“ABA should keep judges clean: The American Bar Assn. should stand firm against any judicial ‘appearance of impropriety.'” This editorial appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Bill would ease jury rules on death penalty”: Sunday’s edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will contain an article reporting on a proposed Georgia law that would “allow a judge to impose the death sentence if at least nine jurors vote for execution. It would not change the rules for deciding guilt: That would still require unanimous agreement.”

“Executioner’s words disturb panel”: This article appears today in The St. Petersburg Times.

“Death Penalty Bears Down on O’Malley, Kaine; Legislatures Are Preparing to Debate Bills on Repealing or Expanding Executions”: The Washington Post contains this front page article today.

And The Washington Times reports today that “Catholic lawmakers oppose death-penalty repeal.”

“Students excited to hear Alito speak next week; Alito eighth justice to give Albritton lecture at UA”: This article appeared yesterday in The Crimson White.

“Self-defense law change ruled not retroactive”: The Arizona Daily Star today contains an article that begins, “A man accused of the 2004 murder of a woman at his Tucson apartment will have to prove to a jury he acted in self-defense if he hopes to escape prison. In a unanimous decision Friday, the Arizona Supreme Court said a change in self-defense laws approved last year affects only those charged with crimes committed after the change took effect.”

And The Arizona Republic today contains a related article headlined “2 bills would benefit killer.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Arizona at this link.

“Show takes on high court myths, mystery; Through three cases, TPT documentary explains justices’ role in applying the law”: The St. Paul Pioneer Press today contains a television review that begins, “They’re the elected officials least likely to be caught in front of cameras. Much of their work — reading, researching, debating and writing — is done in private, but their decisions have sweeping ramifications for everything from how business operates in Minnesota to your rights during a police traffic stop. Now, the Minnesota Supreme Court has opened its doors — at least partially — to cameras. The state judicial branch has collaborated with Twin Cities Public Television’s Minnesota Channel to make ‘Justice Matters,’ an hourlong documentary on the state’s high court.”

“Former Supreme Court justice to hear cases in St. Louis”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be part of a three-judge appellate court panel in St. Louis hearing two high-profile cases next week.”

My earlier coverage appears at this link.

“The Supreme Court’s shrinking Indian law caseload”: Matthew L.M. Fletcher has this essay online at Indian Country Today.

“Tribal control dealt blow; An appeals court rejects the assertion that federal labor laws don’t apply to Indian casinos”: This article appears today in the Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports today that “U.S. labor laws apply to tribes, court says; Broad implications seen for their casino workers.”

The San Bernardino County Sun contains an article headlined “No free ride for Indian casinos; Judges say U.S. labor laws apply.”

And The Desert Sun of Palm Springs, California contains an article headlined “Court: Laws apply to tribes.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit at this link.

“To the highest court: UA team to appeal runoff ruling to U.S. Supreme Court.” The Pacific Daily News of Guam today contains an article that begins, “The chances of a runoff election for the office of governor are ‘nil,’ said Republican Gov. Felix Camacho, hours after his Democratic opponent in last November’s election announced plans to challenge the election results in the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Deadbeat ex-spouses can be jailed, court says; Long case of Ontario plastic surgeon who owes $700,000 sparks landmark decision”: The Toronto Globe and Mail contains this article today.

And The London Free Press today contains an article headlined “‘A huge moral victory’; A landmark ruling involving a former Sarnia doctor sends a message to deadbeat parents.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada at this link.

“A Gag Order for Divorced Parents?” This audio segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Law Professor Eugene Volokh appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Weekend Edition Saturday.”

“Portugal’s Vote on Abortion Ban Stirs Emotions”: This article will appear Sunday in The New York Times.

“Retrial for Watada unlikely to be soon”: The Honolulu Advertiser today contains an article that begins, “The court-martial of Army Lt. Ehren Watada for refusing deployment to Iraq could be held up a year or more by constitutional challenges, several prominent criminal defense lawyers said.”

“More breakthroughs lie ahead for women, O’Connor says”: This article appears today in The Arizona Daily Star.

“TV Loves Smith Case Lawyer”: The Hartford Courant today contains an article that begins, “As a partner in the blue-chip Hartford law firm of Bingham McCutchen and a lecturer in bankruptcy law at Yale Law School, G. Eric Brunstad Jr. is used to working killer hours. But after the death of former Playboy cover girl and weight-loss diva Anna Nicole Smith in a Florida casino hotel room, Brunstad really started working overtime.”

“Justice in the Balance: How President Bush got the high court he wanted.” In tomorrow’s issue of The Washington Post’s Book World section, Emily Bazelon will have this review of Jan Crawford Greenburg’s new book, “Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court.”

“Sex offenders released before Prop. 83 can live near schools, parks, judge rules; A federal jurist says the ban can’t be applied to those who had already served their sentences”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “Judge rules Prop. 83 isn’t retroactive.”

And The San Jose Mercury News reports that “Ruling excludes past sex offenders; Judge curbs restrictions on where offenders live.”

I have posted online at this link yesterday’s ruling by Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton of the Eastern District of California.

“Courts wing it after ruling; Local judge breaks ground amid the turmoil over sentencing”: The Sacramento Bee today contains an article that begins, “A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a key aspect of California’s sentencing law is causing widespread confusion in the state’s criminal courts, and an extraordinary rape case in Sacramento may be the first case statewide to struggle with its effects.”

“Maine lesbian ‘adoptee’ case tests legal bounds”: Reuters provides a report that begins, “Olive Watson, daughter of a wealthy computer magnate, adopted her 44-year-old lesbian lover, Patricia Spado, in a Maine courtroom in 1991 to provide her partner with greater financial security. Fast-forward 16 years. The two have split up and the Watson family is seeking to annul the adoption in a complex legal case that provides a glimpse into efforts by same-sex couples to use adoption laws to establish legal rights including inheritance.”

“Sudden Death: American support for the death penalty is diminishing–except on the Supreme Court.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

“OHA challenge set back; A court rules against taxpayers trying to stop state funding of pro-Hawaiian activities”: This article appears today in The Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

And The Honolulu Advertiser reports today that “Court rules against bid to halt funding of OHA.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s Ninth Circuit ruling appears at this link.

But did the judge cite the “A House Divided” episode of “The Munsters” as precedent? The Los Angeles Times today contains a front page article headlined “Far apart and under the same roof; In a strange divorce battle, judge orders construction of a wall to keep couple apart inside their own home.”

“Our First Citation in Voir Dire?” At “The Volokh Conspiracy,” Eugene Volokh links to this post in which a blogger at the “Scooter” Libby trial reports on a potential juror who testified during voir about which blogs the potential juror reads. Fortunately, “How Appealing” was among those blogs mentioned.