Thomas Jefferson born

On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County in the Virginia Colony. Jefferson went on to become, among other things, the third President of the United States, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, and a founder of the Democratic-Republican Party. Jefferson was also responsible for reforming the laws of Virginia after independence from Great Britain.

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.