Tennessee high court rejects ACLU challenge to marriage amendment News
Tennessee high court rejects ACLU challenge to marriage amendment

[JURIST] The Tennessee Supreme Court [official website] on Friday dismissed [ruling, PDF] a challenge [press release] brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [official website] to a proposed constitutional amendment [PDF] that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. The Court held that the ACLU lacked standing to bring the challenge on behalf of three state representatives, ACLU members, and a gay and lesbian rights advocacy group.

The ACLU lawsuit alleged that advocates of the same-sex marriage ban failed to abide by notification procedures required by Article 9, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution [PDF text]. As the Tennessee House and Senate have approved the amendment, it becomes law if it wins the support of a majority of voters during the upcoming November elections. AP has more.

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.