“Maryland Judge Voids Ban on Same-Sex Marriage; State Quickly Appeals”: Adam Liptak will have this article Saturday in The New York Times.

“Frist calls Alito Democrats’ ‘nightmare'”: Reuters provides this report.

Available online from law.com: Shannon P. Duffy reports that “Law Firm’s Defamation Claim Found to Trump Critics’ Internet Anonymity; Law firm sues over disparaging online comments.” The ruling can be accessed here.

An article is headlined “Breyer: ‘Never Heard a Voice Raised in Anger’ on High Court; Speaking to students, Breyer discusses cameras in courtroom and a new atmosphere under Chief Justice Roberts.”

And the brand new installment of my law.com column is entitled “In Nazi Memorabilia Fight, Yahoo Can’t Win for Losing.”

Access online U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito, Jr.‘s written answers submitted today to follow-up questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: I have posted the answers online at this link (large PDF file).

And Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press reports that “Alito Gives Senate Committee More Answers.”

50 Cent and the “scenes a faire” doctrine: Matt offers these thoughts at “A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago.”

“Internet Censorship and Surveillance”: This segment (available in both RealPlayer and Windows Media formats) appeared on today’s broadcast of the public radio program “On Point.” The segment addresses the question “Why are American companies like Microsoft and Yahoo cooperating in an online crackdown from Iran to China?”

“Prosecution rests; Hatch goes on stand today; A contractor testifying for the government says he did extensive renovations at two of Richard Hatch’s properties on Aquidneck Island”: The Providence (R.I.) Journal contains this article today. And the newspaper also provides an update headlined “Hatch eager for spotlight as he testifies at tax trial.”

“Alito rouses little fury; Expected ad wars over Bush’s court nominees fizzle”: This news analysis appeared yesterday in The Sacramento Bee.

Vindicating the right of crime victims to speak at federal sentencing: Late today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued this opinion in typescript. Judicial superhottie Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski wrote the court’s opinion, while a visiting judge has penned a separate dubitante opinion.

“Judicial misconduct complaint filed against Alito”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“The legacy of Justice O’Connor”: Third Circuit Judge (and First Lady of Pennsylvania) Marjorie O. Rendell has this op-ed today in The Philadelphia Daily News.

“DRUDGE Exclusive: Teddy’s Last Gasp On Alito.” A bit earlier today, the Drudge Report posted this.

“Safety’s death stuns Northwestern team”: USA Today reported that news in the summer of 2001. Today, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued an opinion rejecting Northwestern University’s challenge to a court-approved settlement between Rashidi Wheeler’s estate and a manufacturer of ephedra-containing products. The settlement bars Northwestern’s claims for contribution against the manufacturer and others that settled.

Bobblehead doll not included: The Washington Post today reports here (final item) on the sale of the North Arlington home that was Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist’s residence (via “Wonkette“).

“Harper eager to politicize top court, Martin warns; Tories’ social-conservative agenda drawn from U.S. ‘extreme right,’ Liberal Leader says”: This article appears today in The Toronto Globe and Mail.

“Md. court rules against same-sex marriage ban; Judge says law ‘cannot withstand constitutional challenge'”: The Associated Press provides this report on an opinion and order that the Circuit Court of Baltimore, Maryland issued this morning.

“The Supreme Court: Why Democrats can’t stop Alito.” The brand new issue of The Week magazine contains this “Controversy of the Week” essay.

Substitution of new named plaintiff who actually consumed Vioxx for original named plaintiff who hadn’t in Missouri state court class action does not amount to “commencement” of action allowing for removal to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, Eighth Circuit rules: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued this ruling today.

The Legal Intelligencer is reporting: In today’s newspaper, Shannon P. Duffy has an article (subscription required) headlined “Defamation Claim Trumps Internet Anonymity” that begins, “Ruling on one of the most important First Amendment issues of the day, a Philadelphia judge has ruled that a valid defamation claim trumps any right to speak anonymously on the Internet.” The ruling, which appears to be the subject of an appeal, can be accessed here.

And Meg Charendoff and Asher Hawkins have an article headlined “Breyer: ‘Never Heard a Voice Raised in Anger’ on High Court” (subscription required).

Available online from Reason: David Boaz has an essay entitled “Ginsburg in the ‘Balance’: It didn’t matter then–it shouldn’t now.”

And Ronald Bailey has an essay entitled “Roe v. Wade Forever: Legalized abortion’s 33rd anniversary.”

“Last Stand — An Audacious Enron Defense: Company’s Moves Were All Legal; With $40 Million War Chest, Skilling Calls on Lawyer With Business Expertise; Hiring a Sociology Professor.” This front page article (pass-through link) appears today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Maryland Judge Set to Rule on Gay Marriage Rights”: This segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

“3 senior Senate Democrats come out against confirming Alito; They say he’ll defer to Bush”: Michael McGough has this article today in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Chicago Tribune reports today that “Durbin says he’ll vote no on Alito; He calls judge’s views outside mainstream.”

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that “Durbin to vote against Alito, says filibuster possible.”

The Washington Times reports that “Four more Democrats plan to oppose Alito.”

The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reports that “Senator troubled by Alito’s record; Abortion rights views ‘unsettle’ Menendez.”

The Denver Post reports that “Salazar to vote no on Alito; Jurist ‘outside the mainstream.’”

The Rocky Mountain News reports that “Salazar opposes Alito; Civil-rights record, allegiance to executive branch worry Coloradan.”

The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction, Colorado reports that “Sen. Salazar nixes Alito as Supreme Court justice.”

The Pueblo Chieftain reports that “Salazar joins with Alito’s foes.”

The Virginian-Pilot reports that “Sen. Warner gives Alito his formal endorsement.”

The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Virginia reports that “Warner backs Alito for court; The support for confirmation follows a private meeting between the senator and Bush’s nominee for the Supreme Court.”

The Burlington Free Press reports that “Leahy plans to vote against Alito.”

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that “Leahy says no to Alito.”

The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota contains an article headlined “Johnson: Still no decision on Alito.”

The Gallup News Service reports that “Abortion Views Reviewed as Alito Vote Nears; Americans want abortion legal, but favor significant limits.”

The Daily Northwestern reports that “Liberal groups anxious about Alito’s impending confirmation.”

And Central Michigan Life reports that “Alito’s qualifications for high court questioned at panel.”

“Google Resists U.S. Subpoena of Search Data”: The New York Times contains this article today.

The Washington Post today contains a front page article headlined “Google Refuses Demand for Search Information; Government Asked 4 Firms for Data in Effort to Revive Anti-Porn Law.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “U.S. Obtains Internet Users’ Search Records; Yahoo and others reveal queries from millions of people; Google refuses; Identities aren’t included, but the data trove stirs privacy fears.”

The San Jose Mercury News reports that “Other firms handed over data on Web searches.” The newspaper has also posted online the declarations of Joel McElvain and Philip B. Stark, Ph.D., which the federal government filed in court in support of its request for access to Google’s search records.

USA Today reports that “Google rejects call for data in porn probe; Bush administration seeks records of user searches; Yahoo, MSN cooperate.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that “U.S. wants to google … Google; Demand for data on Web searches may spark fight on privacy rights.”

And The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “Google says no to data request; Government wants records of searches.”

“Must Public Subway Trains that Feature Advertising Carry Anti-Abortion Ads? What the First Amendment Has to Say.” FindLaw commentator Vikram David Amar has this essay today.

“Political footballs and constitutional law”: Today in The Los Angeles Times, columnist Rosa Brooks has an op-ed that begins, “On Monday, my constitutional law class will meet for the first time this semester, and I don’t have the slightest idea what to tell the students about the subject we’ll be discussing for the next 13 weeks.”

“Tripping Up on Trips: Judges Love Junkets as Much as Tom DeLay Does.” Dorothy Samuels has this “Editorial Observer” essay today in The New York Times. The September 2002 installment of my monthly appellate column examined this issue.

“Kiss and Make It Up: What happens when there is no law constraining Alito.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.