Former Canadian PM wants court to oust sponsorship inquiry chair News
Former Canadian PM wants court to oust sponsorship inquiry chair

[JURIST] Lawyers for former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien [CBC News profile] filed a motion in Canada's Federal Court [official website] Thursday to remove Justice John Gomery [CBC News profile] from the chairmanship of a judicial commission of inquiry [Gomery Commission website] investigating Chretien’s involvement in improper payments made by a defunct national unity program. Last month Gomery refused to step down after Chretien's lawyers alleged that he made comments in media interviews that displayed "a reasonable apprehension of bias". The formal court filing comes after an exchange between Gomery and a witness in which the Justice suggested there was "a conspiracy of silence" about the unity program that resulted in $100 million in contracts being awarded to advertising firms with close ties to Chrétien's Liberal Party. The filing asks the Federal Court to order Gomery to step down, but does not ask that proceedings be halted. Chretien testified before the inquiry last month [JURIST report]. Canadian Press 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.