This Day in Legal History: Lincoln Signs the Second Confiscation Act On July 17, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Second Confiscation Act into law, marking a significant legal development during the Civil War. This act allowed for the seizure of property owned by individuals engaged in rebellion against the Union. Unlike previous measures…

This Day in Legal History: The District of Columbia is Established On July 16, 1790, the District of Columbia was established as the permanent seat of the United States government by the Residence Act. This pivotal legislation, signed by President George Washington, designated a new federal district along the Potomac River, which would be separate …

This Day in Legal History: Federal Housing Act Passed On this day in legal history, July 15, 1949, Congress passed the Federal Housing Act, a pivotal piece of legislation that aimed to address the nation’s post-war housing crisis. This Act, also known as the Housing Act of 1949, was a key component of President Harry S. Truman’s Fair Deal program. …

This Day in Legal History: 16th Amendment Passed On July 12, 1909, Congress passed the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, marking a significant shift in the country's fiscal policy. This amendment granted Congress the authority to levy income taxes without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census…

This Day in Legal History: Former President Taft Becomes Chief Justice On July 11, 1921, William Howard Taft was sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, making history as the only person to have held both the presidency and the chief justiceship. Taft had previously served as the 27th President of the United States from 1909 t…

This Day in Legal History: Operation Satanique On July 10, 1985, French intelligence agents bombed the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbor, New Zealand. This covert operation, codenamed "Operation Satanique," aimed to prevent the vessel from protesting French nuclear tests in the South Pacific. The attack resulted in the sinking of t…

This Day in Legal History: Eight States Ratify Articles of Confederation On July 9, 1778, eight American states—New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina—ratified the Articles of Confederation, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of the United States' first con…

This Day in Legal History: Vermont Abolishes Slavery On July 8, 1777, Vermont made history by becoming the first state to abolish slavery through the formal adoption of its new state constitution. This landmark event occurred during the American Revolutionary War, reflecting the evolving values of liberty and human rights among the colonists. Vermo…

This Day in Legal History: Black Sox Scandal Jury Selection On July 5, 1921, jury selection commenced for one of the most infamous trials in baseball history: the Chicago "Black Sox" trial. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox, including the legendary "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, stood accused of conspiring to throw the 1919 World Series against the…

This Day in Legal History: Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words Get to SCOTUS On July 3, 1978, the US Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, affirming the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) authority to reprimand New York radio station WBAI for airing George Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine. The 5-4 rulin…

This Day in Legal History: Sherman Antitrust Act On July 2, 1890, U.S. President Benjamin Harrison signed the Sherman Antitrust Act into law, marking a transformative moment in American economic history. This landmark legislation aimed to prohibit the formation of trusts and monopolies that restricted trade across states, fundamentally altering the…

This Day in Legal History: First US Income Tax On July 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Tax Act of 1862 into law, marking a pivotal moment in American financial history. This legislation introduced a federal income tax to help fund the Civil War, imposing a 3% tax on incomes over $600 and a 5% tax on incomes above $10,000. Despite the …

This Day in Legal History: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke On June 28, 1978, the US Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, shaping the future of affirmative action in university admissions. The case centered around Allan Bakke, a white applicant who was twice den…

This Day in Legal History: LaGrand ICJ Case On June 27, 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made a landmark ruling in the LaGrand case, Germany v. United States, affirming that foreign nationals must be informed of their right to contact their home country's embassy following an arrest. This case revolved around brothers Karl and Walter …

This Day in Legal History: Pivotal LGBTQ+ Rights Decisions On this day, June 26th, in legal history, two pivotal Supreme Court decisions significantly advanced the cause of marriage equality in the United States. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court delivered its decision in United States v. Windsor. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court struck down Section 3 …

This Day in Legal History: Engel v. Vitale Decided On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case of Engel v. Vitale. The Court ruled that the recitation of a state-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This case arose from a New York State law that requi…

This Day in Legal History: Military Selective Service Act On June 24, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Military Selective Service Act, marking a significant moment in U.S. legal and military history. This legislation established a peacetime draft system, requiring all male U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 to register for potent…

This Day in Legal History: Halifax Founded On June 21, 1749, British colonists established the town of Halifax in what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. This strategic move was part of Britain's broader efforts to assert control over the North American territories and to counter French influence in the region. Halifax's founding was spearheaded by Edward…

This Day in Legal History: Lizzie Borden Acquitted On June 20, 1893, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the notorious axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden. The trial had gripped the nation, with its sensational details and the prominent social standing of the Borden family. On the morning …

This Day in Legal History: Patent Cooperation Treaty Signed On June 19, 1970, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was signed, marking a significant milestone in international intellectual property law. The PCT established a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in multiple countries. Prior to the PCT, inventors need…

This Day in Legal History: Posse Comitatus Act Passed On June 18, 1878, the U.S. Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, a significant piece of legislation that shaped the relationship between the military and civil authorities. The Act made it a felony to use the Army to enforce domestic policies without explicit authorization from Congress or th…

This Day in Legal History: James McCord Arrested On June 17, 1972, James McCord, security director for President Richard Nixon's re-election committee, and four Cuban-Americans were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee Headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. This event marked the beginning of the Watergate …

This Day in Legal History: Flag Statutes in Public Schools On this day in legal history, June 14, 1943, the US Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, profoundly impacting the rights of individuals in public schools. The case arose when Jehovah's Witnesses challenged a West Virginia mandate re…

This Day in Legal History: Miranda Rights On June 13, 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Miranda v. Arizona, fundamentally transforming the criminal justice system. The Court held that suspects must be informed of their rights prior to police interrogation, a decision aimed at protecting the Fifth Amendment right against se…

This Day in Legal History: Loving v. Virginia On June 12, 1967, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Loving v. Virginia, striking down state laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, were married in Washington, D.C., in 1958 but were arrested upon their…

This Day in Legal History: University of Alabama Desegregated On June 11, 1963, a pivotal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement unfolded at the University of Alabama. Governor George Wallace famously stood in the doorway of Foster Auditorium to block the enrollment of two African-American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, symbolizing h…

This Day in Legal History: Discriminatory Districting On June 10, 1946, the US Supreme Court rendered a pivotal decision in Colegrove v. Green, which upheld the validity of uneven congressional districting plans. The case involved a challenge to Illinois' districting plan that disproportionately concentrated voters into large districts in the centr…

This Day in Legal History: Gandhi’s First Act of Civil Disobedience On June 7, 1893, Mohandas Gandhi committed his first act of civil disobedience in South Africa, an event that would shape his future activism and the global struggle for civil rights. Gandhi, holding a first-class ticket, was ordered to move to the third-class section of a train be…

This Day in Legal History: SEC Established On this day in legal history, June 6, 1934, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was established, marking a pivotal moment in the regulation of financial markets. The SEC was created in response to the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression, aiming to restore inve…

This Day in Legal History: Denmark Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy On June 5, 1849, Denmark transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy with the signing of its first constitution. This pivotal moment marked the end of absolute royal rule and the beginning of a new era of governance based on democratic principles. The Danis…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.minimumcomp.com This Day in Legal History: Wiretapping Constitutional On June 4, 1928, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a significant decision in the case of Olmstead v. United States, ruling that wiretapping private telephone conversations without judicial approval was constitutional…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.minimumcomp.com Administrative Update: We have an important update for Minimum Competence. Moving forward, our newsletter will be available exclusively to paid members, while the podcast will remain free for everyone. This change will allow us to dedicate more time and resources to e…

This Day in Legal History: South Africa Established On May 31, 1910, the Union of South Africa was established, marking a significant moment in the nation's history as it unified the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State under British dominion. This union created a self-governing dominion within the B…

This Day in Legal History: Kansas-Nebraska Act Passed On May 30, 1854, the U.S. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, a significant piece of legislation that allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. This act, introduced by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, effectively…

This Day in Legal History: House Un-American Activities Committee Probes Hollywood On May 29, 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began its infamous investigation into communist influence in the Hollywood film industry. This marked the start of a series of public hearings aimed at identifying and eliminating alleged communist su…

This Day in Legal History: Frederic Maitland Born On May 28, 1850, Frederic William Maitland, a prominent English legal historian, was born. Maitland is renowned for his contributions to the study of English legal history. He co-authored the seminal work "The History of English Law Before the Time of Edward I" with Sir Frederick Pollock. This book,…

This Day in Legal History: Act of Toleration Enacted On May 24, 1689, the Parliament of England enacted the Act of Toleration, a pivotal law that granted religious freedom to English Protestants. This legislation marked a significant shift in England's religious landscape, as it allowed non-Anglican Protestants, such as Baptists and Congregationali…

This Day in Legal History: South Carolina Ratified the US Constitution On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the United States Constitution, marking its official entry as the eighth state in the newly formed union. This significant event took place amidst debates and conventions where federalists and anti-federalists argued over the merits and d…

This Day in Legal History: Grant Signs the General Amnesty Act On May 22, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Amnesty Act, marking a significant moment in the post-Civil War reconstruction era. This legislation restored voting rights to most former Confederate rebels who had been disenfranchised under the Fourteenth Amendment as a p…

This Day in Legal History: American Red Cross Founded On this day in legal history, May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. Inspired by her experiences providing care to soldiers during the Civil War and influenced by the International Red Cross in Europe, Barton established the organization to offer emergency assistance, disaste…

This Day in Legal History: Free Exercise Clause Applies to States On this day, May 20, in 1940, the United States Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case of Cantwell v. Connecticut, significantly shaping the landscape of religious freedom in America. The Court held that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, which guarantees in…

This Day in Legal History: Constitution of Norway Signed On this day, May 17, in 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed, marking a pivotal moment in the country's history. This significant event established Norway as an independent kingdom, following centuries of union with Denmark. The constitution was drafted at Eidsvoll by the Norwegian Con…

This Day in Legal History: President Johnson Acquitted On May 16, 1868, a significant moment in U.S. legal and political history occurred when President Andrew Johnson was acquitted in his impeachment trial. Johnson, who had ascended to the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, was charged with high crimes and misdemeanors, pri…

This Day in Legal History: Standard Oil Dissolved On this day in legal history, May 15, 1911, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision that significantly altered the landscape of American business practices. The case in question was Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States, where the Court found Standard Oil guilty of mo…

This Day in Legal History: Constitutional Convention Assembles On May 14, 1787, a pivotal moment unfolded in American history as delegates from each state began to gather in Philadelphia for what would be known as the Constitutional Convention. This assembly was critical in shaping the nation's future, aimed at addressing the deficiencies of the Ar…

This Day in Legal History: Cutting Funding to Segregated Schools On May 13, 1966, a significant moment in the enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 unfolded, marking a pivotal step in the U.S. government's commitment to desegregation in education. This action targeted twelve segregated Southern school districts, which were found to be in viol…

This Day in Legal History: Corporations Are “Persons” Under 14th Amendment On May 10, 1886, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company, fundamentally altering the legal landscape for corporations in the United States. This ruling established that corporations were to b…

This Day in Legal History: Impeachment Hearings Against Nixon On May 9, 1974, a significant event unfolded in the political and legal history of the United States as the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Peter Rodino (D-NJ), initiated impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon. This marked a crucial point in the Waterga…

This Day in Legal History: Smallpox Eradicated On May 8, 1980, a landmark moment in public health and legal history was achieved when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared smallpox eradicated. This declaration came in the form of Resolution WHA33.3, marking an unprecedented victory in the battle against infectious diseases. Smallp…

This Day in Legal History: 27th Amendment Ratified On May 7, 1992, a significant addition was made to the United States Constitution with the ratification of the Twenty-seventh Amendment. This amendment, which prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms …