South Korea indicts former culture minister, top aide News
South Korea indicts former culture minister, top aide

[JURIST] South Korea’s special prosecutor indicted former culture minister Cho Yoon-sun [official profile] and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon Tuesday for their roles in creating a blacklist of opposition artists. They are charged [Reuters report] with coercion, abuse of power and perjury connected to the decision to identify artists critical of the impeached president Park Geun-hye [official profile], and exclude them from government assistance. Both have denied existence of a blacklist or participation in drafting one. Cho Yoon-sun was arrested [JURIST report] last month, marking the first time a sitting minister has ever been arrested in South Korea.

In November, the Parliament of South Korea appointed a special prosecutor [JURIST report] to investigate Park for allegedly allowing individuals to influence state affairs. Also in November two former aides and a close friend of the Park were indicted on corruption charges [JURIST report]. The investigation led to the impeachment of the president [JURIST report], accused of sharing confidential governmental information and extorting millions of dollars from large corporations. The investigation led to donations made by Samsung Group. Last month, the special prosecutor asked the court to grant an arrest order [JURIST report] a Samsung executive. However South Korean court refused [JURIST report].

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.