Fred Korematsu, famed Japanese-American civil rights activist, dies at 86 News
Fred Korematsu, famed Japanese-American civil rights activist, dies at 86

[JURIST] Civil rights activist Fred Korematsu [InfoPlease profile] has died at daughter's home in California. The American-born son of Japanese immigrants who passed away Wednesday is best remembered for defiantly refusing to voluntarily submit himself to US internment camps during World War II. His conviction for violating the order to surrender to officials was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 1944 in the notorious Korematsu v. United States [text] ruling that some legal scholars have called the worst decision ever been handed down by the high court. Korematsu's conviction was ultimately overturned in 1983, and he was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom [Medal of Freedom citation] by President Clinton, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.