How Appealing



Wednesday, March 29, 2006

“Analysis: no penalty for patent ‘trolls.'” Lyle Denniston has this post at “SCOTUSblog.” Demonstrating that humor does not necessarily benefit from analysis, Denniston writes, “[Carter G. Phillips] and Kennedy had a somewhat amusing exchange over whether ‘troll’ meant the ogre under a bridge, or someone fishing for something. Being present in the courtroom added a bit to the sense that this was funny.”

Posted at 5:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Alliance for Justice Launches New Project Monitoring the Federal Judiciary; Full Court Press to Provide Timely Updates on Court Decisions to Ordinary Americans”: Alliance for Justice has issued a press release (full text not yet available online) announcing the organization’s launch of a blog titled “Full Court Press.” The blog’s subtitle states, “Full Court Press will keep you up-to-date about the rapidly increasing number of judicial opinions that unjustifiably restrict rights, undermine legal protections, and adversely affect real people.”

Posted at 5:15 PM by Howard Bashman



“Moussaoui Death-Penalty Case Heads to Jury”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “The death-penalty case against al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui went to the jury Wednesday after the prosecution asserted his lies were responsible for deaths Sept. 11, 2001, and the defense argued he had no part in the plot.”

In addition, The AP offers “Sketches of Moussaoui’s Jurors.”

Posted at 5:10 PM by Howard Bashman



Dr. Speaks’ right to speak imperiled no longer: Today a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the First Amendment commercial speech rights of chiropractor Kirtland Speaks in his challenge to a Louisiana law regulating solicitation of prospective patients. You can access today’s ruling at this link.

Posted at 3:14 PM by Howard Bashman



“Federal grand jury indicts Convertino over handling of terrorism case”: The Detroit News provides an update that begins, “Richard G. Convertino, the one-time federal prosecutor who triumphantly won two convictions in the nation’s first terror trial after September 11, was formally indicted today on charges that he built that case on perjury and deception.”

The Detroit Free Press provides a news update headlined “Former U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino indicted.” The Freep has also posted online the indictment.

And the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a press release entitled “Ex Federal Prosecutor, State Dept. Agent Indicted for Obstruction of Justice and Presenting False Evidence in Terrorism Trial.”

Posted at 2:50 PM by Howard Bashman



“Justices Hear Challenge to Plan For Guantanamo-Prisoner Trials”: Jess Bravin has this article (pass-through link) today in The Wall Street Journal.

Posted at 1:44 PM by Howard Bashman



“Justices Hint That They’ll Rule on Challenge Filed by Detainee”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The New York Times.

Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “Court Appears Wary of Terror War Tribunals; Most justices seem open to a prisoner’s claims that new presidential powers go too far.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “The law vs. the government.”

In USA Today, Joan Biskupic reports that “High court scrutinizes military tribunals plan for detainees; Justices challenge notion that law voided their jurisdiction.”

In The Boston Globe, Charlie Savage reports that “Detainee’s lawyer asks high court to reject military panel trial; Case tests limits on Bush’s power.”

In The Houston Chronicle, Patty Reinert reports that “Justices question trials for terror suspects; Court to decide by July if military tribunal can try bin Laden’s driver.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that “Justices weigh plea of detainee at Guantanamo; Bin Laden’s driver seeks day in court.”

The Miami Herald reports that “Justices hear tribunal challenge; The Supreme Court heard the case of Osama bin Laden’s former driver who is challenging President Bush’s right to try him before a military commission.”

The Washington Times reports that “Tribunal said to violate Geneva.”

Financial Times reports that “Justices cast doubt on validity of Guantanamo commissions.”

The Guardian (UK) contains an article headlined “Guantanamo’s day of reckoning in supreme court; Case pits presidential powers against law of war; Detainee argues tribunals are unconstitutional.”

The Telegraph (UK) reports that “Bin Laden’s ex-chauffeur challenges Bush in court.”

The Yale Daily News reports that “Supreme Court hears Hamdan arguments; Justices intensely question solicitor general, who argued against extending rights of detainees.”

And The Washington Post reports that “Record Shows Senators’ ‘Debate’ That Wasn’t.”

Posted at 12:40 PM by Howard Bashman



“Judge Knot”: Online today at The American Spectator, Quin Hillyer has an essay that begins, “The utter cluelessness of the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate continues to show itself in the Senate’s continuing refusal to move forward with confirmation of federal judges, especially to the circuit courts of appeal.”

Posted at 12:30 PM by Howard Bashman



“Scalia seeks Justice over gesture”: The Boston Herald today contains an article that begins, “Famously feisty Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia yesterday denied that he made an obscene gesture Sunday inside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, accusing the Herald staff of ‘watching too many Sopranos episodes.'”

You can access the text of Justice Antonin Scalia’s letter to the editor of The Boston Herald at this link, while an image of the letter is available here.

And in other coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Justice Scalia Chastises Boston Newspaper.”

Posted at 11:24 AM by Howard Bashman



“New allegation on Moussaoui; He offered to help prosecution in bid for better treatment in jail, court is told”: This article appears today in The Sacramento Bee.

Posted at 10:18 AM by Howard Bashman



“Judge in Illinois Graft Case Denies Request for Mistrial”: The New York Times contains this article today.

The Chicago Tribune today contains articles headlined “Ryan jury starts over with 2 new members; Door remains open on possible mistrial” and “Thoughtful, not quick to judge.” In addition, columnist John Kass has an op-ed entitled “With mistrial in air, Ryan judge says ‘no.’

And The Chicago Sun-Times contains articles headlined “2 jurors replaced with alternates” and “Don’t bet jurors will start from scratch: experts.”

Posted at 8:25 AM by Howard Bashman



“Lawmaker loses phone tape appeal”: This article appears today in The Washington Times.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today that “Court sides with Boehner on taped call.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that “Taped call case wins Boehner $700,000.”

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that “Court rebuffs McDermott; Appeals panel upholds judgment in wiretapping lawsuit.”

The Seattle Times reports that “Appeals court rules against McDermott.”

And The Hill reports that “Court backs Boehner in McDermott suit.”

My earlier coverage is here.

Posted at 8:20 AM by Howard Bashman



“Enron prosecutors rest case; Some charges dropped in effort to streamline case against Lay, Skilling”: The Houston Chronicle contains this article today. And Mary Flood has an article headlined “Prosecution rests — How did it perform; Legal experts say the feds laid out a solid case, but Lay and Skilling ‘could still walk away.’

The New York Times today contains articles headlined “Enron Prosecutors Drop Some Charges and Rest Case” and “Lay Lawyer Had Emergency Heart Procedure Last Week.”

The Washington Post reports that “Enron Trial Made Simpler; Accounting Chief’s Plea Cut Details.”

And USA Today reports that “Act 1 of Enron case wraps up; Prosecutors rest; defense goes to work on Monday.”

Posted at 8:12 AM by Howard Bashman



“Moussaoui Offered to Implicate Himself; In Trade, 9/11 Figure Sought Better Jail Conditions Until Execution, Jury Is Told”: This front page article appears today in The Washington Post.

Today in The New York Times, Neil A. Lewis reports that “Defense Tries to Undo Damage Moussaoui Did.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “FBI Agent Says Moussaoui Was Looking to Make a Deal; In testimony, he details a secret negotiation at a Virginia jail; He says the terrorist offered to help prosecutors in order to avoid the death penalty.”

And The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that “Moussaoui case almost to jurors; Defense rests after trying to undermine testimony of their al-Qaida client.”

Posted at 7:35 AM by Howard Bashman



“Muhammad ‘Psychotic,’ Medical Assessment Says”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “Sniper John Allen Muhammad is not competent to stand trial, his attorneys argued in a motion filed yesterday along with a psychiatric evaluation that says the defendant should not be allowed to defend himself during his murder trial because he is ‘psychotic, delusional’ and ‘paranoid.'”

Posted at 7:33 AM by Howard Bashman