“Are Senior Judges Unconstitutional?” This article (abstract with link for download) by Law Professor David R. Stras and Ryan W. Scott was posted yesterday at SSRN.

In news from Chicago: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article headlined “Acquittal in video rape case; Advocates decry 2nd not-guilty verdict from ’02 teen party.”

And The Chicago Sun-Times reports today that “Videotaped rape suspect is free.”

“Lethal drug process altered; State lawyers tell judge the change ensures inmates will stay unconscious amid death-chamber injections”: Claire Cooper, legal affairs writer for The Sacramento Bee, today has this article in that newspaper.

Bob Egelko is reporting: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, he has articles headlined “12 states appeal emissions decision; Challenge to EPA refusal to regulate greenhouse gases” and “State proposes revisions in execution style; Drug doses would be changed to hasten death.”

The Chicago Tribune is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains articles headlined “Enron trial’s star witness to take stage; Was Andrew Fastow a rogue player or an operator with the approval of his bosses?” and “Key hearing opens on use of confession in terror-funds trial.”

“Many Defendants’ Cases Kept Secret”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Despite the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of public trials, nearly all records are being kept secret for more than 5,000 defendants who completed their journey through the federal courts over the last three years.”

“States take Medicare complaint to Court”: Today at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post that begins, “In a major new test of federalism in the Supreme Court, five states on Friday asked permission to file a lawsuit against the federal government directly in the Court, to challenge the constitutionality of a key feature of the new Medicare ‘Part D’ prescription drug program.”

“The Man Who Wasn’t There on 9/11; Next Week, U.S. Will Begin Its Case for Moussaoui’s Death”: This front page article appears today in The Washington Post.

And in Sunday’s edition of The New York Times, Neil A. Lewis will report that “At Satellite Courthouses, 9/11 Relatives Will Watch Moussaoui’s Sentencing.”

“High court to see ‘historic change'”: The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Virginia today contains this article reporting on a talk that Jan Crawford Greenburg gave yesterday at the Miller Center of Public Affairs, a nonpartisan research institution at the University of Virginia.

“Lawsuits allowed for fetal defects; But Ohio justices limit damages for missed diagnosis”: This article appears today in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that “Prenatal ruling is limited in scope; Couple wins ‘wrongful birth’ case, but not much money.”

The Toledo Blade reports that “Doctors not responsible for child-care costs; State top court says malpractice can be cited in ‘wrongful birth.’”

And The Dayton Daily News reports that “Court limits lawsuits on birth defects; Parents may seek damages only for medical costs.”

“Panel wants to bar lawyer from practicing for 2 years; ‘Naked photographer’ endangered public, board says in ruling”: Yesterday’s issue of The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch contained an article that begins, “A disciplinary panel yesterday recommended that Stephen P. Linnen, the Columbus lawyer dubbed the ‘naked photographer’ for taking pictures of 38 women while he was wearing only sneakers and a knit cap, be stripped of his ability to practice law for at least two years.”

“County’s Web site cleansed; Prosecutors charge 8 with identity theft”: The Cincinnati Enquirer today contains an article that begins, “Hamilton County officials ordered the removal of hundreds of documents from a county Web site Friday after learning some contained Social Security numbers and other personal data. The decision to strip the records from the county clerk of courts’ Web site came as authorities in Cincinnati and Columbus continued to face criticism for making personal information available on the Internet.”

“Giordano convictions hold”: The Waterbury (Conn.) Republican-American today contains an article that begins, “A divided federal appeals court on Friday upheld the convictions of former Waterbury Mayor Philip A. Giordano in a shocking child sex case.”

And today in The Hartford Courant, Lynne Tuohy reports that “Giordano Convictions Upheld; Court Divided On Whether Ex-Mayor Threatened Victims.”

“Cannibal Wins Ban of Film in Germany”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “For more than three years, the man known as the Cannibal of Rotenburg has held Germans in grisly thrall, with his lurid tale of killing and eating a willing victim he found through the Internet. Now, as he stands trial for a second time on murder charges, the man, Armin Meiwes, has persuaded a German court to ban a horror film based on the notorious case — in part because it is, if possible, too lurid.”

“Lawdragon Web site will lift veil on judges”: Reuters provides a report that begins, “The ‘secret society’ of U.S. judges is about to be invaded by a Web site that lets people who have appeared before them rate judges in the first such public forum.” The site can be accessed here.

“Breast Cancer Delays Sentencing of Lawyer Convicted in Terrorism Case”: The New York Times contains this article today.

“RIM, NTP settle BlackBerry patent war”: This article appears today in The Toronto Globe and Mail, along with an article headlined “‘I wish my son could have seen it’: Campana Sr.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that “BlackBerry maker reaches settlement.”

The Los Angeles Times reports today that “BlackBerry Is Saved by a Settlement; The maker of the e-mail device agrees to pay $612.5 million to resolve a patent challenge.”

The Washington Post reports that “For NTP, Battle Worth Fighting Ends in Vindication Over Patent.”

The Toronto Star reports that “$612.5M deal averts BlackBerry blackout” and “RIM shares soar on $613 million U.S. settlement; BlackBerry maker agrees to pay NTP; Reveals lawsuit has hurt bottom line.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that “BlackBerry suit settled; $612.5 million deal keeps network active.”

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “BlackBerry users emerge from the legal briar patch; RIM agrees to pay NTP $612.5 million to settle patent suit.”

The San Jose Mercury News contains an article headlined “Thumbs up for e-mail device; BlackBerry patent suit ends with settlement.”

And Financial Post reports that “Rim pays US$612M to settle NTP case; One-time patent payment buys ‘predictability.’”