California court rejects electricity regulation initiative News
California court rejects electricity regulation initiative

[JURIST] California's Third District Court of Appeal [official website] ruled late Friday that Proposition 80 [PDF], a ballot initiative that would expand the power of the California Public Utilities Commission [official website], violated the state constitution and struck it from the November ballot. Because Article 12 {text] of the California Constitution gives plenary power to the Legislature to control PUC activity, the court held, a ballot initiative aimed at a statutory revision would violate the Constitution on its face. Both sides have promised an appeal. This was the second referendum rejected by a California court this week; the Superior Court rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Proposition 77 on redistricting [JURIST report] Thursday. AP has more. The University of California has in-depth coverage of energy policy in California.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Fyodor Dostoevsky sentenced to death

Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky was sentenced to death on November 16, 1849 over his involvement in the progressive Petrashevsky Circle of intellectuals. Dostoevsky and his codefendants were scheduled to be executed on December 22 of that year, but their execution was stayed by Tsar Nicholas I after the execution ritual had been carried out. Dostoevsky was sent to Siberia instead to serve a four-year sentence. Learn more about the mock execution of Dostoevsky.

Canada executed Metis leader for treason

On November 16, 1885, the Canadian government executed Metis leader Louis Riel for high treason in the wake of the "Northwest Rebellion" that had pitted the Metis (descendants of French traders and native tribes) in what is now Saskatchewan against Canadian troops. Although Riel has lately been rehabilitated as an Indigenous francophone patriot of the Canadian West, his trial and execution remain sore points between English and French Canada.

US President Nixon signs Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act

On November 16, 1973, US President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act into law. In addition to creating an oil pipeline across the state, the Act also quashed all environmental-legal challenges regarding its construction.