#legal-history — Public Fediverse posts

The Trial of Lizzie Borden "When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts" Sale: $19.99 to $1.99 by Cara Robertson Rating: 4.3/5 (1,242 Reviews) #history #truecrime #books #borden #trial #mystery #crime #legalhistory #gildedage #americas #booksky

The Trial of Lizzie Borden

Not before time:

France overturns law classing people as property – 178 years after it abolished slavery

National assembly votes to repeal Code Noir under which enslaved people were beaten, raped and killed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/28/france-votes-code-noir-slavery-law-colonialism

#LegalHistory #EnslavedHistory

ProBono: New Database of Constitutional Rights Cases – 1994 – 2026. “The Public Interest Practice has published a free online book, Key Judgments Advancing Constitutional Rights in South Africa: A Curated Database, April 1994 – March 2026 by Erica Emdon. Available on the SAFLII website, this resource brings together more than 180 judgments that have shaped and strengthened constitutional […]

The Man Who Sued Everyone (Including Guinness): Inside Jonathan Lee Riches’ Legal Chaos

Dear Cherubs, Jonathan Lee Riches is what happens when a filing fee meets unlimited imagination and absolutely no intention of subtlety. Over the years, he became infamous for launching thousands of lawsuits from prison, targeting everyone from presidents to pop stars—and yes, even institutions like Guinness World Records.

THE MAN WHO SUED EVERYONE, INCLUDING REALITY
Riches’ reputation comes from an almost surreal volume of legal filings submitted while he was incarcerated in the United States. According to publicly documented court records and summaries, he filed thousands of civil complaints, many of which read less like legal arguments and more like chaotic crossovers between celebrity gossip and alternate history fan fiction.

Among his more widely reported targets were George W. Bush, Britney Spears, Michael Vick, Steve Jobs, and even abstract entities like the Eiffel Tower. At one point, he even attempted legal action involving Guinness World Records, reportedly in response to disputes around “most litigious person” style labels. Spoiler: the courts were not entertained.

As noted in reporting compiled by sources like Wikipedia and federal court summaries, these cases were consistently dismissed as frivolous, legally insufficient, or failing basic procedural requirements. Judges did not so much “consider” his claims as they did swiftly send them into judicial oblivion.

Low-key, the legal system treated his filings like someone spamming the “submit” button on reality itself.

WHEN COURTS STOPPED PLAYING ALONG
Eventually, the pattern became impossible to ignore. Courts across multiple jurisdictions began dismissing his cases en masse, often citing the Prison Litigation Reform Act rules designed to prevent abusive or repetitive filings. In simpler terms: the system basically said, “we are not doing this with you anymore.”

In some instances, courts reportedly imposed restrictions on his ability to file new lawsuits without permission. That’s the legal equivalent of being put on “internet probation,” but for courtrooms.

What makes Riches so widely discussed isn’t that he ever won landmark cases—he didn’t—but rather the sheer scale and creativity of his filings. It’s giving legal chaos energy with zero filters and maximum persistence.

According to commentary on thisclaimer.com, cases like his highlight how open court systems can be both powerful and vulnerable: they allow access to justice, but also occasionally become stages for absurdity when abused. It’s a reminder that procedure matters just as much as imagination.

Today, Riches remains a reference point in legal discussions about vexatious litigants—people who file so many baseless suits that courts must step in to protect the system itself. In internet terms, he basically achieved “ban speedrun any%,” but through federal court orders.

So while Guinness World Records may not be adding a “most chaotic litigant” category anytime soon, Jonathan Lee Riches already occupies a permanent niche in legal folklore: the man who sued basically everything except, ironically, common sense.

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Lee_Riches

Clio@Themis Journal: calls for special issues for 2028

Founded on the initiative of several CNRS researchers, in collaboration with university lecturers and researchers, Clio@Themis has been contributing to the development of scholarly debate and exchange on the history of law since 2009.
The journal is now accepting proposals for special issues for the year 2028.
Please send your proposals to: https://journals-openedition-org.ressources-electroniques.univ-lille.fr/cliothemis/2106
#legalHistory #law #history #academicJournals #clioThemis

The legislative and social restructuring of the Civil Rights Era remains the most significant expansion of the democratic franchise in modern history.

I am sharing an important new article by Dennis Joiner: "The Civil Rights Era’s Lasting Impact on American Democracy." For those interested in the intersection of law, history, and social equity, this is a highly relevant resource.

Full article here:
https://www.djoinerbooks.com/the-civil-rights-era-s-lasting-impact-democracy/

#CivilRights #Democracy #LegalHistory #PublicInterest #SocialEvolution

The Lady of Justice symbolizes fairness, balance, and moral courage. Explore her ancient origins, powerful symbols, and lasting role in modern law. #LadyOfJustice #JusticeSymbol #LegalHistory #RuleOfLaw #JusticeAndFairness #PhilosophyOfLaw #LegalSymbolism #HistoryOfJustice #BalanceAndTruth #LawAndSociety
https://sm.stayingalive.in/did-you-know/the-lady-of-justice-a-timel.html

Things You MUST NOT DO In Covent Garden

A look at the old market byelaws painted on boards at Covent Garden.

https://londonist.com/london/history/things-you-must-not-do-in-covent-garden

#LegalHistory #London

I found this book from the 1700s on the #internetarchive The first part is a bunch of stuff on astrology, fortune-telling and magic remedies.

What really interested me, though, was the templates for legal instruments tacked onto the end. Maybe the law is a form of magic.

https://ia600500.us.archive.org/27/items/bim_eighteenth-century_the-book-of-knowledge-t_erra-pater_1758/bim_eighteenth-century_the-book-of-knowledge-t_erra-pater_1758.pdf

(Side note: I thought this guy was swallowing a sword at first glance. It's a telescope)

#legalhistory #astrology

Wegen einer Wirtshausstreitigkeit an Silvester fand heute vor 270 Jahren im Amtshaus von #Triberg (#Schwarzwald) ein Prozess statt. Auf welche Weisen sich dieser Ehrkonflikt auf dem Weg von der Kneipe in den obrigkeitlichen Kontext vor Gericht transformierte, untersucht:

▶ Michaela Hohkamp, Vom Wirtshaus zum Amtshaus, #WerkstattGeschichte 16/1997, https://werkstattgeschichte.de/alle_ausgaben/geortete-herrschaften

@histodons

#histodons #Rechtsgeschichte #FrüheNeuzeit #earlymodern #LegalHistory #Alltagsgeschichte

The History of Parliament Project ( @histparl.bsky.social ) on the Representation of the People Act:

https://historyofparliament.com/2018/02/06/the-representation-of-the-people-act-1918/

#History #LegalHistory

#OTD in 1918:

The Representation of the People Act is passed, extending the vote to men over 21 and some women over 30.

https://statutes.org.uk/site/the-statutes/twentieth-century/1918-7-8-george-5-c-64-representation-of-the-people-act/

#History #LegalHistory

New #OpenAccess #LegalHistory from @uolpress.bsky.social

Law and Justice in the 1950s
Case Studies From a Neglected Decade

https://uolpress.co.uk/book/law-and-justice-in-the-1950s/

#History

On the 16th of January, the National Library of Portugal will host the launch conference for the #STEXEU project!

The aim is to discuss how states of exception reshaped the roles of governments, security forces, and non-state actors.

ℹ️ https://ihc.fcsh.unl.pt/en/events/stexeu-launch/

#EU_Funded #ERC_StG #Histodons #Authoritarianism #Fascism #StatesOfException #Europe #PoliticalHistory #LegalHistory #SocialHistory

Now in the #PublicDomain, acts of the UK parliament for 1975:

Vol 1: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qERMAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Vol 2: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EUVMAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Vol 3: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RUVMAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

& added to the chronological bibliography of GB/UK statutes:
https://statutes.org.uk/site/collections/british-and-irish/chronological/

#LegalHistory

#SaveTheDate
The #STEXEU project, funded by the European Research Council, will be publicly launched on 16 January at the National Library of Portugal.

The conference will discuss how states of exception reshaped the roles of governments, security forces, and non-state actors.

Everyone's welcome to join the conference and debate.

ℹ️ https://ihc.fcsh.unl.pt/en/events/stexeu-launch/

#EU_Funded #ERC_StG #Histodons #Authoritarianism #Fascism #StatesOfException #Europe #PoliticalHistory #LegalHistory #SocialHistory

The University Press of Kansas is having a 40% off sale with code UPKHOLIDAY25 through December 26.

Lots of great #Midwestern and related #history. And UPK has an important series on the history of #law and #SupremeCourt cases.

Wong Kim Ark's Supreme court cases is a landmark decision about #BirthrightCitizenship, which #Trump is seeking to overturn.

https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700634217/

#USPol #histodons @histodons #LegalHistory #bookstodon #WongKimArk

New #OpenAccess (though it was a bit of a palaver downloading it) #LegalHistory and #WomensHistory book:

Early Modern Women’s Life-Writing and English Law
by Lotte Fikkers

https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-early-modern-women-s-life-writing-and-english-law.html

#History

Heute begehen die UN den Welttag für die #Prävention und die Überwindung der Folgen von sexueller Ausbeutung von Kindern, #Kindesmissbrauch und Gewalt gegen #Kinder. Dazu ein Rückblick:

▶ Claudia Jarzebowski, Verhandlungen über sexuelle Gewalt gegen Kinder vor Gericht. #Preußen, 18. Jahrhundert, #WerkstattGeschichte 35/2003, https://werkstattgeschichte.de/abstracts/nr-35-claudia-jarzebowski

@histodons

#histodons #ChildAbuse #Children #18thCentury #Rechtsgeschichte #LegalHistory #SexuellerMissbrauch #SexualViolence #SexuelleGewalt

1605: 3 James 1 c.1: An act for a publick thanksgiving to Almighty God every year on the fifth day of November.

https://statutes.org.uk/site/the-statutes/seventeenth-century/1605-3-james-1-c-1-observance-of-the-fifth-of-november-a/

#LegalHistory

Interesting piece on history, law and story telling:

Her Story

https://williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/her-story/

#History #LegalHistory

Just published online: Lola Digard's investigation of the expanding role of surgeons and medical professionals in legal proceedings in late medieval Ghent, and its relevance to public health, governmentality, and medical authority.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03044181.2025.2573385?scroll=top&needAccess=true#abstract

#publichealth #legalhistory #medhist #medmed

New bibliography: Royal Proclamations of the British Isles:

https://statutes.org.uk/site/collections/british-and-irish/proclamations/

#LegalHistory #History

The Covenant Code shares striking similarities with Hammurabi's laws, like the 'goring oxen' sequence. Some theorize direct borrowing due to these pronounced parallels. #AncientHistory #Law #CovenantCode #Hammurabi #BiblicalLaw #Torah #Mesopotamia #LegalHistory

By Birth Alone: The Original Meaning of Birthright Citizenship

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5394605

#HackerNews #BirthrightCitizenship #OriginalMeaning #ImmigrationLaw #CitizenshipRights #LegalHistory

Updated: bibliograpy of statutes of the Irish Parliament to 1800.

The Virtual Treasury has made the two last volumes ofthe IRO Early Statutes series freely available online

https://statutes.org.uk/site/collections/british-and-irish/ireland-to-1800/

#History #LegalHistory #IrishHistory

Some good news:

Caribbean LGBTQ+ activists celebrate as court strikes down colonial-era laws

‘Stride in the right direction’ as Eastern Caribbean supreme court rules St Lucia’s laws on gay sex unconstitutional

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/caribbean-lgbtq-activists-celebrate-as-court-strikes-down-colonial-era-laws

#LegalHistory #LGBTHistory