Thursday, April 8, 2010

This day in Legal History: April 8th

8 April, 1895: In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. the U.S. Supreme Court declares that a federal law taxing income derived from property is unconstitutional.

8 April, 1913: The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, requiring the direct election of senators to the U.S. Senate.

8 April, 1952
: In an act later ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, President Harry S. Truman ordered the seizure of U.S. steel mills to avert a strike.