NY appeals court overturns decision allowing same-sex marriage News
NY appeals court overturns decision allowing same-sex marriage

[JURIST] A New York appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that would have allowed a same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive] in New York City. Earlier this year, New York City Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan had ruled [PDF opinion; JURIST report] in favor of five gay couples complaining that the state's domestic relations law violated their equal protection and due process rights under the New York constitution [text]. Ling-Cohan said that the words "husband," "wife," "groom" and "bride," as they appear in the domestic relations law, should be defined to apply equally to men and women. The appeals court overturned this ruling Thursday in a 4-1 decision [text], saying that Ling-Cohan's decision "was an act that exceeded the court's constitutional mandate and usurped that of the Legislature." The court said it is not up to judges to redefine terms that are given clear meaning in a statute. 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.