How Appealing



Thursday, April 28, 2016

“Chuck Grassley Admits It’s ‘A Gamble’ To Let Trump Fill SCOTUS Vacancy”: Jennifer Bendery of The Huffington Post has this report.

Posted at 7:50 PM by Howard Bashman



“‘Scalia Law School’ Sparks Faculty Feud at George Mason; School nixed plans to name scholarship for liberal Justice Ginsburg”: Jacob Gershman and Jess Bravin have this post today at WSJ.com’s “Law Blog.”

Posted at 7:44 PM by Howard Bashman



“Obama’s Push for Court Pick Fizzles as Republicans Stand Firm”: Mike Dorning and Tim Higgins of Bloomberg News have a report that begins, “A media blitz by the White House and its allies has failed to crack Republican opposition to President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, and it is all but certain the seat will remain vacant until after U.S. elections in November.”

Posted at 3:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Justices Lean Toward Bob McDonnell, Ex-Virginia Governor, in Corruption Case”: Adam Liptak has this article in today’s edition of The New York Times.

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post reports that “Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of McDonnell’s conviction.”

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court may make prosecuting bribery cases against public officials tougher.”

Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal reports that “Supreme Court Looks Likely to Throw Out Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Conviction; McDonnell was convicted in 2014 on 11 corruption counts after he and his wife accepted gifts.”

Richard Wolf of USA Today reports that “High court appears likely to ease public corruption rules in McDonnell case.”

Frank Green and Jim Nolan of The Richmond Times-Dispatch report that “Skeptical Supreme Court looks for legal standard in McDonnell case.” In addition, Nolan has an article headlined “McDonnell relies on faith, family, friends as he gets his day at Supreme Court.”

Patrick Wilson of The Virginian-Pilot reports that “Supreme Court justices set skeptical tone during Bob McDonnell hearing.”

Lawrence Hurley of Reuters reports that “U.S. top court poised to overturn Virginia ex-governor’s bribery conviction.”

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Supreme Court May Raise Bar for Corruption Prosecutions.”

Sam Hananel of The Associated Press reports that “High court seems poised to overturn McDonnell conviction.”

Ariane de Vogue of CNN.com reports that “Supreme Court sympathetic to former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.”

Josh Gerstein of Politico.com reports that “Supreme Court justices appear to be leaning in McDonnell’s favor.”

Todd Ruger of Roll Call reports that “McDonnell’s Supreme Court Appeal Could Change Politics; Case hinges on what qualifies as an ‘official action’ under bribery and fraud laws.”

Cristian Farias of The Huffington Post reports that “Convicted Gov. Bob McDonnell May Just Convince The Supreme Court He’s Innocent; The former Virginia governor’s appeal could redefine the rules of government corruption.”

Chris Geidner of BuzzFeed News reports that “Supreme Court Skeptical Of Former Virginia Governor’s Prosecution; Justice Stephen Breyer says the challenge to former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell corruption conviction has broad implications for the power of federal prosecutors; The case presents ‘as fundamental a real separation of powers problem as I’ve seen,’ the justice says.”

On yesterday evening’s broadcast of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Nina Totenberg had an audio segment titled “Supreme Court May Be Leaning Toward Voiding Ex-Va. Governor’s Corruption Conviction.”

Lyle Denniston of “SCOTUSblog” has a post titled “Argument analysis: Anti-corruption law in trouble?

Online at Slate, Dahlia Lithwick has a Supreme Court dispatch titled “The ‘Everybody Does It’ Defense: The Supreme Court might let Bob McDonnell off the hook because it can’t even define political corruption anymore.”

And at the “Democracy in America” blog of The Economist, Steven Mazie has a post titled “The Supreme Court seems inclined to loosen bribery rules for politicians.”

You can access at this link the transcript of yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court oral argument in McDonnell v. United States, No. 15-474.

Posted at 1:18 PM by Howard Bashman



“‘Star Trek’ Lawsuit: The Debate Over Klingon Language Heats Up.” Eriq Gardner has this post today at the “THR, Esq.” blog of The Hollywood Reporter.

Posted at 12:42 PM by Howard Bashman



“Constitution Check: Can the Supreme Court compromise on corruption?” Lyle Denniston has this post today at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

Posted at 11:03 AM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court Strikes Blow for Free Speech — and Against Arbitrary Government”: Evan Bernick has this blog entry online today at The Huffington Post.

Posted at 11:02 AM by Howard Bashman