Saddam legal team trimmed to single lawyer as Jordan-based defense dissolved News
Saddam legal team trimmed to single lawyer as Jordan-based defense dissolved

[JURIST] The family of Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] said in a statement Monday that they have granted Khalil Dulaimi, an Iraqi lawyer already serving on his defense team, the exclusive right to represent the deposed Iraqi president, dissolving his earlier Jordan-based legal team. Dulaimi previously demanded that the Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST) punish a man for an alleged assault [JURIST report] on Hussein that took place at a hearing. Both the tribunal and the US deny such an incident occurred. No elaboration on the reasons for Dulaimi's selection was given in the statement disbanding the original legal team [AP report] which included former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark. BBC News has more.

In another development in the Saddam proceedings Monday, IST Judge Munir Hadad told Arabic television reporters that the trial of the former dictator will begin within two months. Hussein will be tried with a number of crimes, the first of which will be a case that centers on the 1982 execution of 150 Shiite men and youths in the town of Dujail [CBS news overview]. The incident occurred after Hussein escaped an assassination attempt in the village, and is expected to be a relatively easy win for prosecutors in light of pending genocide charges. If convicted, Hussein could face the death penalty. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.