US Army sergeant to face court-martial in Kirkuk Iraqi civilian murder News
US Army sergeant to face court-martial in Kirkuk Iraqi civilian murder

[JURIST] The US Army said Tuesday that Army Sgt. 1st Class Trey A. Corrales [advocacy website] will be court-martialed on charges of premeditated murder for his alleged role in the killing of an unarmed Iraqi civilian near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk [GlobalSecurity backgrounder]. Corrales was charged [press release; JURIST report] in July with the premeditated murder of an unspecified "Iraqi national" on or about June 23, 2007. He later waived his right [JURIST report] to a preliminary Article 32 hearing [JAG backgrounder].

Corrales' co-defendant Specialist Christopher P. Shore had his Article 32 hearing in October, and the Army said last month that it would court-martial Shore for third-degree murder [AP report]. Shore had also originally faced charges of premeditated murder. During his hearing, Shore testified that when ordered by Corrales to shoot an unarmed Iraqi civilian, he intentionally missed. If convicted, both face possible life sentences [Star Bulletin report]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Supreme court overturns racially restrictive covenants

On May 3, 1948, the Supreme Court ruled that racially-restrictive covenants violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, even covenants between private individuals. In Shelley v. Kraemer, the Court overturned a covenant among members of a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri that restricted home sales to only white families.

World Press Freedom day

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day. On May 3, 1845, Macon B. Allen, the first African American to practice law in the United States, was admitted to the Massachusetts bar. Learn more about Allen's admission.