President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus

On April 27, 1861, US President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland and parts of several midwestern states during the American Civil War. Lincoln took this action to address draft riots and the threat of secession by Union states bordering the Confederacy. The President maintained his suspension even after it was overturned by the federal judiciary in Ex parte Merryman 17 F.Cas. 144 (1861).

Learn more about Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Massachusetts instituted death penalty for heresy

On November 4, 1646, the Massachusetts General Court approved a law requiring all members of the colony to recognize the Bible as the Word of God, under penalty of death.  

Israel PM Yitzhak Rabin assassinated

On November 4, 1995, Yigal Amir shot and killed Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in response to the Oslo Accords peace agreement with the Palestine Liberation Organization. Amir was tried and given a life sentence for the murder. Learn more about the trial of Yigal Amir from the New York Times.