President Bush close to picking next Supreme Court nominee News
President Bush close to picking next Supreme Court nominee

[JURIST] White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said [official transcript] Tuesday that President Bush is close to completing the process of picking the next Supreme Court nominee. According to McClellan, the President has met with 50 Senators, including all but one member of the US Senate Judiciary Committee [members roster]. He is currently expected to announce his choice to replace retirring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor [Wikipedia profile], shortly after the Senate votes on confirming Judge John Roberts, Jr. [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] as Chief Justice on Thursday. AP has more.

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.