Inquisition of Galileo begins

On April 12, 1633, the Roman Catholic Church began its formal inquisition of Galileo Galilei on charges of heresy. Galileo was tried by the Roman Inquisition “for holding as true the false doctrine taught by some that the sun is the center of the world” in direct contradiction to the Catholic Church’s teaching that man and the Earth are the center of the Universe. Galileo was found “vehemently suspect of heresy” and sentenced to life in prison. His punishment was later commuted to house arrest.

Learn more about the trial of Galileo Galilei.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Amsterdam Treaty signed, broadening scope of EU

On October 2, 1997, European Union delegates signed the Amsterdam Treaty, which broadened the scope of the international organization. It amended previous EU treaties to expand the power of the EU Parliament, start the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and prepare for the influx of post-Communist countries in Eastern Europe.

Thurgood Marshall becomes first African-American Supreme Court justice

On October 2, 1967, civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African-American Supreme Court justice Learn more about Marshall and his career from the Library of Congress.