California marriage laws ruling [9th Circuit] News
California marriage laws ruling [9th Circuit]

Smelt et al. v. Orange County California et al., United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, May 5, 2006 [dismissing a challenge to federal and California laws prohibiting same-sex marriage, saying that the plaintiffs must await the outcome of litigation in California state courts]. Read the full text of the opinion [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Attica NY prison revolt ended in assault killing 41

On September 13, 1971, National Guardsmen stormed the Attica Correctional Facility in New York state after a four-day standoff with rioting prisoners. This photo, released by New York state authorities, shows Corrections Commissioner Russell Oswald in the Attica prison yard after it was retaken.

Thirty-two prisoners and nine guards died in the final assault. Learn more about the Attica revolt and the conditions the prisoners were trying to have improved in this retrospective.

Khrushchev takes over leadership of USSR

On September 13, 1953, Nikita Khrushchev was appointed General Secretary of the USSR Communist Party, taking over leadership of the country after the death of Joseph Stalin. Soon after taking office, Khrushchev exposed many of the crimes of his predecessor. He was later forced from power in 1964, largely in response to his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Read an obituary of Nikita Khrushchev from the New York Times.