“Bush Blocked Internal Justice Probe of Wiretaps; The president withheld security clearances from lawyers investigating those who approved and oversaw the NSA surveillance program”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.
Today in The New York Times, Neil A. Lewis reports that “Bush Blocked Ethics Inquiry, Gonzales Says.”
The Washington Post reports that “Bush Thwarted Probe Into NSA Wiretapping; Security Clearances for Justice Department Investigators Were Denied, Gonzales Says.”
In The Boston Globe, Charlie Savage reports that “Bush blocked probe, AG testifies; Senate examines wiretap program.”
And The Washington Times reports that “Bush blocked wiretap probe.”
“Tech group applies lobbying techniques to court case”: This article will appear Thursday in The Hill.
“The Two Executions Of Willie Francis”: Today in The Washington Post, Gilbert King has an op-ed that begins, “In its recently concluded term, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Kansas Supreme Court judgment regarding that state’s imposition of the death penalty.”
“Court voids ‘Wal-Mart law’; U.S. district judge says Md. violated federal authority”: This article will appear Thursday in The Baltimore Sun. My earlier coverage appears here.
“Deportation Warning Closes Case; Substitute judge tells an illegal immigrant to leave his courtroom or be sent back to Mexico”: The Los Angeles Times provides this news update.
“Stealing First: Dick Cheney as the next First Amendment poster child.” Law Professor Akhil Reed Amar has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.
“Congressman’s Gambit Puts Judge on Path to Impeachment”: Today in The Daily Journal of California, Lawrence Hurley has an article that begins, “Los Angeles-based federal Judge Manuel L. Real is now officially public enemy No. 1 in Congress’ ongoing war against the judiciary.”
“Lawyers war over wife on the bench”: Today’s edition of The Australian contains an article that begins, “Queensland Bar Association president Peter Lyons has launched an extraordinary attack on his deputy for criticising the appointment of Mr Lyons’s wife to the Supreme Court bench.”
“Confirm William J. Haynes II”: This editorial appears today in The Washington Times.
In news from Connecticut: The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Judicial Review Council Finds Cause For Sullivan Violations” that begins, “The state’s Judicial Review Council on Wednesday found probable cause that former state Supreme Court Chief Justice William J. Sullivan violated judicial rules of conduct when he delayed the release of a court opinion to help a fellow justice facing confirmation hearings. Sullivan, who can still sit on cases as a retired justice, was charged with five violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and state statutes.”
Third Circuit grants rehearing en banc in case that resulted in a divided three-judge panel ruling described as a “[m]ajor Third Circuit ruling on post-Booker burden of proof”: Today’s order granting rehearing en banc is here, while the three-judge panel’s earlier ruling is here. The blog “Sentencing Law and Policy” had this post about that ruling, and my earlier coverage of that ruling is at this link.
“House Takes Up ‘Pledge’ Protection”: The AP provides this report. You can access the text of the proposed law at this link.
“Judge Overturns Wal-Mart Health Care Law”: The Associated Press provides this report. Today’s opinion and order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland are both available online.
“Colorado marriages now have law in common; Minimum age of 18 now applies across matrimonial board”: This article appears today in The Rocky Mountain News.
The law overturns a court ruling noted in earlier posts available here and here.
“Ruling confirms abortion rights for Missouri prisoners”: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today contains an article that begins, “A federal judge on Tuesday ordered that the state of Missouri provide transportation for any woman prisoner seeking an abortion, saying that even an inmate had the constitutional right to the legal procedure.”
And The Kansas City Star reports today that “Abortion transportation ordered; The state’s argument of a security risk is rejected; Gov. Matt Blunt urges an appeal.”
I have posted online at this link a copy of yesterday’s ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
“Ultimately, recognition of Vickers’ claim would have the effect of de facto amending Title VII to encompass sexual orientation as a prohibited basis for discrimination.” So states the majority opinion issued today by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In today’s ruling, the majority rejects the argument that “the unique nature of homosexuality entitles it to protection under Title VII sex discrimination law.”
One year ago today: President George W. Bush nominated D.C. Circuit Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to replace Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court of the United States. The transcript of the announcement appears here.
Two particular posts of interest from that date are titled “Who are you calling a dumb-ass?” and “Sources say President Bush’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court won’t be Kennewick Man.” You can access my complete coverage from one year ago today by clicking here and scrolling down the page. Of course, President Bush ultimately had to settle for his third choice to fill the O’Connor vacancy.
“Court Says Special Prosecutor Overstepped the Mark”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun. My earlier coverage appears at this link.
“The Florida Supreme Court’s Big Tobacco Decision: Why Neither Side Can Be Very Happy.” Anthony J. Sebok has this essay online at FindLaw.
