California high court refuses clemency request by gang founder News
California high court refuses clemency request by gang founder

[JURIST] The California Supreme Court [official website] late Wednesday denied a request by Stanley Tookie Williams [advocacy website], the Crips gang founder turned anti-gang activist, to halt his scheduled execution. Defense lawyers for Williams challenged forensic evidence in the case in a last-ditch effort to halt his execution scheduled for Dec. 13. The Supreme Court denied the petition [conference actions list, PDF] in a 4-2 decision without comment. Williams, who has already challenged his sentence in federal courts, has also petitioned for clemency from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger [official profile], who has agreed to hear the petition. Williams has maintained his innocence after he was convicted in 1981 for killing three people in a motel robbery and for shooting another in a separate crime. Since being imprisoned, Williams has authored a number of anti-gang children's books. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.