Prosecutor criticizes report clearing US Marine of Iraqi murder charges News
Prosecutor criticizes report clearing US Marine of Iraqi murder charges

[JURIST] A senior military prosecutor on Wednesday took the unusual step of publicly criticizing a military investigator's recommendation not to court-martial [JURIST report] 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano [defense website] for the deaths of two Iraqis during a search for a terrorist hideout. Maj. Stephen Keane, senior trial counsel for the Marines, said that prosectors at Pantano's Article 32 hearing earlier this month made a valid case that the shootings were unnecessary. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Jamaica achieves full independence

On February 9, 1962, Jamaica left the Federation of the West Indies, becoming a fully-independent nation for the first time in its history. The country did, however, remain a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Read the Constitution of Jamaica from the Georgetown University archives.

First US federal anti-narcotics legislation passed

On February 9, 1909, Congress passed the first federal legislation prohibiting narcotics. The "Act to Prohibit Importation and Use Of Opium" barred the importation of opium at other than specified ports and for other than medicinal use.

US House elects John Quincy Adams President

The US House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as President of the United States on February 9, 1825 after no candidate won a majority of electors in the 1824 presidential election. Adams prevailed by a 13-7-4 vote even though future President Andrew Jackson won more electors than him the previous November. The Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution requires the House to determine the president if nobody secures a majority of electors. Learn more about the Election of 1824.