Ukraine opposition leader sworn in as new president News
Ukraine opposition leader sworn in as new president

[JURIST] Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko [campaign website in Ukrainian] was sworn in Sunday as the new president of Ukraine [official website in Ukrainian], succeeding the outgoing Leonid Kuchma. Yushchenko won a December 26 re-vote against opponent and former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych after the results of the original November 19 ballot favoring Yanukovych were thrown out by the country's Supreme Court following allegations of fraud. Yanukovych, asserting irregularities in the latest poll, exhausted his own appeals to the Supreme Court earlier this week but may still appeal to the European Court of Justice. Reuters has more. The Yushchenko campaign is issuing updates on the inaugural proceedings and provides a transcript of Yushchenko's inaugural address.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.