How Appealing



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

“Might a military jury deny 9/11 suspect’s death wish? Under military commission rules, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed cannot plead guilty to a crime that carries the death penalty, even though he wants it; And a military jury might be less likely than a civilian one to grant his wish.” The Los Angeles Times has this news update.

Posted at 10:33 PM by Howard Bashman



“Lisa Montgomery’s conviction upheld”: The Kansas City Star has a news update that begins, “A federal appeals court panel today upheld Lisa Montgomery’s conviction in the 2004 slaying of Bobbie Jo Stinnett of Skidmore, Mo., and the kidnapping of Stinnett’s unborn child.”

Today’s ruling of a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed both the conviction and death sentence that resulted.

Posted at 4:16 PM by Howard Bashman



“Tulane law professor being vetted for possible federal appeals court appointment”: Bruce Alpert of The Times-Picayune of New Orleans has a news update that begins, “The White House is vetting a Tulane University law professor for a possible appointment to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Stephen Griffin wasn’t on a list of four potential nominees that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., sent to President Barack Obama last November, but is undergoing a background check for the court vacancy, sources said Monday.”

Posted at 3:44 PM by Howard Bashman



“In a Reversal, Military Trials for 9/11 Cases”: Charlie Savage has this article today in The New York Times.

In today’s edition of The Miami Herald, Carol Rosenberg reports that “US reverses, alleged 9/11 plotters to get tribunals.”

The Washington Post reports that “Khalid Sheik Mohammed to be tried by military commission.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “Obama administration won’t pursue civilian trials for 9/11 suspects; The administration acquiesces to GOP demands that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four suspected co-conspirators be tried before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay.”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor reports that “In abrupt reversal, 9/11 suspects to get Guantanamo military tribunals; The Obama administration had wanted to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 suspects in a civilian court in New York; It abandoned that plan Monday in favor of military tribunals.”

Posted at 9:42 AM by Howard Bashman



“Appeals Court Strengthens Warrantless Searches at Border”: David Kravets had this post yesterday at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog.

Posted at 8:12 AM by Howard Bashman



“Cowardly, Stupid, and Tragically Wrong: The Obama administration’s appalling decision to give Khalid Sheikh Mohammed a military trial.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

Posted at 8:10 AM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court restores death sentence in 1982 Tarzana murders; By a 5-4 vote, the justices conclude that federal judges were wrong to have overturned Van Nuys resident Scott Pinholster’s original sentence after evidence of his childhood brain injuries was presented”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

And Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers reports that “Supreme Court reinstates death penalty for California killer.”

Posted at 8:05 AM by Howard Bashman



“Student fights music-sharing fine; Case is first to hit federal appeals court”: This article appears today in The Boston Globe.

And The Boston Herald reports today that “Appeals heard in BU student’s illegal-downloading case.”

The blog “Recording Industry vs The People” links to the appellate briefs in a post that you can access here.

You can download the audio of yesterday’s oral argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit via this link (19.0MB mp3 audio file).

Posted at 8:00 AM by Howard Bashman



“Contentious races on ballot; Ballot includes state Supreme Court, Milwaukee County executive”: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contains this article today.

Posted at 7:50 AM by Howard Bashman