Pakistanis cheer suspended chief justice after two-day procession News
Pakistanis cheer suspended chief justice after two-day procession

[JURIST] Thousands of Pakistanis cheered in support of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry [profile] as he arrived in Faisalabad Sunday, completing a two-day procession from Islamabad. Speaking to the crowd, Chaudhry once again called for a more independent judiciary. He said: "The organs of the state cannot function properly unless there is separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution." About 60,000 supporters greeted Chaudhry on his 22-hour journey.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [official website] suspended [JURIST report] Chaudhry on March 9 "after receiving numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan." Many Pakistani lawyers and opposition leaders believe Chaudhry's suspension was an indirect bid by Musharraf to continue his eight-year rule in an election year. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.