Jeff Sessions confirmed as Attorney General News
Jeff Sessions confirmed as Attorney General

[JURIST] US Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) [official website] was confirmed [results] as Attorney General by a 52 to 47 vote on Wednesday, bringing to a close a contentious confirmation process. The committee hearing on his nomination included testimony on Sessions’ controversial history regarding race, but resulted ultimately in his being advanced [JURIST reports] by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sessions vowed after his confirmation to fulfill the duties of the office to the best of his abilities.

Sessions was nominated by President Donald Trump [JURIST report] last November, and his progression through the Senate Confirmation process has proven politically turbulent. This has been exacerbated with the removal of acting Attorney General Sally Yates upon her refusal to enforce [JURIST report] the recent executive order and immigration ban. The Republican senator and former US attorney had been the first senate member to support Trump [AP report] during his presidential campaign, and he later worked with Trump to construct immigration, trade and counterterrorism policies.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.