How Appealing



Friday, April 25, 2008

“Stock Holdings May Force Justices to Sit Out Apartheid Case”: Today in The Daily Journal of California, Brent Kendall has a front page article that begins, “When the U.S. Supreme Court meets today in a private conference, it could face the mother of all recusal problems for justices who own stocks.”

Posted at 11:50 PM by Howard Bashman



Reading Phillies 3, Connecticut Defenders 2: My son and I traveled to Reading, Pennsylvania this evening to watch the Reading Phillies — the AA Eastern League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies — host the Connecticut Defenders — the AA Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Not only did the game feature a Chase Utley bobblehead doll giveaway, but Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino was on rehab assignment to Reading and started the game. As luck would have it, our seats were in the front row along the first base line just past the base, so my son obtained Victorino’s signature on a baseball as Shane was heading back to the dugout after his pre-game warmups. Victorino went one-for-three at the plate and tracked down some well-hit balls in the outfield. He did not seem to be experiencing any lingering effects of the leg injury that put him on the disabled list.

Trailing the game 2-1 at the end of the first inning, Reading scored two runs on a home run in the bottom of the 7th inning and held on to win 3-2. You can view the box score at this link, while wraps are available here and here.

My son and I are likely to see Victorino again on Sunday, when we travel to the Allentown, Pennsylvania region to watch the Lehigh Valley IronPigs — AAA affiliate of the Phillies — host the Rochester Red Wings — the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins — in an International League match-up.

But it won’t be until Wednesday that I retrieve our next Phillies-related bobblehead doll. And by then, Shane Victorino should be back with the major league Phillies.

Posted at 11:25 PM by Howard Bashman



“Chief Justice Names New Executive Committee Chairman”: The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts today issued a news release that begins, “Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. has appointed Anthony J. Scirica, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, to be chairman of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.”

Posted at 12:05 PM by Howard Bashman



“Official defends VA’s mental health effort”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “The Department of Veterans Affairs’ top health official, testifying in a lawsuit by veterans’ groups that accuse the VA of inept mental health care, cautioned Thursday against overstating the problem of mental illness among returning troops and said most patients are satisfied with their treatment.”

Posted at 10:07 AM by Howard Bashman



“New trial ordered on San Bernardino strip club; The Flesh Club says San Bernardino misled a judge in 1995, leading to an injunction against nude dancing”: The Los Angeles Times today contains an article that begins, “The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a new trial be held to determine if the city of San Bernardino intentionally misled a judge during its battle to close down a notorious strip club that officials said was actually a brothel.”

The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California reports today that “New hearing ordered for Flesh Club; The court focuses on whether the judge received needed information.”

And The San Bernardino County Sun reports that “Flesh Club victory on hold; State high court sends case back to trial court.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of California at this link.

Posted at 10:05 AM by Howard Bashman



“Effort intensifies for same-sex marriage ban”: Today’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle contains an article that begins, “The battle over same-sex marriage in California heated up Thursday, when supporters of an initiative to ban it in the state’s Constitution submitted more than 1.1 million signatures in an effort to qualify the measure for the November ballot.”

Posted at 10:00 AM by Howard Bashman



“Court reduces Genentech damages in royalty suit”: Bob Egelko and Bernadette Tansey have this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

And law.com reports that “$300 Million Award Stands Against Genentech, but $200 Million in Punitives Get Tossed; Case drew national attention when jurors hit Genentech with huge damages for allegedly cheating center of billions in royalties.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of California appears at this link.

Posted at 9:57 AM by Howard Bashman



“The War on Terror Is Not a Crime: Bush antiterror policies have been repeatedly vindicated in the courts.” David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey have this op-ed today in The Wall Street Journal.

Posted at 9:35 AM by Howard Bashman



“Damages reach $35 million in ’01 Bridgeport fire; The Bridgeport business blaze led to a class-action suit; The last of 16 defendants agreed to settle for $1 million”: This article appears today in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Earlier this month, I began working as appellate counsel for what was then the only non-settling defendant in the case.

Posted at 9:27 AM by Howard Bashman



“Does a Minority Religion Have a Right to Join Majority Religions in Placing Its Own Monument in a Public Park? The Supreme Court Opts to Resolve the Question.” Vikram David Amar and Alan Brownstein have this essay online at FindLaw.

Posted at 9:05 AM by Howard Bashman