Federal judges, ABA slam death penalty appeals proposal News
Federal judges, ABA slam death penalty appeals proposal

[JURIST] The Judicial Conference of the United States [official website], the policy making body for federal judges, and the American Bar Association (ABA) [group website] have sent a letter [PDF text] to US Senate Judiciary Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) opposing proposed legislation that would limit death penalty appeals. The proposed Streamlined Procedures Act [text], is designed to stop ongoing delays between convictions and executions in capital cases and is based on the premise that the restrictions on appeals passed by Congress in 1996 have proven to be inadequate. An earlier letter [PDF text] from the ABA to the Judiciary Committee highlighted concerns that the proposal could prevent federal courts from considering claims if a state court has found no constitutional error. The letter asserted that the effect of the bill would effectively demolish federal court review of habeas corpus [LectLaw definition] protections and demanded a hearing before the bill was passed. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Thursday. Wednesday's Los Angeles Times 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.