“Republican Threats and the Supreme Court”: This editorial will appear in Friday’s edition of The New York Times.

“Pa. justices question roots of NRA-backed law”: In today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Laura McCrystal has a front page article that begins, “Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Wednesday signaled it was unlikely to reinstate a controversial law that gave the National Rifle Association the right to challenge municipal gun ordinances across the state.”

The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania law mixing copper theft, gun laws under review.”

And Reuters reports that “Pennsylvania gun control advocates challenge law on city gun rules.”

“Sept. 11 families seek to restore Saudi Arabia as defendant”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “Lawyers for families of Sept. 11 terrorist-attacks victims have asked a New York federal appeals court to restore Saudi Arabia as a defendant in a lawsuit.”

“Pa. Supreme Court rebukes new Phila. judge”: In today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wendy Ruderman has an article that begins, “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court meted out a harsh public rebuke Wednesday of a newly elected Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge, citing ‘serial misconduct’ in his previous work as criminal defense lawyer.”

“Liberal groups drop criticism of potential Obama Supreme Court nominee”: Irin Carmon of msnbc.com has a report that begins, “When President Barack Obama nominated Sri Srinivasan to the D.C. Circuit in 2013, his name was already being floated for a future Supreme Court vacancy, a prospect that made some progressive groups uneasy.”

“Senate Republicans Stand by Refusal to Consider Any Supreme Court Nominee”: David M. Herszenhorn of The New York Times has this report.

“Merrick Garland’s been considered for the Supreme Court before. Is this his year?” Jerry Markon of The Washington Post has this report.

“Dietzen to resign from Minnesota Supreme Court; Gov. Mark Dayton will get his fifth appointment to the court”: Ricardo Lopez of The Minneapolis Star Tribune has this report.

“Failed judicial nominees: It’s ‘no fun.'” Robin Bravender of Greenwire has this report.

“Constitution Check: In the Supreme Court vacancy fight, which election counts most?” Lyle Denniston has this post today at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

“Legislature elects McCullough to state Supreme Court”: Jim Nolan and Graham Moomaw of The Richmond Times-Dispatch have a news update that begins, “The Virginia General Assembly elected Court of Appeals Judge Stephen R. McCullough to the Supreme Court of Virginia Thursday, ending a seven-month political standoff with Gov. Terry McAuliffe over a vacancy on the high court.”

And Laura Vozzella and Fenit Nirappil of The Washington Post report that “GOP wins long Va. Supreme Court fight with McAuliffe.”

“‘Choose Life’ license plate upheld as federal court reverses ruling”: Colin Campbell of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina has this report.

And The Associated Press has a report headlined “US appeals court: N. Carolina can print ‘Choose Life’ plates.”

You can access today’s ruling of a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit at this link.

“Obama signals Supreme Court announcement could come soon”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “President Barack Obama on Thursday signaled that his announcement of a Supreme Court nominee could come soon, saying the nation’s highest court needs to operate at full strength.” The AP also has a related report headlined “Grassley: Efforts to sway him on Supreme Court won’t work.”

Reuters has reports headlined “White House interviewing five potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees: source” and “Obama hopes ‘cooler heads prevail’ on Supreme Court nominee.”

Bloomberg News has reports headlined “Obama and Republicans Trade Fire Over Nominee to Replace Scalia” and “Grassley Defends Vow to Block Debate on Supreme Court Nominee.”

And Michael McAuliff andJennifer Bendery of The Huffington Post report that “Republican Admits Supreme Court Blockade Is Unprecedented; ‘We are setting a precedent here today,’ Sen. Lindsey Graham said.”

“Kansas conservatives advance bill on impeachment of judges”: The Associated Press has this report.

“What We Know About The Judges Obama Is Reportedly Vetting For The Supreme Court”: Ian Millhiser has this post at ThinkProgress.

“Georgetown Law Professors Williams and Hartnett Embark Upon Justice Ginsburg Project”: Georgetown Law today issued a news release that begins, “Simon and Schuster today announced plans to publish the first collection of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s writings and speeches.”

Ninth Circuit Judge Paul J. Watford‘s absence from oral arguments yesterday in Portland, Oregon possibly explained: Last night, Robert Barnes — the U.S. Supreme Court correspondent of The Washington Post — helped stir up the Twitterverse with a Tweet stating:

Anyone seen #scotus hopeful Paul Watford? As Obama considers choice, judge was no-show at scheduled 9th Circuit oral arguments today

Last night on this blog’s Twitter feed, I retweeted law professor Adam Winkler‘s tweet in response to Barnes stating:

You might check restaurants near the White House! #GoBruins

The Ninth Circuit posts its oral arguments on YouTube, and Barnes is correct that Judge Watford was absent without explanation for the two oral arguments yesterday in Portland, Oregon for which video is now available online (see here and here).

A three-judge Ninth Circuit panel that includes Judge Watford is hearing oral arguments in Portland all of this week.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Judge Watford participated in the oral arguments via video feed from an undisclosed remote location. Before the first oral argument on Monday, Circuit Judge Marsha S. Berzon explained that Judge Watford was appearing via video because he is recovering from surgery. And before the first oral argument on Tuesday, Circuit Judge Raymond C. Fisher explained that Judge Watford was appearing via video because he had an injured Achilles tendon and cannot travel.

Perhaps this is all an elaborate ruse to conceal that Judge Watford is in Washington, DC being vetted for an impending U.S. Supreme Court nomination, but at least an explanation of his absence from the Ninth Circuit’s oral arguments this week in Portland, Oregon does exist on the record.

“Supreme Court, Trump engulf Capitol Hill; The high court battle is all anyone’s talking about other than Trump, which isn’t a good place for Republicans”: John Bresnahan of Politico.com has this report.

“The Supreme Court is a political court. Republicans’ actions are proof.” Seventh Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner has this essay online at The Washington Post.

“Obama narrowing list of possible Supreme Court candidates”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “Despite calls to select a Supreme Court nominee from outside the judicial monastery, President Barack Obama doesn’t appear to be ready to leave the faith.” According to the article, “Obama’s top-tier of candidates include Judge Sri Srinivasan of U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Merrick Garland, chief judge on same court, and Judge Paul Watford of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a source familiar with the selection process.”

And in related coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Conservative, liberal groups gear up for Supreme Court fight.”