New Jersey civil unions bill signed into law News
New Jersey civil unions bill signed into law

[JURIST] New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law Thursday legislation [PDF text] providing legal recognition to same-sex civil unions [JURIST news archive]. The New Jersey Legislature passed the civil unions bill last week in response to an October New Jersey Supreme Court ruling [PDF text; JURIST report] that same-sex couples must be given equal rights. The court said the state legislature must decide within 180 days whether the state would recognize same-sex marriage or another form of civil partnership. The civil unions law will take effect February 19. AP has more.

Currently, Massachusetts is the only US state to allow full same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive], which was legalized when the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled [JURIST report] in 2003 that a ban on such marriages was unconstitutional.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Susan B. Anthony voted illegally in a US federal election

On November 5, 1872, women's rights advocate Susan B. Anthony illegally cast her vote in a New York Congressional district election. Read the indictment subsequently brought against her and the transcript of her address to the jury. Anthony was fined $100 after a directed verdict.

Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

On November 5, 2006, the former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity during his time in office. The execution took place on the following December 30. Learn more about the trial of Saddam Hussein from the U.S. Library of Congress.