Sierra Leone tribunal seeks additional funding from UN News
Sierra Leone tribunal seeks additional funding from UN

[JURIST] Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola [profile], President of the Special Court of Sierra Leone [official website], the tribunal created by the UN to hear cases of serious crimes committed during the West African country's civil war, warned [SCSL statement, PDF] the UN Security Council Tuesday that the court was close to financial crisis. The justice asked for $40 million in financial support and urged the Council [press release] to assist in maintaining security and securing the transfer of indictees still at large, including former Liberian President Charles Taylor [BBC profile], and the leader of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Paul Koroma. Council members expressed [statement by Security Council President Ellen Margrethe Loj] their strong support of the court and urged other UN states to make voluntary contributions. UN News Centre 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.