Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state’s anti-draft law.

Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Trial of Saddam Hussein begins

On October 19, 2005, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was put on trial for crimes against humanity committed during his time in office. He was convicted and sentenced to death on November 6, 2006. The execution took place on the following December 30. Learn more about the Trial of Saddam Hussein from the US Law Library of Congress.

Stamp Act Congress approved Declaration of Rights

On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York in the wake of Parliament's passage of the controversial Stamp Act imposing a tax for the upkeep of British troops in North America, approved a Declaration of Rights enumerating the rights and grievances of the American colonies.