Murder verdict opens door for death penalty sentence in Vermont News
Murder verdict opens door for death penalty sentence in Vermont

[JURIST] A jury found Donald Fell guilty for murder in federal court Friday allowing the jurors to next determine if he should receive the death penalty, which has not been applied in Vermont for nearly 50 years. In November 2000, Fell and his friend kidnapped Terry King in Vermont and killed her in New York, and because they crossed state lines with King, the case was brought in federal court [JURIST report]. Vermont has no death penalty under state law, but the federal charges for kidnapping with death resulting and carjacking with death resulting allow the jury contemplate a death sentence in the next phase of the trial. The sentencing process is expected to start Tuesday. From Vermont, the Burlington Free Press has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.