Saddam Hussein confirms sacking of legal team News
Saddam Hussein confirms sacking of legal team

[JURIST] In a meeting Tuesday with his lawyer and the judge investigating charges against him, ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] confirmed that he has reduced his legal team to one lawyer. As previously claimed in a statement by Hussein's family [JURIST report], Hussein said that he will now be represented by Iraqi Khalil Dulaimi, formerly a member of his large Jordan-based legal team. The Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website] had initially blocked the Hussein family's attempt to disband his legal team [JURIST report], saying that only Hussein himself has the authority to do so. Hussein's family is expected to select a new group of lawyers to represent him before his trial is expected to begin within the next two months. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.