“Moderate Democrat facing tough re-election on fence about Alito”: Thursday’s edition of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel will contain an article that begins, “After an ‘engaging and friendly’ conversation with Samuel Alito on Wednesday, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said he remained troubled about the Supreme Court nominee’s refusal to stand up for ‘the little guy’ against big business and big government.”
Bloomberg News reports that “Democrats Predict Filibuster Won’t Be Used to Block Alito Vote.”
The St. Petersburg Times today contains an editorial entitled “Judging Alito: Confirming Judge Samuel Alito for the U.S. Supreme Court has its risks, but there is no compelling reason not to.”
And The Winston-Salem Journal contains an editorial entitled “Alito a Bad Choice.”
“U.S. justice reflects on how he tackles cases”: The Philadelphia Inquirer provides a news update that begins, “He came to Philadelphia not to discuss today’s New Hampshire abortion-notification decision, or the Oregon assisted-suicide case, and most certainly not the confirmation of his prospective colleague, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. No, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer came here tonight to talk about his judicial philosophy and to push his new book. There were copies for sale at a table right outside the hall.”
“Two more Oregon cases pending before Supreme Court; Upcoming decisions will involve arrest procedures, death-penalty sentencing”: This article appears today in The Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal.
“Justices Send Back Parent-Notification Law; Lower Court Must Modify N.H. Abortion Measure Instead of Striking It Down”: Charles Lane will have this article Thursday in The Washington Post.
And Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times provides a news update headlined “Supreme Court Steers Clear of First Abortion Case in 5 Years.”
“High Court Upholds Oregon Law Backing Doctor-Assisted Suicide”: Jess Bravin has this article (pass-through link) today in The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper also contains a related editorial entitled “Federalism, a la Carte” (pass-through link).
Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “Supreme Court Upholds Oregon Right-to-Die Law; Justices say Ashcroft exceeded his power by trying to punish doctors who dispensed lethal drugs; Chief Justice Roberts joins dissenters.” The newspaper also contains articles headlined “‘We Won,’ Says Cancer Patient in Oregon Case; One of four plaintiffs hails the high court’s decision as a moral victory for the dying and legal vindication for the state’s voters” and “Is California Next in Line? In Sacramento, backers of an assisted-suicide law say they’ve gained a lot of momentum from the court ruling; But they still face major obstacles.” And an editorial is entitled “States of hypocrisy.”
In The New York Times, Timothy Egan and Adam Liptak have a news analysis headlined “Fraught Issue, but Narrow Ruling in Oregon Suicide Case.”
In USA Today, Joan Biskupic has articles headlined “Suicide ruling reopens debate; Ore. law upheld by high court” and “Opinion accuses feds of power grab; Tone, wording a rebuke of administration.” And a related article is headlined “Some hope for more laws; others fear them; Both sides react strongly to ruling on aided suicide.”
In The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article headlined “Victory for assisted-suicide law; High court rules for Oregon over White House.” And in related coverage, “California lawmakers renew effort; Backers hope ruling will boost support for assisted death.”
In The Boston Globe, Charlie Savage reports that “Doctor-assisted suicide gains ground; Supreme Court rejects bid to block Ore. law.” And an editorial is entitled “Oregon’s assistants.”
In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Supreme Court upholds Oregon suicide statute; The terminally ill can get drugs from doctors to end lives.”
The Oregonian contains articles headlined “Justices back Oregon suicide law“; “Plaintiffs and supporters celebrate the Supreme Court’s ruling on assisted suicide“; “Plaintiff says she wants to keep her options open if her condition deteriorates“; and “Given ruling, Smith says he won’t fight assisted suicide.” And an editorial is entitled “Oregon wins — without Roberts; Oregon may have won the battle over assisted suicide, but Chief Justice John Roberts’ dissenting vote suggests a larger war.”
The Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal contains articles headlined “Justices uphold assisted suicide; For some, decision is the end of a long battle; for others, it’s the beginning” and “Opponents hope Congress will step in; However, lawmakers say assisted suicide isn’t a high priority.” And an editorial is entitled “Congress should heed ruling that upholds assisted suicide; It should follow Sen. Smith’s advice and accept the high court’s decision.”
The New York Sun reports that “Leaders of GOP Flinching On Issue of Assisted Suicide.”
The Sacramento Bee reports that “Assisted suicide law stands; High court rules 6-3 that the federal government went too far to block state’s rule.”
The Washington Times reports that “High court upholds suicide law.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer contains an article headlined “Suicide ruling: End or a start?”
The Seattle Times reports that “Assisted-suicide decision may bring new effort here.”
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that “Ruling could revive assisted suicide effort here.”
The Chicago Tribune reports that “More vital issue is care of the dying, doctors say.” And an editorial is entitled “Suicide and states’ rights.”
And The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that “Oregon’s assisted-suicide law upheld; U.S. top court rejects federal bid to punish MDs who prescribe life-ending drugs.”
On this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “High Court Avoids Ruling on Abortion Case” (featuring Nina Totenberg) and “Lay Gives Up Coin Toss for Prime Spot in Courtroom” (a related document is here). RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.
“On abortion, court finds middle ground; Its 9-to-0 ruling on a parental-notification law avoids some key issues”: Warren Richey and Linda Feldmann will have this article Thursday in The Christian Science Monitor.
“Justice expresses dissent in print”: From Alabama, The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “State Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin was shocked one morning when he opened his newspaper and saw an op-ed page article by Justice Tom Parker criticizing Bolin and the other justices for following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
And The Montgomery Advertiser today contains an editorial entitled “Parker’s attack insults court.”
“RIM: BlackBerry Shutdown May Hurt U.S.” The Associated Press provides this report.
Bloomberg News reports that “Research In Motion Says BlackBerry Is Key to Economy.”
And The Toronto Globe and Mail today contains an article headlined “RIM allegedly caused ‘substantial harm’; NTP says business has suffered because of firm’s refusal to settle infringement case.”
“Harper says courts bear marks of Liberal rule”: The Toronto Globe and Mail provides a news update that begins, “The Canadian court system bears the mark of more than 10 years of Liberal rule, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said today.”
“In Lebec, ‘Intelligent Design’ Class Is History; School officials settle a lawsuit with parents and agree to never again offer such a course”: The Los Angeles Times today contains an article that begins, “In a second defeat in a month for proponents of teaching ‘intelligent design’ in public schools, a rural school district in Kern County agreed Tuesday to stop a course that had included discussion of a religion-based alternative to evolution.”
“Fresno courthouse makes stylish debut; Operating details are worked out as opening day brings life to the new U.S. District Court”: This article appears today in The Fresno Bee.
“My Father’s Abortion War”: Eyal Press will have this article (TimesSelect subscription required) in the January 22, 2006 issue of The New York Times Magazine.
“Supreme Court Dodges Major Abortion Ruling”: David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times provides this news update.
law.com’s Tony Mauro reports that “Supreme Court Sends New Hampshire Abortion Case Back to Lower Court.”
James Vicini of Reuters reports that “Top court orders more hearings on abortion law.”
And today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Day to Day” contained a segment entitled “Slate’s Jurisprudence: High Court’s Abortion Ruling” (RealPlayer required) featuring Dahlia Lithwick.
Clothes may make the man, but a criminal defendant’s appearance at trial in a prison jumpsuit doesn’t always necessitate reversal: At the close of this ruling issued today, the Seventh Circuit observes, “It would be well-worth a court’s time and expenses to keep extra suits at the courthouse for a defendant to wear, should he appear at trial in his prison-issued jumpsuit. Had the Price County Court in this case had an extra suit on hand, this lengthy and protracted litigation would not have been necessary.” At least Wisconsin trial courts need wonder no longer how they should spend those holiday gift cards to the mall.
“Prison authorities must be given considerable latitude in the design of measures for controlling homicidal maniacs without exacerbating their manias beyond what is necessary for security.” The prison inmate who killed Jeffrey Dahmer has his Eighth Amendment cruel and unusual conditions of confinement lawsuit decided today in an opinion that Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner filed on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
“Ingrate Judges: Conservative Justices have a tendency of moving leftward; The same could happen with Roberts, or even Alito for that matter.” Robert Kuttner has this essay online at The American Prospect.
Online at The Weekly Standard, John Hinderaker has an essay entitled “Progressivism’s Alamo: Why stare decisis has become so important to the liberal project.”
And online at Reason, Matt Welch has an essay entitled “Executive Assistant: Alito flunks the most pressing test of today and tomorrow.”
“Justices Won’t Block Suit Against Agents”: The Associated Press provides this report.
In memoriam: Senior Circuit Judge Theodore McMillian of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has died. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides this news update.
In 1997, the Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law published a tribute to Judge McMillian. You can access the articles via this link. And in 2003, Judge McMillian’s portrait was presented to the Eighth Circuit. Notes on that ceremony are here and here.
“Some justices seem to rethink campaign-finance ruling”: Tony Mauro has this news analysis online at The First Amendment Center.
“Boston Court Approves Ending Life Support for Girl in Coma”: This article appears today in The New York Times.
The Washington Post reports today that “Comatose Girl Can Be Removed From Life Support, Court Rules.”
The Boston Globe reports that “SJC says life support can end for alleged beating victim, 11.”
And The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts reports that “Removal of life support OK’d.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Tragic story of girl who won’t grow up.”
“Review of the Wisconsin Oral Argument”: Allison Hayward offers this interesting recap at “Skeptic’s Eye” of yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court oral argument.
Available online from National Public Radio: Today’s broadcast of “Morning Edition” contained segments entitled “Oregon Stands Alone on Assisted Suicide” (featuring Nina Totenberg); “Oregonians Welcome Assisted Suicide Ruling“; and “Domestic Spying Draws Legal Challenge.”
Yesterday’s broadcast of “All Things Considered” contained segments entitled “High Court Backs Oregon’s Assisted-Suicide Law” (featuring Nina Totenberg); “How the Assisted-Suicide Ruling Affects Doctors’ Work“; “Mass. Court Rules to Remove Girl from Life Support“; “Lawsuits Challenge U.S. Spying Program’s Legality“; and “NSA Case Plaintiff and Author James Bamford.”
And yesterday’s broadcast of “Talk of the Nation” contained a segment entitled “Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Ore. Suicide Law” (featuring David G. Savage).
RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.
Alito confirmation party menu: Bill Toland has this to say today — under the heading “Neato!” — in “The Morning File” column online at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
To the relief of approximately everybody, the Senate interrogation of Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. came to an end last week. Did you, the dutiful media consumer, our best hope for a well-informed democracy, tune in? Neither did The Morning File. That’s why we have government correspondents. They do the serious journalism, attending subcommittee hearings and interviewing senators and whatnot. The Morning File, meanwhile, gets paid to think up the menu for our Samuel Alito Confirmation Victory Party. Our appetizers would be petite Alito burritos, with refried beans and a curry-cumin salsa. The seafood dish would be Alito bonito, grilled in the Greek style, with garlic, oregano, lemon and olive oil. Served on the side, of course, would be Alito Morabito specialty bread. Snacks? Fritos and Doritos. To finish, the Alito Mojito — rum, spearmint leaves, lime, club soda and syrup. Our dinner guests will include Danny DeVito and Phil Esposito. Judge Lance Ito is, sadly, indisposed.
You can access the complete column at this link.
Chinese Starbucks name battle to be resolved in Higher People’s Court: The Shanghai Daily reports today that “Starbucks to face a new name battle.”
And The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Chinese Co. in Dispute With Starbucks” that begins, “A Chinese company locked in a trademark dispute with Starbucks has appealed a court order to change its name for sounding too similar to that of the American coffee giant, a newspaper reported Wednesday.”
I hadn’t realized that People’s Court featured an appellate component.
“Ruling to bar website upheld”: The Malaysia Star today contains an article that begins, “A disgruntled engineer who had put up a website containing several defamatory allegations against Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) after purchasing a Kelisa with defects failed to overturn an interim injunction order barring the site.”
And The Associated Press reports that “Court Bars Tirade on Malaysian Web Site.”
Today’s U.S. Supreme Court opinions in argued cases: The Court today issued its ruling in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, No. 04-1144. You can access the syllabus here; Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s opinion for a unanimous Court here; and the oral argument transcript here.
The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Supreme Court Dodges Big Abortion Ruling” that begins, “The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a lower court was wrong to strike down New Hampshire abortion restrictions, dodging a major ruling.”
And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Court rules on teen abortion.”
The Court today also announced opinions in two other argued cases.
In Rice v. Collins, No. 04-52, you can access the syllabus here; Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s opinion for a unanimous Court here; Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s concurring opinion, in which Justice David H. Souter joined, here; and the oral argument transcript here.
And in Will v. Hallock, No. 04-1332, you can access the syllabus here; Justice Souter’s opinion for a unanimous Court here; and the oral argument transcript here.
“Supreme Court hears challenge to campaign law; Wisconsinites play pivotal roles in case”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which also contains an editorial entitled “Don’t weaken campaign law.”
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports today that “High court hears challenge to campaign-finance law.”
And in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Some Supreme Court justices seem cool to revisiting ‘issue ads.’”
Meet the new boss: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has a new chief judge, and her name is Edith H. Jones. Coincidentally, as I recently noted here, one of her colleagues on that court had an op-ed this past Sunday in The Houston Chronicle entitled “Figment of imagination: There is no constitutional right to privacy; Call a national referendum to settle the issue.”
“Democrat to vote for Alito”: This article appears today in The Washington Times. The newspaper also reports that “Pro-lifers proffer kudos to Specter” and “Kennedy quits all-male Harvard club amid criticism.”
The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star today contains an article headlined “Nelson: I’ll vote for Alito.”
The Harvard Crimson contains articles headlined “Tribe: Alito Is Threat To Roe; Professor tells Senate that nominee would reduce 1973 ruling to ‘hollow shell’” and “Kennedy Severs Final Club Ties; Senator says he will stop paying dues to the Owl after critics claim hypocrisy.”
In The Philadephia Inquirer, political analyst Dick Polman reports that “Abortion fades as litmus test for justices.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Anti-Alito protesters visit City Council.” And a related item is headlined “For the Alito confirmation party: Bonito, Morabito and Mojito.”
The Yale Daily News reports that “Alliance for Justice legal director keynotes Yale Political Union debate.”
And The Princeton (N.J.) Packet reports that “Alito’s sensitivity questioned by fellow Princeton University alum; Involvement with controversial Concerned Alumni of Princeton focus of talk.”
In commentary, The Providence (R.I.) Journal contains an editorial entitled “Confirm Samuel Alito.”
The Joplin Globe contains an editorial entitled “Senate should vote on Alito.”
The Louisville Courier-Journal contains an editorial entitled “A wary yes on Alito.”
In The Boston Globe, columnist Jeff Jacoby has an op-ed entitled “Musings, random and otherwise.”
In The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, columnist Paul Greenberg has an op-ed entitled “The Inquisitors.”
In The Seattle Times, Carl Jeffers has an op-ed entitled “Alito hearings reveal a process that’s broken.”
In The Philadelphia Daily News, Deborah Leavy has an op-ed entitled “Robert Bork without the beard.” And Rotan E. Lee has an op-ed entitled “Is it the end of the road for Roe?”
Finally, in The Philippine News, Lito Gutierrez has an op-ed entitled “Rooting for Alito.”
“City Can’t Bar Cell Towers on Looks Only, Court Says; La Canada Flintridge’s ban is rejected; Service providers say the ruling will help boost coverage”: The Los Angeles Times today contains this article reporting on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued yesterday.
In the brand new issue of The New York Observer: Anna Schneider-Mayerson has an article headlined “Lafsky’s Last Laugh: Secret Legal Blogger Says ‘I’m Opinionista!’”
And an article is headlined “Schumer Reports: Tough Guys Don’t Make Wives Cry.”
