DeLay lawyers subpoena Texas prosecutor to show improper grand jury conduct News
DeLay lawyers subpoena Texas prosecutor to show improper grand jury conduct

[JURIST] Lawyers representing Rep. Tom DeLay [official website; JURIST news archive] Tuesday subpoenaed Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle [official website] in order to show that the Texas prosecutor acted improperly with grand jurors in seeking indictments against DeLay on conspiracy and money-laundering charges. DeLay's attorney has submitted a list of 12 questions for Earle to answer, including why a decision by a grand jury not to indict [JURIST report] DeLay was not made public. Earle's office released a statement Tuesday saying that due to laws protecting grand jury secrecy, there are limitations on what Earle can say. DeLay's legal team has also asked that the grand jurors involved in the indictments be released from their secrecy oath. AP has more.

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THIS DAY @ LAW

Dreyfus convicted of treason

On December 22, 1894, Jewish French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial trial that prompted worldwide allegations of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus was later cleared. Learn more about the case of Alfred Dreyfus and read an English translation of the famous public letter J'Accuse...! by novelist and Dreyfus partisan Emile Zola.

US passed Embargo Act, banning foreign trade

On December 22, 1807, the Embargo Act was passed at the urging of US President Thomas Jefferson. The act barred trade with any foreign nations in an effort to avoid American entry into the Napoleonic Wars of Europe. However, the act proved unenforceable and was replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act, which barred trade with France and Great Britain. Learn more about the Embargo Act of 1807 from Monticello.org