France judge appointed to collect evidence concerning Syria war crimes News
France judge appointed to collect evidence concerning Syria war crimes

French judge Catherine Marchi-Uhel was appointed [press release] as Head of the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism on Monday to collect evidence concerning persons involved in Syrian war crimes over the last six years. Marchi-Uhel has experience in criminal law, transitional justice and human rights, and worked for the UN concerning various international affairs. Marchi-Uhel will gather evidence and prepare cases concerning suspected war crimes contributors, with the goal of taking the cases to trial.

This past December, the General Assembly created the Mechanism under resolution 71/248, describing it as the “International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.” The Mechanism is primarily charged [JURIST report] with “collecting, consolidating, preserving, and analyzing” evidence of human rights violations, and facilitating and expediting independent criminal proceedings in accordance with standards of international law. The Mechanism will work closely with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria [official profile], which was established by the UN Human Rights Council [official website] in 2011.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.