How Appealing



Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Available online from National Public Radio: This evening’s broadcast of “All Things Considered” contained audio segments entitled “Obama Picks Sotomayor For High Court” (featuring Nina Totenberg); “Sen. Grassley Pledges Open Mind On Sotomayor“; “Was Cardozo First Hispanic On Supreme Court?“; “High Court Nominee’s Success Against Odds“; “Latinos Welcome Sotomayor Pick“; and “Former Classmate Recalls Sotomayer.”

Today’s broadcast of “Talk of the Nation” contained an audio segment entitled “Conservatives React To Sotomayor Nomination.”

And today’s broadcast of “Morning Edition” contained audio segments entitled “Obama To Name Supreme Court Nominee” (featuring Nina Totenberg); “Senate Will Have To Confirm Court Choice“; “Obama Picks Sotomayor For High Court“; “Sotomayor Has Long Record As Lawyer, Judge“; and “Assessing Sotomayor’s Experience On The Bench” (featuring law professor Jeffrey Rosen).

RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.

Posted at 8:04 PM by Howard Bashman



“Obama Picks Sotomayor, Citing Intellect”: The New York Times has this news update, along with a “Woman in the News” profile written by Neil A. Lewis headlined “‘Kid From the Bronx’ With Hopes and Doubts.”

The Washington Post has news updates headlined “Obama Chooses Sotomayor for Supreme Court“; “For Sotomayor, Humble Beginnings to High Court Pick“; and “GOP Senators Withhold Criticism of Sotomayor.”

The Los Angeles Times has news updates headlined “Sonia Sotomayor is Obama’s Supreme Court nominee; Federal jurist Sotomayor would become the first Latino member of the high court; The president calls his nominee ‘inspiring’ and says he wants a justice with ‘a common touch‘” and “Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor rose from humble roots; Obama’s pick started out in a South Bronx housing project, excelled at Yale Law School and was named to the federal bench by George H.W. Bush; Conservatives prepare for a fight.”

From McClatchy Newspapers, David Lightman reports that “Sotomayor likely to get gentle scrutiny from Congress,” while Michael Doyle has an article headlined “A compelling personal story, but mixed reaction from lawyers.”

And Linda Feldmann and Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor report that “Obama picks first Hispanic Supreme Court justice; In nominating Sonia Sotomayor, the president cited both her judicial experience and her compelling personal story.”

Posted at 2:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Lawyer challenging reported Pfizer settlement”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A Connecticut attorney is fighting a reported settlement by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. over a meningitis drug study in Nigeria, saying it would send millions of dollars to Nigerian officials and lawyers while shortchanging alleged victims.”

Posted at 2:33 PM by Howard Bashman



Breaking news — “Court upholds Prop. 8 but lets marriages stand”: Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has a news update that begins, “California voters legally outlawed same-sex marriage when they approved Proposition 8 in November, but the constitutional amendment did not dissolve the unions of 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who wed before the measure took effect, the state Supreme Court ruled today.”

Maura Dolan of The Los Angeles Times has a blog post titled “California Supreme Court upholds Prop. 8; gay marriage remains banned in state.”

Howard Mintz of The San Jose Mercury News has an update headlined “California Supreme Court upholds same-sex marriage ban; lets stand existing gay unions.”

And The Associated Press reports that “California Supreme Court upholds gay marriage ban.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of California at this link. I have also uploaded a back-up copy of the ruling, and you can access it by clicking here.

Posted at 1:04 PM by Howard Bashman



“California Supreme Court to issue Prop. 8 decision today; Rulings are expected on the legality of the measure barring same-sex marriage and the status of those who married before it was approved by voters”: Rong-Gong Lin II and Maura Dolan have this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports today that “Same-sex marriage fans, foes await court ruling.” In addition, columnist C.W. Nevius has an essay entitled “Prop. 8 decision could leave couples in limbo.”

The San Jose Mercury News reports that “Weariness and confidence as foes and backers of Proposition 8 await court ruling.”

The Associated Press reports that “California awaits court’s gay marriage decision.”

And Reuters reports that “California court to rule Tuesday on gay marriage.”

The Supreme Court of California will issue its ruling at 1 p.m. eastern time (10 a.m. pacific time) today on three consolidated cases that challenge the legality of Proposition 8, the ballot measure that reinstated California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The decision is scheduled to be posted online at this link just as soon as the decision is made public.

Posted at 12:12 PM by Howard Bashman



“Court asked to void $15.8 million award; Driver unfairly revealed to be illegal immigrant, trucking firm says”: Today in The Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Lindell has an article that begins, “A cement-hauling company is asking the Texas Supreme Court to toss out a $15.8 million verdict, arguing that jurors were improperly told that its gravel truck driver — involved in a 2002 accident that killed four members of a family — was an illegal immigrant.”

Posted at 12:02 PM by Howard Bashman



Access online today’s U.S. Supreme Court opinions in argued cases and Order List: The Court has issued three opinions in argued cases today. In early coverage of today’s rulings, at “SCOTUSblog” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Court overrules Michigan v. Jackson.”

1. Justice David H. Souter delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court in Abuelhawa v. United States, No. 08-192. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

2. Justice Antonin Scalia delivered the opinion for the majority in a 5-4 ruling in Montejo v. Louisiana, No. 07-1529. The Chief Justice and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel A. Alito, Jr. joined in the majority opinion. Justice Alito also issued a concurring opinion, in which Justice Kennedy joined. Justice John Paul Stevens issued a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined in full and in which Justice Stephen G. Breyer joined in large part. And Justice Breyer also issued a dissenting opinion. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

3. And Justice Stevens delivered the opinion for the majority in a 5-4 ruling in Haywood v. Drown, No. 07-10374. Justices Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer joined in the majority opinion. Justice Thomas issued a dissenting opinion, in which the Chief Justice and Justices Scalia and Alito joined in part. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

You can access today’s Order List at this link. The Court today granted review in one case. At “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Court to rule on Vioxx fraud case.”

In early news coverage, The Associated Press has reports headlined “Court: Suspect must ask for atty to get protection“; “Court says states can’t bar some rights suits“; “Court: Phone drug buys shouldn’t bring extra time“; “Court to consider whether to allow Vioxx lawsuits“; and “Court lets stand $13M judgment against Chrysler.”

Posted at 10:06 AM by Howard Bashman



“Obama Selects Sotomayor for Court”: The New York Times has this news update.

The Washington Post has news updates headlined “Officials: Obama Chooses Sotomayor for Supreme Court” and “For Sotomayor, Humble Beginnings to High Court Pick.”

The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Obama to nominate Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court; Sotomayor, a longtime federal jurist in New York, would become the first Latino member of the high court if confirmed by the Senate.”

The New York Daily News has an update headlined “Who is Sonia Sotomayor? Bronx-born judge would be Supreme Court’s first Hispanic justice.”

ABCNews.com has a written report headlined “Obama Picks Sonia Sotomayor to Replace David Souter on Supreme Court; Sotomayor To Become First Hispanic Supreme Court Justice if Confirmed.” And at “The Numbers” blog, Gary Langer has a post titled “Supreme Court Pick: The Public Perspective.”

CNN.com has reports headlined “Obama to name Sotomayor as Supreme Court nominee” and “Who is Sonia Sotomayor?” and a transcript headlined “Toobin: Sotomayor will be voice for moderate liberalism.”

Posted at 9:52 AM by Howard Bashman



“AP source: Obama picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court.” The Associated Press has a report that begins, “U.S. President Barack Obama tapped U.S. Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court on Tuesday, officials said, making her the first Hispanic in history picked to wear the robes of a justice.” In addition, The AP has an article headlined “NY judge rises from projects to the Supreme Court.”

CNN.com is also reporting that Second Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor is President Obama’s choice, as is The New York Times.

Update: The New York Times has this web page providing both a profile of Judge Sotomayor and links to recent articles about her. Earlier this month, Neil A. Lewis had an article headlined “On a Supreme Court Prospect’s Resume: ‘Baseball Savior’” and Charlie Savage had an article headlined “A Judge’s View of Judging Is on the Record.”

Posted at 8:32 AM by Howard Bashman



“Medical-marijuana patients await county’s rollout of ID cards”: Today’s edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune contains an article that begins, “With the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal last week to consider San Diego County’s lawsuit against state medical-marijuana laws, local officials appear poised to begin offering identification cards to qualified patients.”

Posted at 8:20 AM by Howard Bashman



“Libel Tourism: Congress needs to pass a law that makes clear that no American court will enforce libel judgments from countries that provide less protection for the written word.” This editorial appears today in The New York Times.

Posted at 8:15 AM by Howard Bashman



“Clock running on stimulus lawsuits; S.C.’s highest court sets noon deadline for responses from Sanford, McMaster”: The State newspaper of Columbia, South Carolina today contains an article that begins, “The S.C. Supreme Court will begin today gathering arguments in two lawsuits that ask the court to determine whether Gov. Mark Sanford must comply with a state budget that requires him to accept a disputed $350 million in federal stimulus money.”

Posted at 8:07 AM by Howard Bashman



“No judging how a justice will turn out; The upbringing and life experiences of Supreme Court picks are not always reliable predictors of where they stand legally”: David G. Savage and James Oliphant have this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

Today’s edition of The Detroit News contains an article headlined “Poll: Gov is a good Supreme Court pick; 51% of voters back Granholm to replace retiring Souter.”

The Hill reports that “Court fight could commence this week.”

Politico.com reports that “Conservatives itching for SCOTUS fight.”

The Washington Times contains an editorial entitled “Questions about Kagan: It’s time to come clean about the greens.”

The St. Petersburg Times contains an editorial entitled “No nominee, but senators ready to fight.”

In The Wall Street Journal, Bernie Marcus has an op-ed entitled “Business and the Supreme Court: Washington’s grab for power makes Obama’s pick crucial for contracts.”

In The New York Daily News, Patrice O’Shaughnessy has an essay entitled “Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s consideration for SCOTUS reminder there’s more to boro than Stadium, blight.”

And yesterday in The Montgomery Independent, Bob Martin had an op-ed entitled “Confirmation hearings put Jeff Sessions in the spotlight.”

Posted at 7:58 AM by Howard Bashman