Defense to request three-month delay in Saddam trial News
Defense to request three-month delay in Saddam trial

[JURIST] Khalil Dulaimi, defense lawyer for Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive], announced Tuesday that he plans to ask the Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website; JURIST news archive] for an immediate three-month adjournment in the first trial against Hussein so the defense has an opportunity to fully prepare its case. Dulaimi said he was optimistic the court would grant his request. In the proceeding, scheduled to begin Wednesday, Hussein faces charges that he ordered the killing of nearly 150 Shia in the town of Dujail in 1982. This request for delay comes despite Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari on Monday lamenting any prospect of further delays in Hussein's trial [JURIST report]. AP 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.