BREAKING NEWS ~ Saddam trial adjourned until November 28 News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Saddam trial adjourned until November 28

[JURIST] CNN is reporting that Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, who is presiding [Reuters report] over the trial of Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] before the Iraqi High Criminal Court, formerly known as the Iraqi Special Tribunal [JURIST news archive], has ordered an adjournment of the proceeding until November 28. The order comes at the close of the first session of the trial, where a defiant Hussein initially refused to recognize the court [Reuters report], but then pleaded not guilty [BBC report] to charges of murder, torture, forced expulsions and illegal imprisonment, all stemming from the 1982 massacre in Dujail [JURIST report]. Hussein's lawyers indicated Tuesday that they would ask for a three-month delay [JURIST report] in proceedings so that they could fully prepare their case.

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.