Former Pakistan justice calls reconstituted top court unconstitutional News
Former Pakistan justice calls reconstituted top court unconstitutional

[JURIST] Former Supreme Court of Pakistan [official website] justice Rana Bhagwandas [JURIST news archive] Thursday told the Lahore High Court Bar Association that the Supreme Court as currently constituted is unconstitutional, and that its ruling [JURIST report] supporting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's November 3 declaration of emergency rule [JURIST report] is invalid. Bhagwandas said only a two-thirds majority by both houses of parliament would validate the declaration of emergency.

Bhagwandas and other justices were ousted from the court and detained under effective house arrest [JURIST reports] last November for refusing to take oaths under the Provisional Constitution Order [text as amended]. Musharraf subsequently named other justices and a new chief justice to take their place. The Khaleej Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First US execution by gas

On February 8, 1924, Gee Jon, a Chinese man convicted of murder, was executed by gas in Nevada and became the first person in the United States to be put to death in that manner.

The Nevada state legislature had eliminated hanging and shooting as a method of execution in 1921, and had provided for execution by lethal gas instead. Nevada sent 32 convicts to the gas chamber between 1924 and 1979. Learn more about the history of executions by gas in Nevada.

Mary, Queen of Scots executed

On February 8, 1587, Mary I of Scotland was executed for involvement in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England. Before execution, Mary denied three times assisting the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, and crown Mary as ruler of Great Britain. Mary's guilt or innocence is debated to this day. Learn more about the Babington Plot.