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 …

This Day in Legal History: On May 6, 1882, a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration history occurred with the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act by President Chester A. Arthur. This federal law marked the first and only time that the United States explicitly barred a specific ethnic or national group from immigrating to the country, specifically targ…

This Day in Legal History: Racist Restrictive Covenants Struck Down On May 3, 1948, a significant legal decision was rendered by the United States Supreme Court, fundamentally altering the landscape of civil rights and property law. The case, Shelley v. Kraemer, addressed the pernicious practice of racially-restrictive covenants in real estate. The…

This Day in Legal History: Hoover Dead On this day, May 2, in 1972, J. Edgar Hoover, the controversial and influential Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), passed away at the age of 77. Hoover had been at the helm of the FBI since 1924, dramatically shaping the agency's direction and methods for nearly half a century. His tenure b…

This Day in Legal History: First Union Formed On May 1, 1794, a pivotal development in labor rights history occurred in Philadelphia with the formation of the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. This organization, consisting of skilled shoemakers, marks the establishment of the first trade union in the United States. The union was created as…

This Day in Legal History: Organization of American States Established On this day, April 30, in 1948, a significant event in the realm of international law and diplomacy occurred with the establishment of the Organization of American States (OAS). This was formalized through the signing of the Charter of the Organization of American States during …

This Day in Legal History: Oliver Ellsworth Born On this day in legal history, April 29 marks the birth of Oliver Ellsworth in 1745, in Windsor, Connecticut. A pivotal figure in early American jurisprudence, Ellsworth's contributions to the United States legal system are profound and lasting. As the third Chief Justice of the United States, a posit…

This Day in Legal History: WIPO Established On April 26, 1970, a significant advancement in the protection and management of intellectual property took place with the establishment of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This marked the enforcement of the Convention Establishing WIPO, making it one of the specialized agencies under …

This Day in Legal History: First French Execution by Guillotine On April 25, 1792, a significant event in the history of capital punishment occurred in France: the first execution by guillotine. The individual subjected to this new method was Nicolas-Jacques Pelletier, a highwayman known for his criminal activities. The guillotine was introduced as…

This Day in Legal History: WWI German Use of Chemical Weapons on Canadian Troops On April 24, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres in World War I, German forces launched one of the first large-scale chemical weapon attacks in history. This attack targeted Canadian troops stationed near the town of Ypres in Belgium. The Germans released chlorine …

This Day in Legal History: Sirhan Sirhan Sentenced to Death On this day in legal history, April 23, 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to death for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a pivotal moment in American political and legal narratives. Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, was convicted of murdering Kennedy on June 5, 196…

This Day in Legal History: Harlan Fiske Stone Dies On April 22, 1946, the United States Supreme Court lost one of its distinguished jurists, Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone, who died unexpectedly at the age of 73 while still serving on the bench. Appointed as Chief Justice in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Stone had originally been nomin…

This Day in Legal History: Beatles Sign 10 Year Partnership Agreement On this day in legal history, April 19, 1967, The Beatles, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, entered into a significant legal agreement that aimed to bind them together as a group for another decade. The partnership deed they signed not onl…

This Day in Legal History: Republic of Ireland Act On April 18, 1949, a significant transformation in Ireland's political and legal landscape occurred with the enactment of the Republic of Ireland Act. This pivotal legislation marked the culmination of Ireland's progressive move towards full sovereignty, severing the last formal ties with the Briti…

This Day in Legal History: Sirhan Sirhan Convicted On this day in legal history, April 17, 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of one of the most high-profile crimes of the 20th century—the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy, a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, was shot on June 5, 196…

This Day in Legal History: MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., a central figure in the American civil rights movement, penned one of the most significant literary pieces in American history—his "Letter from Birmingham Jail." His writing came during a pivotal time for civil rights, following his arrest for p…

This Day in Legal History: Unsinkable Sinks On this day in legal history, April 15 marks the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, a maritime disaster that led to significant legal repercussions. After striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic, the Titanic sank, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives out of the 2,228 passengers and crew aboard. Th…

This Day in Legal History: The Trial of Galileo On April 12, 1633, a pivotal moment in the annals of legal and scientific history unfolded as Galileo Galilei faced the Roman Catholic Church's formal inquisition on charges of heresy. This trial was not merely a religious condemnation but a significant clash between emerging scientific ideas and esta…

This Day in Legal History: Civil Rights Act of 1968 On April 11, 1968, a significant moment in the history of American civil rights unfolded when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, widely known as the Fair Housing Act, into law. This legislation was a watershed in the struggle for equality, aimed at eradicating discrim…

This Day in Legal History: Patent Act Approved On April 10, 1790, a significant milestone in U.S. legal and innovation history was reached when Congress approved America's first Patent Act. This foundational legislation was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the protection of intellectual property in the United States, a concept that has bec…

This Day in Legal History: Alaska Purchased for a Steal On this day in legal history, the U.S. Senate made a significant decision that would expand the nation's territory and shape its future. On April 9, 1867, senators voted to ratify the Treaty with Russia, approving the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million–about $265 million in 2024 dollars. This…