Mississippi felon voting ban subject of federal lawsuit News
Mississippi felon voting ban subject of federal lawsuit

Attorneys from the Southern Poverty Law Center [advocacy website] and New York City-based firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP [firm website] filed a federal lawsuit [complaint, pdf] Tuesday arguing that Mississippi’s disenfranchisement laws for people convicted of particular felonies, and the extensive process for restoring voting rights, is unconstitutional.

The suit alleges the Mississippi’s lifetime voting ban for certain crimes was a disenfranchisement scheme carefully created to disproportionately disenfranchise black voters, and that the law violates the Eighth Amendment [text] prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment as well as Section 2 of the

Latest DISPATCHES
Latest COMMENTARY
Latest FEATURES
THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.