How Appealing



Monday, March 17, 2008

“High court to review D.C. handgun ban”: Joan Biskupic has this article online at USA Today.

Tuesday’s edition of The Times of London contains an article headlined “Landmark legal shootout over gun law.”

Tuesday’s edition of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram will report that “Texans have a stake in gun case; The Supreme Court will be asked to clarify right ‘to keep and bear arms’ in case, which begins today.”

At ABCNews.com, Ariane de Vogue and Dennis Powell have an article headlined “High Court to Hear Major Second Amendment Case; Attorneys to Spar Over Washington, D.C. Gun Ban.”

The Oklahoman reports that “High court’s ruling could change rules on gun ownership.”

CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen has a “CourtWatch” column entitled “High Noon For The 2nd Amendment? Expect A Showdown During U.S. Supreme Court’s Landmark Gun Case.”

And Tuesday in The Christian Science Monitor, Ellis Washington will have an op-ed entitled “Tyranny of a ‘reasonable’ gun ban; Rights, not legal fiction, should sway DC v. Heller.”

Posted at 10:14 PM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court’s inaction upholds city’s sex-business ordinance”: The Houston Chronicle provides a news update that begins, “The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal brought by some local strip clubs challenging the city’s sexually oriented business ordinance. The court’s decision could end what has been 10 years of hotly contested federal litigation between the city and scores of adult businesses over regulations in the ordinance.”

Posted at 8:00 PM by Howard Bashman



In Tuesday’s edition of The Christian Science Monitor: Warren Richey will have articles headlined “Historic case may decide U.S. gun rights; Hearings on the constitutionality of a D.C. gun ban begin Tuesday; The Supreme Court is looking at the Second Amendment for the first time since 1939” and “FCC’s obscenity rule to get Supreme Court’s ear; The tribunal agrees to take a case about the commission’s crackdown on stations that air expletives.”

In addition, tomorrow’s newspaper will contain an article headlined “‘State secrets’ privilege fuels surveillance bill battle; Friday’s House vote, ignoring veto threat, is latest bid by Democrats to rein in White House powers.”

Posted at 7:35 PM by Howard Bashman



Edwin Kneedler today argued his 100th case before the U.S. Supreme Court: Tony Mauro notes the milestone in this post at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

That blog also offers this recent post from Joe Palazzolo reporting on the growing line for public admission to tomorrow’s Second Amendment oral argument at the Court.

Posted at 5:00 PM by Howard Bashman



Slate launches law blog: The title of the blog is “Convictions.” Chances are you will recognize the names of at least some, and perhaps many, of the blog’s contributors.

Posted at 3:02 PM by Howard Bashman



“Condemned cop killer denied new trial; Ga. Supreme Court rules 4-3 against Troy Davis”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides a news update that begins, “The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday, by a 4-3 vote, rejected Troy Anthony Davis’ bid for a new trial, keeping the condemned cop killer who claims he is innocent on death row. Davis was sentenced to death in Chatham County for the 1989 murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail in a Burger King parking lot. Since his trial 17 years ago, seven of the nine witnesses used by prosecutors to convict Davis have recanted their testimony.”

The Associated Press reports that “Georgia Supreme Court denies new trial for Troy Davis.”

And Reuters reports that “Court rejects appeal by death row man.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Georgia at this link.

Posted at 2:57 PM by Howard Bashman



“Victims Battle Over Marcos’ Money”: Pete Yost of The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “The Supreme Court on Monday expressed sympathy for Filipino victims of the Ferdinand Marcos regime while raising the possibility it may have no choice but to rule against them in a dispute over who owns $35 million once held by the late dictator.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has posted online at this link the transcript of today’s oral argument in Republic of Philippines v. Pimentel, No. 06-1204.

Posted at 2:45 PM by Howard Bashman



“New Trial for Ex-Qwest Boss Nacchio”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “A federal appeals court ordered a new trial Monday for former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio, saying the trial judge wrongly excluded expert testimony and classified information important to Nacchio’s defense in his insider trading case.”

The Denver Post provides a news update headlined “Nacchio conviction reversed.”

The Rocky Mountain News provides an update headlined “Court orders new Nacchio trial.”

The Wall Street Journal provides a news update headlined “Appeals Court Orders New Trial for Nacchio.”

And Reuters reports that “Court throws out Nacchio insider trading verdicts.”

Circuit Judge Michael W. McConnell issued the majority opinion today on behalf of a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Circuit Judge Jerome A. Holmes issued a dissenting opinion and voted to affirm the convictions.

Posted at 2:25 PM by Howard Bashman



Ninth Circuit decides United States v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins: In a somewhat surprising development for a forfeiture case, the appellant shark fins emerge on the winning side of this ruling issued today.

Posted at 2:18 PM by Howard Bashman



“Saudi wields British law against U.S. author; Billionaire leverages harsher libel rules to suppress unflattering book”: James Oliphant has this article today in The Chicago Tribune.

Posted at 12:25 PM by Howard Bashman



“Pawlenty picks Magnuson as chief justice”: The Minneapolis Star Tribune provides a news update that begins, “Governor Tim Pawlenty is turning to his former law partner to lead the Minnesota Supreme Court. Pawlenty named Eric Magnuson to replace Russell Anderson, who announced last week he would retire in June. Magnuson has been in charge of screening judicial candidates for the governor. He will become the first chief justice without previous experience on the Supreme Court since 1944.”

And The St. Paul Pioneer Press provides a news update headlined “Gov. Pawlenty appoints lawyer to lead Supreme Court.”

You can learn more about Magnuson via his law firm bio.

Posted at 11:30 AM by Howard Bashman



Eighth Circuit affirms permanent injunction against enforcement of a Minnesota law that prohibits minors from purchasing or renting video games bearing a ‘Mature’ or ‘Adult Only’ rating: A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued this ruling today.

Today’s ruling affirms a decision that Chief Judge James M. Rosenbaum of the U.S. District Court of the District of Minnesota issued on July 31, 2006. I had this post about that federal district court decision on the day it issued.

Posted at 11:23 AM by Howard Bashman



“Media: High Court, Low Profile.” In the current issue of CQ Weekly, columnist Elizabeth Wasserman has an essay that begins, “When Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. went to a high school government class this month, he was asked if televising oral arguments might help the public understand the court. And his reply succinctly summarized the long-running standoff between the press and the justices.”

Posted at 10:33 AM by Howard Bashman



F-word to be spoken at forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court oral argument: At “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Court grants review of indecency law, 7 other cases.” You can access today’s Order List at this link.

C-SPAN continues to provide online access to the video (RealPlayer required) of attorney Carter G. Phillips‘s profanity-laden oral argument presented in this case on December 20, 2006 before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. My coverage of that Second Circuit oral argument appeared in posts which you can access here and here. I covered the Second Circuit’s June 2007 ruling in posts that you can access here, here, and here. And I covered the filing of the federal government’s petition for writ of certiorari in a post that you can access here.

Posted at 10:05 AM by Howard Bashman



“Obama, Clinton Strangely Silent on Gun Debate”: Bloomberg News columnist Albert R. Hunt today has an essay that begins, “This Tuesday is a rare one in the U.S., without a presidential primary. The political fireworks instead will be at the Supreme Court, which will hear a case on whether the government can limit firearms.”

Posted at 10:03 AM by Howard Bashman



“With Order to Name Sources, Judge Is Casting a Wide Net”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “Every day, newspapers publish articles like the ones that have gotten Toni Locy in trouble: she quoted law enforcement officials, their names kept secret, about a person under investigation in an unsolved crime.”

And The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports today that “Ex-reporter put in tough spot in fight over sources.”

Posted at 8:20 AM by Howard Bashman



“States of Justice By Election: Campaign contributions should not influence judicial nominees.” Rebecca A. Schuetz has this op-ed today in The Harvard Crimson.

Posted at 8:07 AM by Howard Bashman



“Gun Case Causes Bush Administration Rift”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The New York Times.

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “U.S. Court Takes Up Gun Rights After 217 Years of Saying Little.”

The Associated Press reports that “Lawyer in D.C. Gun Case Doesn’t Own One.”

And today’s edition of The Washington Post contains an editorial that begins, “The D.C. Gun Case: The Supreme Court approaches a momentous decision on the Second Amendment.”

Posted at 8:04 AM by Howard Bashman



“Skilling Pins His Appeal on FBI Notes; Former President Of Enron Claims Evidence Withheld”: This article appears today in The Wall Street Journal.

The Houston Chronicle has posted online at this link the supplemental appellate brief that is the subject of this article.

Posted at 8:00 AM by Howard Bashman