“Groups prepared for media war over Supreme Court vacancy”: This article will appear Thursday in The Chicago Tribune.

Viewing child pornography versus knowingly possessing it — a divided three-judge Tenth Circuit panel holds that the two are equivalent when a web browser is used to access the images over the internet: Today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit can be accessed here. Circuit Judge Paul J. Kelly, Jr. dissented on the issue, explaining that “The court’s decision effectively rewrites the statute to criminalize viewing child pornography via computer.” In a nutshell, the court has ruled that ignorance of how a web browser works — namely, that images viewed online are automatically saved to the computer’s hard drive — is no defense to the crime of knowingly possessing the images.

“Court: Adware Companies Not Breaking Law.” The Associated Press provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued on Monday.

Staying ahead of the retirement curve: Apropos of this afternoon’s post noting The AP’s report on Sandra O’Connor’s retirement announcement, some longtime readers may recall that in June 2003 “How Appealing” linked to reports of both a Rehnquist and an O’Connor retirement.

“Press splits on how to protect confidential sources; Court’s move has some journalists seeking legislative solutions, while others shun government involvement”: This article will appear Thursday in The Christian Science Monitor.

Bob Egelko is reporting: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, he has articles headlined “Supreme Court’s moderates put Rehnquist on losing side” and “Judge refuses to toss suit over federal abortion law.”

“Sandra O’Connor * * * has said she will retire, her office said Wednesday”: So begins this report that the Baltimore office of The Associated Press has issued today.

In somewhat related news, the Sandra Day O’Connor High School has announced its retirement from educating teenagers. The Sandra Day O’Connor Elementary School, however, plans to persevere in its educational mission.

Available today at National Review Online: Law Professor Jonathan H. Adler has an essay entitled “Property Rights & Wrongs: Supreme Court handed property advocates three deserved losses.”

And Jonah Goldberg has an essay entitled “Better Off Dead: A conservative Constitution.”

“Justices uphold California domestic partner law”: David Kravets of The Associated Press reports here that “Gays and lesbians won a major legal victory Wednesday when the California Supreme Court let stand a new law granting registered domestic partners many of the same rights and protections of heterosexual marriage. Without comment, the unanimous justices upheld appellate and trial court rulings that the sweeping measure does not conflict with a voter-approved initiative defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Justice Janice Rogers Brown, who leaves Thursday to join the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, did not vote.”

“Man to try to seize home of Supreme Court justice”: Reuters provides this report.

“Conservative chameleons”: Today in The Detroit Free Press, columnist Brian Dickerson has an essay that begins, “Poor William Rehnquist! In the twilight of a Supreme Court career that has spanned seven presidencies, the chief justice ought to evoke admiration and sympathy as he battles thyroid cancer. Instead, it seems the nation he has served faithfully for 33 years can’t wait to be rid of him. It’s not that we’re rooting against Rehnquist’s recovery, exactly. We just wish he’d continue it somewhere else so we could get on with the fun of beating each other senseless over the choice of his successor.”

“Is it Unlawful To Threaten Justice Souter’s Home (Suggested Answer: Yes)” Dave Hoffman has this post at “PrawfsBlawg.”

“Ten Commandments Rulings Split Religious Conservatives”: This segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

The Indianapolis Star today contains an article headlined “Commandments at Statehouse? Daniels hopes so; Governor, others see support for idea in Supreme Court action on Monday.”

FindLaw commentator Marci Hamilton today has an essay entitled “The Supreme Court Draws the Correct Ten Commandments Line: Why the Texas Display Was Constitutional, and the Kentucky Display Was Not.”

And in The Seattle Times, columnist Danny Westneat has an essay entitled “The judge speaketh, sort of.”

Yesterday, newspapers across the Nation contained a massive amount of coverage of Monday’s Ten Commandments rulings, and I remain in the midst of collecting that coverage (organized by State) in a post you can access here.

“‘Hotel’ targets Souter’s home; Property rights advocates make protest personal”: The Concord (N.H.) Monitor today contains an article that begins:

A letter that emerged yesterday from the fax machine in the Weare Town Hall has thrust Supreme Court Justice David Souter’s beloved farmhouse into a national debate over property rights.

Souter, a longtime Weare resident, joined in a court decision last week that allows governments to seize private property from one owner and turn it over to another if doing so would benefit a community. Now, an outraged Californian wants to test the ruling – by asking Weare’s selectmen to let him replace Souter’s farm with a posh hotel.

The article also featurs this photo of Justice Souter’s mailbox.

In other coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Proposal Made to Seize Souter’s Property.”

My earlier mention of this matter can be accessed here.

“Top court term a difficult one for Rehnquist”: Reuters provides a report that begins, “The U.S. Supreme Court’s newly ended term was a difficult one for Chief Justice William Rehnquist, with his health problems and a number of major rulings rejecting the conservative legal views he has long espoused.”

Woman who sued basketball legend Michael Jordan for allegedly having sex with her and then welshing on promise to pay $5 million to keep it “their secret” cannot prevail in defamation suit against Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Seventh Circuit rules: Today’s decision, written by Circuit Judge Terence T. Evans on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel, concludes that Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper wasn’t necessarily calling the woman a prostitute. More likely, Roeper was merely calling her a gold-digger. According to early reviews, Roeper has given today’s ruling two thumbs-up.

“Treaty Interpretation Equals a Political Question? DC Circuit Dismisses ‘Comfort Women’ Suit Against Japan.” Law Professor Julian Ku has this post at the “Opinio Juris” blog.

“High court to hear abortion-clinic protest case – for 3rd time”: Tony Mauro has this report online at the First Amendment Center.

“New order in the court; State gets first female chief justice”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contains this article today.

“Replacing Rehnquist will likely mean fight; With a spot on the Supreme Court in the balance, both sides are already girding for battle”: This article appears today in The St. Petersburg Times.

And The State of Columbia, South Carolina reports today that “Graham gets unlikely praise; Top Democrat Harry Reid says Republican senator would be ‘outstanding’ pick for justice.”

“Supreme Court to revisit a second abortion issue; Justices agree to consider use of racketeering law against clinic blockades”: Gail Gibson has this article today in The Baltimore Sun.

“The Mark of Zorach: A critical exegesis of Rehnquist’s and Scalia’s commandments.” Leon Wieseltier today has this essay online at The New Republic.

“Bush aides ready to act on top court; Outside advisers join strategy session”: Jan Crawford Greenburg has this article today in The Chicago Tribune.

USA Today is reporting: In today’s newspaper, Joan Biskupic has an article headlined “A season of dissent for the chief justice; Rehnquist in the minority on a number of big rulings.”

And in related news, “Senate preps for vacancies on high court.”

“High Court to Again Hear Case on Abortion Clinic Protesters”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Supreme Court re-enters fray over violence at abortion clinics.”

In The New York Times, Linda Greenhouse reports that “Justices to Review Rules for Death Case Appeals.”

And in The Washington Post, Charles Lane reports that “Court May Revise Death Row Appeal Rules.”

“Divulge Sources, 4 More Reporters Told”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

“Pro-, Anti- Sides Poised For Future Court Pick; Quick Response Considered Vital to Taking the Offensive”: This article appears today in The Washington Post.