“Philip Morris agrees to pay Oregon $56 million in punitive damages in Jesse Williams’ death”: The Oregonian has a news update that begins, “Tobacco maker Philip Morris has agreed to pay $56 million in punitive damages and interest to the state of Oregon, finally ending a 14-year battle over damages in the death of a Portland smoker.”

“‘Occupy the Courts’ rally stymied in Manhattan”: Reuters has a report that begins, “A federal agency has denied protesters a permit to hold a rally in front of the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, days before an ‘Occupy the Courts’ protest planned for Friday at courthouses across the country.”

Additional information about the protests planned for this Friday can be accessed here.

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News is reporting: He has articles headlined “Prayer Cases Turned Away by U.S. Supreme Court Justices“; “Finra’s Legal Immunity Won’t Be Questioned by U.S. High Court“; “Dart’s Fund May Get Top Court Review on Argentine Judgment“; and “CenturyLink Settlement of $90 Million Case Signaled by Court.”

James Vicini of Reuters is reporting: He has articles headlined “Supreme Court rejects prayer, student Internet cases” and “Supreme Court won’t hear FINRA immunity case.”

“Wal-Mart seeks end to refiled gender-bias lawsuit”: Dan Levine of Reuters has a report that begins, “Women who refiled a gender discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc have failed to come to grips with the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended their nationwide class action against the company, Wal-Mart argued in a court filing.”

“Supreme Court agrees to request by PCN to televise redistricting hearing live”: The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts today issued a news release that begins, “The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced that the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will be televising live its Jan. 23 oral argument session on the state’s legislative redistricting plan.”

“USS Cole bombing suspect back before Guantanamo tribunal”: Carol Rosenberg of The Miami Herald has this news update.

“Military lawyers blast Guantanamo mail search as violating rights, ethics”: Carol Rosenberg of The Miami Herald has an article that begins, “Military lawyers for Guantanamo detainees who could someday be put to death are accusing the new prison commander of censoring protected attorney-client documents, raising a new legal controversy that spotlights ongoing concern about the fairness of possible military trials.”

And at the “Lawfare” blog, Benjamin Wittes and Ritika Singh have a post titled “Nashiri Motions Hearing Preview.” Wittes and Singh will provide additional coverage of the hearing (including this very recent post) throughout the day.

“U.S. gun industry appeals new rifle reporting rules”: Reuters has this report.

Access online today’s Order List of the U.S. Supreme Court: The Court has posted today’s Order List at this link. There are no new grants of review. The Court called for the views of the Solicitor General in two cases.

In recognition of the large number of law librarians who read this blog, I must note that today’s Order List concludes with the following order:

It is ordered that Linda S. Maslow be appointed Librarian of the Court to succeed Judith Ann Gaskell, effective at the commencement of business January 17, 2012, and that she take the oath of office as required by statute.

No word yet on who administers the librarian oath of office at the Court. The Court’s former librarian, Ms. Gaskell, began serving in that post on August 11, 2003.

In early news coverage of today’s orders, The Associated Press reports that “Court rejects appeals in student speech cases“; “Court rejects appeal over prayer at public meeting“; “Court won’t review congressional immunity defense“; and “Court won’t review ruling on tipped employees.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Government prayer cases passed up.”

“Disgraced journalist Stephen Glass deserves a second chance”: Columnist Dan Walters has this op-ed today in The Sacramento Bee.

“Affirmative action suit gets Brown’s support”: In today’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “More than 15 years after California voters approved a ban on affirmative action based on race or gender preferences, a new challenge to Proposition 209 has reached a federal appeals court — and the challengers this time include Gov. Jerry Brown.”