American Decades

Important Events in Law and Justice, 1980–1989

On January 19, retired Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas dies.
On January 21, the Supreme Court holds that prisoners who do not turn themselves in immediately following their escape are not entitled to introduce evidence at trial that harsh prison conditions justified their escape.
On February 3, media reports tell of an FBI investigation into corruption in high offices, code-named Abscam.
On February 8, another FBI undercover sting operation makes the news. This one, named Brilab (for bribery labor) involves southwestern labor leaders and politicians.
On February 14, indictments against 55 persons in ten states are handed down in an undercover FBI investigation into child pornography distribution called Miporn.
On March 10, Dr. Herman Tarnower, author of the "Scarsdale Diet," is shot to death in Purchase, New York.
On March 12, John Wayne Gacy, Jr., is found...

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