California water regulators propose $1.5 million fine News
California water regulators propose $1.5 million fine

[JURIST] California drought regulators on Tuesday proposed [press release] a first-of-its-kind $1.5 million fine against an irrigation district that allegedly took water illegally. The State Water Resources Control Board [official website], a subset of the California Environmental Protection Agency [official website], proposed the draft Administrative Civil Liability Complaint [notice, PDF] against the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District [official website] for continuing to divert water for nearly two weeks after a June 12 notice [press release] that banned water diversion due to an insufficient supply. The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District has 20 days after receiving the complaint to request a hearing. If no hearing is requested, the Stat Water Board plans to impose the fine. This is the first drought-related enforcement complaint served this year on a senior water rights holder, meaning those dating from 1903 to 1914.

California’s water restriction has been an issue for several years while the state faces one of its most severe droughts on record. On April 1, California Governor Jerry Brown [official website] issued Executive Order B-29-15 [text, PDF], which mandates water-use restrictions throughout the state and which will remain in effect through February 28, 2017. JURIST Guest Columnist Griffen Thorne, Student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, argued that the legal framework these restrictions establish could produce lasting effects [JURIST op-ed] in the state by incentivizing water reductions and innovation. The order also incentivizes investment in energy-efficient technology, in a step towards ensuring that future generations of Californians will have better access to water. In May the State Water Board approved new rules [JURIST report] limiting how water may be used during the state’s drought.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.