How Appealing



Friday, June 10, 2005

“Witness has harsh words for Al-Arian; Muneer Arafat says Al-Arian tried to recruit him into a faction of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in 1988”: This article appears today in The St. Petersburg Times. Yesterday, meanwhile, the newspaper reported that “Evidence against Al-Arian is shown; A portion of the items seized during a raid on the offices of the organization Al-Arian founded yields what prosecutors say are links to terrorism.”

The Tampa Tribune today reports that “Witness Met Al-Arian At Fundraiser, He Says.” And yesterday, the newspaper reported that “Prosecution Builds Al-Arian Case.”

Posted at 10:30 PM by Howard Bashman



“Confidentiality Applies Online, Panel Decides; Data Gathered From Potential Clients Not Subject to Discovery”: Peter Blumberg has this article today in The Daily Journal of California.

Posted at 10:05 PM by Howard Bashman



“In Blow to Canada’s Health System, Quebec Law Is Voided”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a Quebec law banning private medical insurance in a decision that represents an acute blow to the publicly financed national health care system.”

Yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada, which I first noted here yesterday morning, has received much coverage in that Nation’s major newspapers today.

The Montreal Gazette today contains articles headlined “Supreme Court opens door to two-tier health system; Purchase of private insurance ruled legal; Quebec law tossed; Province cautious, will ask for delay in implementation“; “Supreme Court opens door to two-tier health system; ‘Gutsy’ judgment will spur reform, proponents of private care predict; But critics worry the decision will reduce quality of patient services in public system“; and “Union officials speak out against providers of private care; Head of Quebec Federation of Labour warns doctors will jump ship, insurance will rise.”

The Toronto Globe and Mail today contains numerous articles related to the ruling:

The Toronto Star also contains several articles about the ruling:

And The Star today contains an essay by Ian Urquhart entitled “Ontario should override this decision; Similar lawsuit likely on the way.”

Posted at 9:00 PM by Howard Bashman



“Scotus Finances Glance”: More info from The AP in connection with its article disclosing that while a certain Justice may not be a fan of citing international law, he doesn’t mind teaching law internationally.

Posted at 6:12 PM by Howard Bashman



“Court puts limits on police dogs; Reasonable suspicion required to use them”: The St. Paul Pioneer Press today contains this article reporting on a ruling that the Supreme Court of Minnesota issued yesterday.

For what it’s worth, let me also point out that the Minnesota Judicial Branch wants your feedback on how it can improve its web site. Online access to appellate briefs and oral arguments would be a great start if that’s not yet available.

Posted at 5:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Hatch daughters found not guilty”: The Minneapolis Star Tribune provides a news update that begins, “Elizabeth and Anne Hatch burst into tears, hugged their lawyers and were embraced by their father as a judge found them not guilty of the misdemeanor charges against them in an altercation with Chicago police. Minnesota’s Attorney General Mike Hatch had been sitting behind them in Cook County Misdemeanor Court when the judge found them not guilty of resisting a peace officer, simple battery and criminal damage to property or a vehicle.”

And The Chicago Tribune provides a news update headlined “Judge finds Hatch sisters not guilty.”

In earlier coverage, The Chicago Tribune today contained an article headlined “Tearful sister says she didn’t slap cop.”

The Chicago Sun-Times reported today that “Cop says he was slapped, insulted.”

And The Minneapolis Star Tribune today reported that “Elizabeth Hatch takes the stand, denies hitting officer.”

Posted at 5:24 PM by Howard Bashman



“Suit challenges Utah’s anti-porn law; Bookstores, ACLU say it is unconstitutional”: This article appears today in The Deseret Morning News.

The Salt Lake Tribune today contains an article headlined “Group: Utah Web porn law unconstitutional, too broad; Free speech? The diverse collection of plaintiffs hopes the law’s fate will mirror that of similar statutes that courts overturned in other states.”

The Daily Herald of Provo reports today that “Utah sued over Internet porn law.”

And Declan McCullagh of c|net News.Com reports that “ACLU to challenge Utah porn-blocking law.”

Posted at 2:30 PM by Howard Bashman



“Florida Jihad case could test U.S. wiretap laws”: Reuters reports here that “The Florida murder conspiracy trial of a Palestinian academic accused of funding Middle East violence could set off a legal test of U.S. surveillance laws and a secretive ‘spy court’ that allow extensive wiretapping for national security reasons.”

Posted at 12:54 PM by Howard Bashman



“Retired judge is named to oversee jurist’s ethics hearing”: The Detroit Free Press today contains an article that begins, “A retired judge has been appointed to oversee a hearing to determine whether Clarkston District Judge Dana Fortinberry acted unethically when she told people a judicial candidate she opposed helped cover up the circumstances of a death.”

Posted at 12:30 PM by Howard Bashman



In other news from Florida: The St. Petersburg Times today contains an article headlined “Judge failed to pass word juror might be sleeping; A new trial would be another black mark for the judge, who is already was facing other accusations” that begins, “Circuit Judge Brandt Downey, recently accused of sexual harassment and accessing pornography on his office computer, failed to alert attorneys during a murder trial this year that a juror may have been sleeping, according to court records.”

Posted at 11:30 AM by Howard Bashman



At least they could still view the debate on television: The legal debate over who could attend the first Presidential debate in 2000 between George W. Bush and Al Gore may be at an end as a result of a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.

An opinion that a unanimous three-judge panel has issued rejects a challenge to a decision of the Federal Election Commission upholding the Commission on Presidential Debates’ exclusion of all third-party candidates from being a part of the audience in attendance at that debate.

Posted at 10:28 AM by Howard Bashman



“Senate confirms Griffin; Judge says he’s anxious to get to work”: The Traverse City Record-Eagle today contains an article that begins:

Richard Griffin sat with his father, wife and youngest daughter watching C-Span in his Long Lake Township home as a three-year drama over whether he would become a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals finally ended.

“Ninety-five to zero, you can’t do much better than that,” Griffin said shortly after the Senate confirmed his nomination to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday evening.

Well, you could ask “I want to know who the [five] were who had more important things to do than vote for me.” See, for example, here and here.

Posted at 10:10 AM by Howard Bashman



Available online from law.com: Tony Mauro has an article headlined “Waiting on the Ten Commandments: High Court Shift or Attorney Strategy?

An article reports that “Pryor Wins Lifetime Seat on 11th Circuit; Confirmation comes in 53-45 vote after senators rehash bitter debate.” I previously collected additional coverage here.

In other news, “In Dissenting Opinion, 11th Circuit Judge Raps Cohabiting Couple.” I previously noted this ruling in a post you can access here.

And an article reports that “Calif. Supreme Court to Hear Saga of Raiders, NFL.”

Posted at 10:01 AM by Howard Bashman



“Who will be Bush’s Supreme Court nominee? Youth and ability to ‘connect’ with senators and TV audience will weigh in selection.” Tom Curry, national affairs writer for MSNBC, provides this report.

Posted at 7:28 AM by Howard Bashman



“True Test of Senate Compromise Lies Ahead”: The New York Times today contains this news analysis, along with a profile of Eleventh Circuit Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. headlined “A Different Timpanist.”

The Washington Post reports today that “3 More Appellate Court Judges Confirmed by Senate.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “A Third Judicial Nominee Is Confirmed by the Senate; After vote on William H. Pryor, Republicans wonder if more filibusters are in store.”

The Washington Times reports that “Three judges receive Senate confirmation.”

The Birmingham News reports that “Senate confirms Pryor’s lifetime federal judgeship.”

The Mobile Register reports that “Senate confirms Pryor for bench.”

The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser reports that “Pryor on court for life.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that “Pryor gets long-delayed Senate nod; Appeals court nominee wins seat in close vote.”

The Huntsville Times contains an editorial entitled “Pryor’s commitment.”

The Detroit News reports that “2 Michigan judges head to U.S. appeals court.”

The Detroit Free Press reports that “Judges confirmed to U.S. 6th Circuit Court posts.”

The Lansing State Journal reports that “U.S. Senate confirms McKeague; After long delay, E.L. man to join 6th Circuit Court.”

And The Booth Newspapers provide an article headlined “Finally — Michigan judges get Senate OK.”

Posted at 7:00 AM by Howard Bashman



“2nd Circuit’s Jose Cabranes Offers Bipartisan Appeal”: Today in The New York Sun, Luiza Ch. Savage has an article that begins, “If President Bush were to try to nominate to the Supreme Court a judge with bipartisan appeal, his sights could land on a Puerto Rican native who grew up in the South Bronx.”

Posted at 6:40 AM by Howard Bashman