Federal civil commitment of sex offenders ruling [4th Circuit] News
Federal civil commitment of sex offenders ruling [4th Circuit]

United States of America v. Graydon Earl Comstock, Jr., US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, January 08, 2009 [ruling that Congress acted beyond its authority when it passed legislation authorizing indefinite civil commitments of "sexually dangerous" offenders beyond the end of their sentences.]. Read the full text of the opinion [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Eighteenth Amendment came into effect

On January 16, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution came into effect as scheduled one year after ratification, marking the beginning of Prohibition. Learn more about Temperance and Prohibition from Professor K. Austin Kerr of the Ohio State University Department of History.

English Parliament bans Roman Catholicism

On January 16, 1581, the English Parliament banned Roman Catholicism throughout the country during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. From that time on, Catholicism declined in England until the Catholic Emancipation of the late 18th century.

Read the history of the Roman Catholic Church in England.