Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage News
Massachusetts Supreme Court to reconsider same-sex marriage

[JURIST] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [official website] has agreed to hear oral arguments on a request to block the court's May 17, 2004 ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health [PDF] that legalized same-sex marriage [JURIST Hot Topic news archive] in the state. The appeal, filed by The Thomas More Law Center on behalf of C. Joseph Doyle, the executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, calls for the decision on this issue to be determined by the "democratic processes outlined in the Commonwealth's Constitution rather than by the [court]". The decision to hear the appeal comes one week after the New York State Supreme Court ruled that state's ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution [JURIST coverage]. CNSNews.com has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.