1964 Law & Justice Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1964 Law & Justice Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 13 Jan Pamela Mason Murder Case: In Manchester, New Hampshire, 14-year-old Pamela Mason was murdered. Edward Coolidge was initially tried and convicted of the crime, but the conviction was later set aside by the landmark Fourth Amendment case Coolidge v. New Hampshire (1971), which had significant implications for criminal procedure and constitutional law.
- 24 Jan 24th Amendment ratified: voting rights protection: The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on January 24, 1964, prohibiting the use of poll taxes in federal elections. This amendment aimed to enhance voting rights and reduce barriers for citizens. source: archives.gov
- 26 Jan Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. This sentence was handed down during the Rivonia Trial, where Mandela and others were charged with sabotage against the apartheid government. source: britannica.com
- 03 Feb Twenty-fourth Amendment authorized: On February 3, 1964, the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution was authorized. This amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections, marking a significant step in the civil rights movement. source: archives.gov
- 04 Feb 24th Amendment bans poll tax in federal elections: On February 4, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 24th Amendment into law, prohibiting the use of poll taxes in federal elections. This amendment aimed to eliminate financial barriers to voting, particularly in Southern states where poll taxes were used to disenfranchise African American voters. source: tahlequahdailypress.com
- 06 Feb Medgar Evers murder trial ends in mistrial: Byron De La Beckwith was tried for the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. The all-white jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. source: nps.gov
- 08 Feb Civil rights protection for women in the 1964 Civil Rights Act: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted, prohibiting discrimination based on sex, among other factors. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 17 Feb Civil Rights Law advancement: On February 17, 1964, significant advancements were made in civil rights legislation in the United States. This period marked a crucial time in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act later that year. source: archives.gov
- 04 Mar Landmark First Amendment Supreme Court ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling regarding the First Amendment, reinforcing the principles of free speech and press. This decision had lasting implications for civil liberties in the United States. source: law.cornell.edu
- 08 Mar Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signed: On March 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, marking a significant milestone in the fight against racial discrimination in the United States. source: archives.gov
- 09 Mar New York Times v. Sullivan Supreme Court Decision: The Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan on March 9, 1964. This ruling established the standard for proving libel against public figures, emphasizing the importance of free speech and press. It was a pivotal moment in First Amendment jurisprudence. source: law.cornell.edu
- 12 Mar Jimmy Hoffa sentenced to prison: On March 12, 1964, labor leader Jimmy Hoffa was sentenced to 13 years in prison for jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud. Hoffa was a prominent figure in the Teamsters Union and his conviction marked a significant moment in labor history. source: nytimes.com
- 14 Mar Jack Ruby convicted for killing Lee Harvey Oswald: On March 14, 1964, Jack Ruby was convicted of murder for killing Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Ruby's actions and subsequent trial drew significant media attention and public interest. source: nytimes.com
- 27 Mar Great Train Robbers Sentenced: The infamous criminals involved in the Great Train Robbery were sentenced to a collective total of 307 years in prison, marking a significant moment in British criminal justice.
- 31 Mar Nelson Mandela's imprisonment begins: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 31, 1964, for his anti-apartheid activities. His imprisonment became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and garnered international attention. source: britannica.com
- 14 Apr Great Train Robbery Sentencing: Twelve men involved in the infamous Great Train Robbery of August 1963 were sentenced to a total of 307 years in prison for stealing £2.6 million in used bank notes from a night mail train traveling from Glasgow to London.
- 15 Apr Great Train Robbery sentencing: On April 15, 1964, seven individuals involved in the Great Train Robbery of 1963 were sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment each. The robbery, which took place in England, was a significant criminal event of the time. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 24 Apr Mexico Joins Buenos Aires Copyright Treaty: Mexico became a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty, an important international agreement aimed at protecting intellectual property rights across participating nations.
- 18 May Schneider v. Rusk Supreme Court decision: On May 18, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Schneider v. Rusk that naturalized citizens have the right to return to their native countries and retain U.S. citizenship, even if they never return to the United States. This decision invalidated a law that stripped naturalized Americans of their citizenship as a result of extended or permanent residence abroad. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 25 May Supreme Court Ruling Against School Segregation: On May 25, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County that closing public schools to avoid desegregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. source: britannica.com
- 16 Jun Political Prisoner Amnesty: A significant humanitarian gesture was made with the granting of amnesty to 3,000 political prisoners, potentially signaling a period of political reconciliation or reform in the governing regime.
- 26 Jul Jimmy Hoffa convicted of fraud: On July 26, 1964, labor leader Jimmy Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering and fraud. This conviction was part of a larger investigation into corruption within labor unions. Hoffa's legal troubles would continue for years, ultimately leading to his mysterious disappearance in 1975. source: nytimes.com
- 30 Jul Joseph Johnson executed in Texas: Joseph Johnson Jr., a Black parolee, was executed by electrocution in Texas on July 30, 1964, for a murder in Harris County. He was the last person to be executed by electric chair in Texas. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 13 Aug Last death penalty executions in Great Britain: On August 13, 1964, Peter Anthony Allen and Gwynne Owen Evans were executed for the murder of John Alan West during a robbery in April 1964. Allen was hanged at Walton Prison in Liverpool, and Evans at Strangeways Prison in Manchester. These were the last executions in the United Kingdom before the abolition of capital punishment for murder in 1965. source: gov.uk
- 26 Oct Last execution in Western Australia: On October 26, 1964, Frederick Henry Thompson was executed, marking the last execution in Western Australia. This event highlighted the changing attitudes towards capital punishment in the region. source: britannica.com
- 07 Nov Nelson Mandela sentenced to five years in prison: On November 7, 1962, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison for leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He began serving his sentence at Pretoria Local Prison, assigned the prisoner number 19476/62. source: nelsonmandela.org
- 24 Nov Last Execution in South Australia: Glen Sabre Valance, a 21-year-old Australian criminal, was hanged, becoming the last person to be executed in the state of South Australia.
- 01 Dec Soviet legal reform initiated to modernize the legal system: In December 1964, the Soviet Union implemented significant legal reforms aimed at modernizing its judicial system. These reforms included changes to criminal law and the introduction of new legal codes, reflecting a shift towards more lenient policies under Nikita Khrushchev's leadership. source: britannica.com
- 04 Dec Baseball Commissioner Granted Full Powers: Major League Baseball's Commissioner's office was granted comprehensive powers to resolve and adjudicate disputes within the league, significantly expanding the administrative authority of baseball's top executive.
- 22 Dec Lenny Bruce Obscenity Conviction: On December 22, 1964, comedian Lenny Bruce was convicted of obscenity in New York City for his performance at the Café Au Go Go. The conviction was overturned on appeal in 1966. source: en.wikipedia.org
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