How Appealing



Thursday, April 29, 2010

“AP source: Obama interviews Thomas for high court.” The Associated Press has this report. Apparently President Obama has identified what the U.S. Supreme Court has been lacking — two Justices with the same last name serving on the Court at the same time.

Posted at 9:00 PM by Howard Bashman



“Robert Henry, 10th Circuit’s chief appeals judge, steps down”: The Oklahoman has a news update that begins, “Robert H. Henry announced today that he is stepping down as chief judge of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, effective midnight Friday. Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, who is based in Kansas, will be the new chief judge, according to a news release.”

According to her official biography at the Federal Judicial Center’s web site, Circuit Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, before joining the Tenth Circuit, had served as chief judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals. Additional information appears at the Tenth Circuit’s web site.

Posted at 8:52 PM by Howard Bashman



“Senate Judiciary panel wants court TV coverage”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “The Supreme Court would televise many of its public sessions and cameras would be permitted in lower federal courts, at a judge’s discretion, if the Senate Judiciary Committee has its way.”

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Mike Scarcella has a post titled “Senate Committee Advances Federal Court Camera Access.”

Posted at 5:54 PM by Howard Bashman



“Mojave symbol should stay, high court rules; Clarity in San Diego case elusive”: Greg Moran has this article today in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Today’s edition of The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California reports that “Mojave Desert cross can remain on public land, at least for now.”

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court allows Mojave war memorial cross; It narrowly rules that the 1st Amendment calls for a middle-ground ‘policy of accommodation’ toward religious displays on public land, not a total ban on symbols of faith.”

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post reports that “Supreme Court overturns objection to cross on public land.”

Joan Biskupic of USA Today reports that “Ruling revives efforts for cross on public land.”

Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal reports that “Court Says Cross Can Remain; Mojave Desert Icon Is Deemed More Veterans’ Memorial Than Religious Symbol.”

The Washington Times reports that “Mojave Cross can stay on display in California; Supreme Court defends public religious symbol.”

Tony Mauro of The National Law Journal reports that “Divided High Court Lets Mojave Cross Memorial Stand.” And online at the First Amendment Center, Mauro has an analysis headlined “Legal fight over Mojave cross continues.”

On today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” Nina Totenberg had an audio segment entitled “Mojave Cross Ruling Shows A Supreme Court Shift.” And on yesterday evening’s broadcast of “All Things Considered,” Totenberg had an audio segment entitled “Supreme Court: Cross Can Stay On Federal Land.”

Posted at 2:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Federal appeals Judge Rosemary Pooler recuperates in University Hospital”: This article appeared last Saturday in The Post-Standard of Syracuse, New York.

Posted at 1:20 PM by Howard Bashman



“D.C. delegate: Obama unlikely to pick African-American for Supreme Court.” The Hill has this report.

Newsweek has posted online an item headlined “Judiciary Advice for Obama: Our distinguished panel of experts makes the case for their favorite candidates to succeed John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The “Room for Debate” blog of The New York Times offers responses to the question “Who Should Be the Next Justice?

And at the web site of The Christian Science Monitor, Seth Stern has this review of the new book “John Paul Stevens: An Independent Life” by Bill Barnhart and Gene Schlickman.

Posted at 10:22 AM by Howard Bashman



“Judge Has Record on Abortion Issue”: In today’s edition of The Wall Street Journal, Nathan Koppel has an article that begins, “Recent Supreme Court nominees have come before the Senate with such slim records on abortion that their views were anybody’s guess. Not so with Diane Wood, a Chicago federal appellate judge who is on the White House’s short list of candidates for the latest high-court vacancy.”

And today in The Los Angeles Times, columnist Meghan Daum has an op-ed entitled “The Supreme Court could use an oboist: Judge Diane P. Wood plays the oboe; What better quality can there be in a potential nominee to the Supreme Court?

Posted at 10:08 AM by Howard Bashman



“States test abortion limits”: Politico.com has this report.

The Oklahoman reports today that “Hearing set on Oklahoma abortion lawsuit; On law’s first day, one clinic reports no one changed course after an ultrasound was performed.”

The Tulsa World reports today that “Tulsa clinic complying with law; But the clinic is involved in challenging a state law requiring ultrasounds before abortions.”

The Associated Press has reports headlined “Oklahoma pushes legal limits on taxpayers’ dime” and “Clinic: New Okla. abortion law hard on patients.”

The Advocate of Baton Rouge, Louisiana contains a front page article headlined “Senate panel alters, backs abortion bill; One mandate on ultrasound dropped.”

And The Miami Herald contains an article headlined “Senate advances conservative agenda; The state Senate veered right and prepared to vote on abortion, school prayer and redistricting.”

Posted at 10:00 AM by Howard Bashman



“Federal Appeals Court Nominee Faces Tough Questioning”: Today’s edition of The Hartford Courant contains an article that begins, “Federal appeals court nominee Robert N. Chatigny was battered Wednesday by U.S. Senate Republicans, who subjected him to nearly two hours of criticism over his handling of a legal hearing five years ago that postponed the execution of serial killer Michael Ross.”

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” David Ingram has a post titled “GOP Senators Hammer Nominee on Death Penalty Case.”

Posted at 9:47 AM by Howard Bashman