US military sexual orientation dismissal ruling [9th Circuit] News
US military sexual orientation dismissal ruling [9th Circuit]

Witt v. Department of the Air Force, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, May 21, 2008 [holding that the US military cannot dismiss a service member based on their sexual orientation alone, signaling a significant challenge to the US military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy]. Read the full text of the opinion [text, PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt born

Carrie Chapman Catt, suffragist, womens' rights advocate and co-founder of the League of Women Voters, was born on January 9, 1859.

Visit the Carrie Chapman Catt Childhood Home.

Great Britain's first income tax introduced

On January 9, 1799, British Prime Minister William Pitt introduced Great Britain's first income tax. The tax was announced the previous December as a means of raising money for war against Napoleon. Pitt's successor, Henry Addington, repealed the tax when hostilities subsided in 1802. Addington then reinstated the tax during the following year when fighting was renewed. The Addington tax model later became the model for the modern British income tax. Learn about the history of income taxation in Great Britain from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs.