How Appealing



Friday, May 20, 2011

“Court wrestles with cultural practices case”: In today’s edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Ken Kobayashi has an article that begins, “All five Hawaii Supreme Court justices grilled lawyers yesterday in a case that could help clarify to what extent a native Hawaiian’s practice of traditional cultural and religious activities can trump a criminal prosecution.”

Posted at 9:07 PM by Howard Bashman



“Recount shows Prosser still the winner by more than 7,000 vote”: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a news update that begins, “With the weeks-long recount complete, unofficial numbers confirm that state Supreme Court Justice David Prosser narrowly defeated Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in the April 5 election.”

Posted at 8:51 PM by Howard Bashman



“Pro players’ unions want NFL lockout lifted”: The Associated Press has this report.

Today is the due date for the football players’-side briefs in the case captioned Tom Brady, et al. v. National Football League, et al., No. 11-1898 (8th Cir.). Already, some amicus briefs in support of the players have been filed. You can access the appellate filings in the case free of charge via this link.

Posted at 5:10 PM by Howard Bashman



Whether or not he is confirmed, law professor Goodwin Liu would not be the first Asian-American judge to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: Notwithstanding the headline and text of this article published today in The Los Angeles Times (which I noted in this post from earlier today), law professor Goodwin Liu would not become the first Asian-American to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit were the U.S. Senate to approve his nomination.

Rather, it appears that Liu, if confirmed, would be the fourth Asian-American judge to serve on the Ninth Circuit. The first was Circuit Judge Herbert Young Cho Choy, who began serving on the Ninth Circuit in 1971. The second was Circuit Judge Thomas Tang, who began serving on the Ninth Circuit in 1977. And Senior Circuit Judge Atsushi Wallace Tashima continues to serve on the Ninth Circuit.

The Federal Judicial Center provides this list of Asian-American federal judges and this list of judges who have served on the Ninth Circuit.

Update: The Los Angeles Times article now features a prominent correction containing the information set forth above.

Posted at 12:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Firestorm turns into appreciation for moving words”: Yesterday’s edition of The Augusta Chronicle contained an article that begins, “Controversy that might have surrounded Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ Wednesday appearance in Augusta seemed to melt away as the conservative justice spoke of segregation, the importance of courthouses and the legacy of John H. Ruffin Jr., the namesake of the new judicial building.”

The newspaper also contained an article headlined “Thomas cites historic cases in dedication.”

Posted at 8:44 AM by Howard Bashman



“With Muskego votes reconciled, Prosser moves into statewide lead”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Posted at 8:42 AM by Howard Bashman



“Deerfield couple not liable for death of teen who drank in their home; State Supreme Court overturns appellate decision”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Illinois reports that “Lake County couple not liable in underage drunken driving death.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Illinois court blocks lawsuit on underage drinking.”

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

Posted at 8:35 AM by Howard Bashman



“Va. Supreme Court to Rule on Insurance Coverage of Warming Claims”: Lawrence Hurley of ClimateWire has this report (via The New York Times).

Posted at 8:30 AM by Howard Bashman



“Senate Republicans block judicial nominee Goodwin Liu”: The Washington Post contains this article today.

Today in The Los Angeles Times, James Oliphant reports that “GOP blocks Goodwin Liu from federal appeals court; Senate Republicans use a filibuster to block a vote on the UC Berkeley law professor’s nomination to the 9th Circuit bench in San Francisco, saying he’s too liberal; He would have been the court’s first Asian American.”

And The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that “Alaska Sen. Murkowski breaks with GOP on judicial nominee vote.”

Posted at 8:10 AM by Howard Bashman