Texas commutes death sentences of juvenile offenders News
Texas commutes death sentences of juvenile offenders

[JURIST] Following the March Supreme Court ruling [JURIST report] that juveniles may not be sentenced to death, Texas Governor Rick Perry [official website] has commuted the sentences [official press release] of 28 offenders to life in prison. They will be eligible for parole after 40 years. Twelve other US states have juveniles on death row [advocacy website]. The Houston Chronicle has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.