Federal judge refuses to close parts of pro-Israel lobbyists espionage trial News
Federal judge refuses to close parts of pro-Israel lobbyists espionage trial

[JURIST] A federal judge Monday refused a request to close portions of the upcoming espionage trial of two former American Israel Public Affairs Committee [advocacy website] lobbyists because doing so would violate the defendants' right to an open trial. The lobbyists, Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, were indicted [PDF text; JURIST report] last year under the 1917 Espionage Act [18 USC 793 text] for allegedly conspiring to receive and disclose classified US defense information over a five-year period dating back to 1999. The prosecution's plan would have allowed only the judge, lawyers and jury to have access to classified evidence, but this was rejected by US District Judge T.S. Ellis [official profile].

In August 2006, Rosen and Weissman asked Ellis to dismiss the charges, arguing that the law is unconstitutionally vague and violates their right to free speech. Ellis, however, upheld the constitutionality [JURIST report] of the Espionage Act. The trial is set for June 4. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.