision to hear the appeal comes one week after the New York State Supreme Court ruled that state's ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution [JURIST coverage]. CNSNews.com has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.