Switzerland voters reject deportation referendum News
Switzerland voters reject deportation referendum

[JURIST] The citizens of Switzerland on Sunday rejected a proposed referendum that would require immediate, automatic deportation of any foreign national who was convicted of two crimes within a 10-year period. The vote was decided by a margin of 58.9 percent against and 41.1 percent in favor [IBT report] of the law. The proposed initiative was introduced by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) [party website]. The law would have instilled a strict two-violation policy encompassing violations for all offenses, including minor traffic violations.

In Switzerland’s most recent national parliamentary elections, the SVP won the largest share of the votes [Telegraph report]. Political experts argue the aggregate electoral results signal a “slide to the right” in Swiss politics. Additionally, the SVP is known for its anti-immigration policies. In 2010 Swiss voters approved [JURIST report] a SVP-sponsored deportation initiative to amend the Swiss Constitution to allow the immediate deportation of foreigners who commit violent or sexual offenses. The list of crimes range from serious offenses such as murder, rape and drug trafficking, to nonviolent crimes, including social security fraud and false claims for welfare benefits.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.