1986 Law & Justice Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1986 Law & Justice Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 10 Feb Maxi Trial against Sicilian Mafia begins in Palermo: On February 10, 1986, the Maxi Trial commenced in Palermo, Sicily, targeting 475 alleged members of the Sicilian Mafia. The trial, held in a specially constructed bunker courtroom adjacent to the Ucciardone prison, was the largest in Italian history, involving charges such as murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. The proceedings were secured by a 2,000-man force and attracted global media attention. source: upi.com
- 19 Feb US Senate ratifies Genocide Convention: On February 19, 1986, the US Senate ratified the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by an 83-11 vote, ending a 37-year deadlock. This treaty, signed by President Truman in 1948, defines genocide as an international crime and obligates signatory nations to prevent and punish such acts. The ratification was a significant victory for Senator William Proxmire, who had advocated for the treaty since 1967. source: washingtonpost.com
- 20 Mar New York City passes landmark LGBTQ rights legislation: On March 20, 1986, the New York City Council passed the Gay Rights Bill, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The bill, which had been debated for 15 years, passed with a 21-14 vote. Mayor Edward Koch supported the legislation, emphasizing its role in protecting civil rights. The bill imposed fines up to $500 and up to one year in jail for violations. source: washingtonpost.com
- 24 Mar Suriname Army Captain Arrested for Cocaine Smuggling: Suriname army Captain Etienne Boerenveen was arrested for involvement in international cocaine smuggling operations, highlighting ongoing challenges with drug trafficking in South America.
- 25 Mar Supreme Court rules on religious attire in workplace: On March 25, 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of "Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius" that employers must accommodate employees' religious practices, including the wearing of religious attire, unless it poses an undue hardship on the business. This decision reinforced the importance of religious freedom in the workplace. source: law.cornell.edu
- 07 Apr John Gotti's federal racketeering trial begins: On April 7, 1986, the federal racketeering trial of John Gotti, alleged boss of the Gambino crime family, commenced in Brooklyn, New York. Gotti and six co-defendants faced charges including loan sharking, gambling, hijackings, and multiple murders. Jury selection began that day, with the trial expected to last two months. Gotti, free on $1 million bail, appeared in court without comment. source: upi.com
- 19 May Firearm Owners Protection Act signed into law: The Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) was signed into law on May 19, 1986, by President Ronald Reagan. This legislation aimed to protect the rights of gun owners and included provisions to limit the federal government's ability to regulate firearms. It also addressed issues related to the transportation of firearms across state lines and established certain protections for gun owners against arbitrary enforcement of gun laws. source: congress.gov
- 04 Jun Jonathan Pollard pleads guilty to espionage charges: On June 4, 1986, Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, pleaded guilty to espionage for selling top-secret military information to Israel. He admitted to providing classified documents, including satellite photos and data on Soviet weapons, in exchange for approximately $50,000, with expectations of additional payments. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison, and his wife, Anne, received a five-year sentence for being an accessory to the crimes. source: washingtonpost.com
- 05 Jun Cyanide poisoning deaths linked to Excedrin in Washington state: In June 1986, two individuals in Auburn, Washington, died from cyanide poisoning after ingesting Extra-Strength Excedrin capsules. The victims were Bruce Nickell, 52, who died on June 5, and Sue Snow, 40, who died on June 11. Investigations revealed that the capsules were tampered with, leading to a nationwide recall of the product. Stella Nickell, Bruce's wife, was later convicted for contaminating the capsules, resulting in her husband's death and the death of Snow. source: washingtonpost.com
- 25 Jun Former Belgian Prime Minister convicted of tax fraud and forgery: On June 25, 1986, former Belgian Prime Minister Paul Vanden Boeynants was convicted of 137 counts of tax evasion and forgery, resulting in a three-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of $13,600. The charges, covering the period from 1967 to 1982, alleged that he evaded approximately $4.4 million in taxes through fraudulent activities involving stock transactions in Belgium, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Vanden Boeynants, who served as prime minister from 1966 to 1968 and again from 1978 to 1979, denied the charges but was found guilty on most counts. source: washingtonpost.com
- 26 Jun Irish voters reject constitutional amendment to allow divorce: On June 26, 1986, Irish voters decisively rejected a referendum that sought to remove the constitutional ban on divorce. The proposal was defeated by a margin of 63.5% to 36.5%, with 935,842 votes against and 538,279 in favor. This outcome reaffirmed Ireland's status as the only major European country at the time where divorce remained illegal. source: latimes.com
- 27 Jun International Court of Justice rules against US in Nicaragua case: On June 27, 1986, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the United States violated international law by supporting the Contras in Nicaragua and mining Nicaraguan harbors. The court ordered the US to cease these activities and pay reparations to Nicaragua. The United States refused to comply, citing lack of jurisdiction, and blocked enforcement through the UN Security Council. source: icj-cij.org
- 30 Jun Bowers v. Hardwick Supreme Court decision upheld sodomy laws: On June 30, 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bowers v. Hardwick that states could criminalize consensual homosexual acts. The decision upheld Georgia's sodomy law, stating that the Constitution did not confer a fundamental right to engage in homosexual sodomy. This ruling was later criticized and effectively overturned by Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. source: loc.gov
- 02 Jul Supreme Court upholds affirmative action in employment cases: On July 2, 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court issued two significant rulings affirming the use of affirmative action to address past employment discrimination. In a 6-3 decision, the Court upheld a court-approved settlement between the city of Cleveland and minority firefighters, endorsing the use of specific racial goals and timetables to remedy discrimination. In a separate 5-4 ruling, the Court supported a federal court order requiring a New York union to meet specific minority hiring targets, emphasizing the permissibility of such measures without evidence of prior discrimination. These decisions marked a substantial endorsement of affirmative action policies during the Reagan administration. source: washingtonpost.com
- 07 Jul Australian Drug Smugglers Executed in Malaysia: Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers, two Australian drug smugglers, were executed in Malaysia, highlighting the country's strict drug trafficking laws and harsh penalties for international narcotics offenses.
- 08 Jul NASA establishes Office of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance: In response to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, NASA established the Office of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance on July 8, 1986. This office was tasked with providing independent oversight of key systems to enhance safety and prevent future accidents. source: nasa.gov
- 09 Jul New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act passed: On July 9, 1986, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Homosexual Law Reform Act by a vote of 49 to 44. This legislation decriminalized consensual sexual relations between men aged 16 and over, removing previous criminal sanctions. The Act received royal assent on July 11, 1986, and came into effect on August 8, 1986. source: nzhistory.govt.nz
- 11 Jul Surrogate mother questions paternity of 'Baby M': In August 1986, Mary Beth Whitehead, the surrogate mother in the 'Baby M' case, questioned the paternity of the child, suggesting the possibility of conception through sexual relations with her husband rather than artificial insemination with William Stern's sperm. This claim led to further legal proceedings and delays in the custody battle. source: upi.com
- 14 Jul Richard Miller convicted of espionage and bribery: Richard William Miller, a 20-year veteran of the FBI, was convicted on June 19, 1986, of six counts of espionage and bribery for passing classified documents to the Soviet Union. He was sentenced on July 14, 1986, to two consecutive life terms plus 50 years. Miller's conviction was overturned in 1989 due to the improper admission of polygraph evidence, but he was retried and convicted again in 1990, receiving a 20-year sentence. source: cia.gov
- 20 Jul Fells Acres Day School sexual abuse trial: In 1986, Gerald Amirault was convicted of sexually abusing nine children at the Fells Acres Day School in Malden, Massachusetts. His mother, Violet Amirault, and sister, Cheryl Amirault LeFave, were also convicted in 1987 for similar offenses. The convictions were overturned in 1995 due to concerns over the fairness of the trials and the reliability of the children's testimonies. source: cbsnews.com
- 22 Jul House impeaches Judge Harry E. Claiborne on July 22, 1986: On July 22, 1986, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously voted 406-0 to impeach Judge Harry E. Claiborne of Nevada. The impeachment was based on his conviction for falsifying income tax returns, marking the first federal judge impeachment in 50 years. Claiborne had been serving a two-year prison sentence for tax evasion at the time. source: washingtonpost.com
- 24 Jul Navy radioman Jerry Whitworth convicted of espionage: On July 24, 1986, retired Navy communications specialist Jerry Alfred Whitworth was convicted in San Francisco of passing highly sensitive Navy coding secrets to the Soviet Union. He was found guilty on 12 of 13 counts, including seven counts of espionage and five counts of tax evasion, for providing classified information to the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1983. Whitworth was sentenced to 365 years in prison on August 28, 1986. source: washingtonpost.com
- 02 Aug Roy Cohn, controversial legal figure, dies: Roy Cohn, a prominent American lawyer known for his role as chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s 'Red Scare,' died on August 2, 1986, in Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 59. He passed away from complications related to AIDS, a condition he had been diagnosed with in 1984 but had publicly denied. Cohn's death was marked by controversy, including his disbarment earlier that year for unethical conduct. source: upi.com
- 28 Aug US Navy officer Jerry Whitworth sentenced to 365 years for espionage: On August 28, 1986, former Navy communications specialist Jerry Alfred Whitworth was sentenced to 365 years in prison for espionage and tax evasion. Whitworth was convicted of passing sensitive Navy code secrets to the Soviet Union from 1974 to 1985, as part of a spy ring led by John Anthony Walker Jr. The sentencing was one of the harshest in U.S. history for espionage, with no possibility of parole until Whitworth was 107 years old. source: washingtonpost.com
- 02 Sep Cathy Evelyn Smith sentenced for John Belushi's death: On September 2, 1986, Cathy Evelyn Smith, a former backup singer, was sentenced to three years in state prison for her role in the 1982 death of comedian John Belushi. Smith had pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and three counts of furnishing and administering the drugs that led to Belushi's fatal overdose. source: latimes.com
- 09 Sep Soviet UN employee Gennadi Zakharov indicted on espionage charges: On September 9, 1986, Gennadi Zakharov, a Soviet physicist employed by the United Nations, was indicted in Brooklyn, New York, on three counts of espionage. Zakharov was accused of attempting to purchase classified U.S. military information from an FBI informant. His arrest and subsequent indictment occurred amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, including the arrest of American journalist Nicholas Daniloff in Moscow on espionage charges. Zakharov faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted. source: washingtonpost.com
- 17 Sep William Rehnquist confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States: On September 17, 1986, the U.S. Senate confirmed William Rehnquist as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States by a 65-33 vote. He succeeded Warren E. Burger, who had retired. Rehnquist was sworn in on September 26, 1986. source: washingtonpost.com
- 26 Sep William Rehnquist sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States: On September 26, 1986, William Rehnquist was sworn in as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States, succeeding Warren E. Burger. He had been nominated by President Ronald Reagan on June 20, 1986, and confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 1986, with a 65-33 vote. Rehnquist had served as an Associate Justice since 1972 before his elevation to Chief Justice. source: supremecourt.gov
- 09 Oct Harry E. Claiborne removed from office after impeachment: On October 9, 1986, U.S. District Judge Harry E. Claiborne was removed from office following his impeachment by the House of Representatives on July 22, 1986, and subsequent conviction by the Senate. Claiborne had been convicted in 1984 for falsifying his income tax returns and sentenced to two years in prison. Despite his conviction, he refused to resign and continued to receive his judicial salary while incarcerated. His impeachment and removal marked the first time in 50 years that a federal judge was removed from office through impeachment proceedings. source: senate.gov
- 26 Oct Jeremy Bamber Murder Conviction: Jeremy Bamber is found guilty of murdering his adoptive parents, sister, and twin nephews. He is sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation to serve at least 25 years before parole consideration.
- 04 Nov California Supreme Court Justices Removed in 1986: On November 4, 1986, California voters removed Chief Justice Rose Bird and Associate Justices Joseph Grodin and Cruz Reynoso from the state Supreme Court. The removals were largely due to the justices' consistent votes to overturn death sentences, which led to a well-funded campaign against them. This marked the first time in California's history that Supreme Court justices were ousted by voters. source: csmonitor.com
- 14 Nov SEC imposes record $100 million penalty on Ivan Boesky: On November 14, 1986, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed a record $100 million penalty on Wall Street trader Ivan Boesky for insider trading. Boesky agreed to pay $50 million in disgorged profits and an additional $50 million civil fine, and was permanently barred from the securities industry. This case was a significant milestone in the SEC's crackdown on insider trading during the 1980s. source: washingtonpost.com
- 26 Nov John Demjanjuk's war crimes trial begins in Jerusalem: On November 26, 1986, John Demjanjuk's trial commenced in Jerusalem District Court. Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. auto worker, was accused of being 'Ivan the Terrible,' a notorious guard at the Treblinka death camp during World War II. He denied the charges, stating, 'I am not the 'Ivan the Terrible' that you want to hang.' source: latimes.com
- 11 Dec South Africa imposes severe press censorship measures: On December 11, 1986, the South African government implemented stringent press censorship regulations, effectively prohibiting the reporting of organized opposition to apartheid without prior clearance from state censors. These measures aimed to suppress coverage of violence, unlawful gatherings, strikes, boycotts, and statements deemed 'subversive,' even if made by members of Parliament outside official chambers. The regulations applied to both local and foreign journalists and included penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment for violations. The government established a censorship center to review and approve material intended for publication or broadcast, marking one of the harshest press censorship systems globally at that time. source: washingtonpost.com
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