Nepal high court wants review of judiciary role in interim constitution News
Nepal high court wants review of judiciary role in interim constitution

[JURIST] The Nepal Supreme Court [official website] decided Sunday to ask that the country's government revisit twelve separate portions of the temporary constitution [eKantipur highlights; JURIST news archive] on the country's judicial branch. The court's concern stems from the document's posture on judicial independence, especially the clause that gives the Prime Minister sole discretion in appointing the Chief Justice. The constitution had been scheduled for finalization [JURIST report] in mid-January following approval by Nepal's House of Representatives.

Last month, Nepalese government negotiators and Maoist rebels reached an agreement [JURIST report] on the 168 articles of the interim constitution to replace Nepal's current constitution [text] following the agreed end of the decade-long Maoist guerilla insurgency against the Nepalese government that left over 13,000 people dead. DPA 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.