UPDATE ~ Judge in Lynndie England abuse case refuses to step down News
UPDATE ~ Judge in Lynndie England abuse case refuses to step down

[JURIST] Military judge Col. James Pohl has declined a request by lawyers [JURIST report] for US Army Pfc. Lynndie England [JURIST news archive; Wikipedia profile] to step down from her Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse case. Defense lawyers claimed that Pohl asked inappropriate questions while presiding over the first trial, which ended in a mistrial as the answers contradicted statements from England. Pohl rejected this claim, saying, "It was not the questions that caused the problems. It was the answers." AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.