Kenneth Lay conviction ruling [US DC] News
Kenneth Lay conviction ruling [US DC]

United States v. Lay, US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, October 17, 2006 [vacating the fraud and conspiracy conviction of Enron founder Kenneth Lay because he died before his sentencing date and therefore was not afforded an opportunity to exhaust the appeals process, and no final judgment was issued in the case]. Read the full text of the ruling [PDF] dismissing the indictment. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Trial of Saddam Hussein begins

On October 19, 2005, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was put on trial for crimes against humanity committed during his time in office. He was convicted and sentenced to death on November 6, 2006. The execution took place on the following December 30. Learn more about the Trial of Saddam Hussein from the US Law Library of Congress.

Stamp Act Congress approved Declaration of Rights

On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York in the wake of Parliament's passage of the controversial Stamp Act imposing a tax for the upkeep of British troops in North America, approved a Declaration of Rights enumerating the rights and grievances of the American colonies.