On April 12, 1633, the Roman Catholic Church began its formal inquisition of Galileo Galilei on charges of heresy. Galileo was tried by the Roman Inquisition "for holding as true the false doctrine taught by some that the sun is the center of the world" in direct contradiction to the Catholic Church's teaching that man and the Earth are the center of the Universe. Galileo was found "vehemently suspect of heresy" and sentenced to life in prison. His punishment was later commuted to house arrest. Learn more about the trial of Galileo Galilei.

On April 12, 1999, US District Judge Susan Webber Wright found President Bill Clinton in contempt of court in the Paula Jones case, concluding that the President had provided "intentionally false" evidence in that case about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

Read a contemporary CNN report here.