17 states challenge Trump administration’s attempt to weaken Endangered Species Act News
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17 states challenge Trump administration’s attempt to weaken Endangered Species Act

Seventeen US states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The suit was brought in response to three rules that the states believe “undermine key requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act.” The ESA “protects more than 1,600 plant and animal species in the United States and its territories,” as well as many acres of land on which these species live.

In their complaint, the states claim that they are harmed by the proposed rule changes because of their “concrete interest in preventing harm to their natural resources.” They also claim that their procedural interests have been harmed in the making of these rules because there has been no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment of the full effect of these rules.

The states seek to have the court rule that the proposed rules are arbitrary and capricious and to have the court “[i]ssue a mandatory injunction requiring” that the proposed rules be withdrawn.

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.