China high court ex-vice president sentenced to life on corruption conviction News
China high court ex-vice president sentenced to life on corruption conviction

[JURIST] Former vice president of China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) [official website, in Chinese] Huang Songyou was convicted on bribery and embezzlement charges on Tuesday and sentenced to life imprisonment [Xinhua report]. Huang is the highest-ranking judge to be charged with corruption [China Daily report] since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Between 2005 and 2008, Huang allegedly embezzled 3.9 million yuan (about $574,000 USD) while serving as vice president of the SPC, and he allegedly embezzled 1.2 million yuan (about $175,000 USD) while serving as president of the Intermediate People's Court of Zhanjiang in 1997.

In August, the Communist Party of China (CPC) revoked [JURIST report] Huang's membership, following the corruption investigation. Huang was removed [JURIST report] from his position as vice president of the SPC in October 2008 by a vote of the legislators. In March, the SPC pledged to take steps to eliminate judicial corruption [JURIST report] with improved ethics education.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.