SCOTUS postpones oral argument over Mueller report and adds two police conduct cases to docket News
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SCOTUS postpones oral argument over Mueller report and adds two police conduct cases to docket

The US Supreme Court announced Friday that it would delay oral argument in Department of Justice v. House Committee on the Judiciary, a case involving a dispute over censored information contained in the redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The request to postpone the oral argument was filed on November 17 by the House Committee on the Judiciary, citing the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and the new Congress that will convene in the first week of January as reasons to postpone. Oral argument was originally scheduled for December 2.

In addition to granting a delay, the Supreme Court Friday granted certiorari for two cases focusing on alleged police misconduct, Caniglia v. Strom and United States v. Cooley.

The Court will be focusing on issues with Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure in Caniglia v. Strom, which arose after Rhode Island police confiscated Caniglia’s guns without a warrant while performing community caretaking duties. United States v. Cooley centers on whether a tribal police officer has the authority to detain and search a non-Native American on a public right-of-way for violations of state or federal law that were not apparent or obvious. This case comes after an officer of the Crow Tribe arrested Cooley in Montana in 2016 for illegal possession of drugs and guns.

Caniglia v. Strom and United States v. Cooley are expected to be argued in early 2021.

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.