How Appealing



Thursday, August 2, 2007

“Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Gives Inaugural William French Smith Memorial Lecture”: Pepperdine University School of Law has issued a news release that begins, “Pepperdine University School of Law welcomes Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and attorney Carter G. Phillips for the inaugural William French Smith Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, August 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Caruso Auditorium in Malibu.”

An email that I have received from a law school official states that “The dialogue will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, but we encourage those in the Los Angeles area to attend this extremely unique conversation which will include a time of Q&A (via questions submitted National Press Club style at the lecture).” The email goes on to state that “The event is free of charge, although RSVPs are requested.” Instructions on how to RSVP via phone and email appear at the end of the news release.

Posted at 8:40 PM by Howard Bashman



“Judge: No New Plan for Ky. Schools.” The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “A federal judge told the Louisville school district Thursday it can use whatever method it likes to assign students to schools – as long as race isn’t considered. U.S. District Judge John Heyburn’s narrow interpretation of a U.S. Supreme Court decision barring race in assigning students to schools marks the first application of the ruling issued in late June.”

And The Louisville Courier-Journal provides a news update headlined “Judge: JCPS race plan complies with ruling.”

Posted at 8:35 PM by Howard Bashman



“Southwick federal judge nomination moves to Senate”: The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi provides a news update that begins, “Republican supporters of Leslie Southwick had a huge victory today when a moderate Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California broke with her party to vote for the Mississippi judge’s nomination to the federal bench. Feinstein had been heavily lobbied by the nominee and Mississippi Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, both Republicans, as well as the White House. The approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee sent his nomination to the full Senate where opponents said they would seek to derail it through a filibuster or extended debate.”

FOXNews.com reports that “Bush Judicial Nominee Passes Big Senate Hurdle.”

Friday’s edition of The Hill will report that “Feinstein’s flip sends Southwick to the floor.”

The Associated Press reports that “Southwick nomination clears Senate committee.”

And The White House has issued a press release headlined “President Bush Pleased Judge Leslie Southwick Will Soon Receive Fair Vote by Senate.”

Posted at 8:11 PM by Howard Bashman



“57 Percent View Supreme Court Favorably”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Views of the Supreme Court dropped sharply in a six-month period that included decisions that upheld abortion restrictions, struck down school integration plans and chided inaction on global warming, according to a poll Thursday. Fifty-seven percent view the court favorably, the poll by the Pew Research Center found. The number was the lowest for the court in the survey in two years and down from 72 percent in January.”

You can access the underlying data here and here.

Posted at 4:54 PM by Howard Bashman



Third Circuit reinstates inmate’s RLUIPA claim challenging as a substantial burden on religious exercise a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ restriction prohibiting inmates from possess in their cells more than ten books at a time: You can access today’s ruling, written by Circuit Judge D. Brooks Smith, at this link.

Posted at 3:30 PM by Howard Bashman



“Court Rules Against La. Katrina Victims”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “A federal appeals court ruled Thursday against Hurricane Katrina victims who argued their insurance policies should have covered flood damage caused by levee breaches that flooded 80 percent of New Orleans during the 2005 storm. The case could affect thousands of rebuilding residents and business owners in Louisiana. An insurance expert had said a ruling against the industry could have cost insurers $1 billion.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has not yet posted this ruling to its web site. Update: The opinion is now available online at this link.

Posted at 2:33 PM by Howard Bashman



“Court puts limits on surveillance abroad; The ruling raises concerns that U.S. anti-terrorism efforts might be impaired at a time of heightened risk”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

Posted at 8:40 AM by Howard Bashman



“‘Dolphin-safe’ tuna label secure; government gives up”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “A conservation group that went to court to preserve standards for ‘dolphin-safe’ labels on canned tuna declared victory Wednesday with the passing of a deadline for the federal government to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

My earlier coverage of the Ninth Circuit‘s April 2007 ruling can be accessed here and here.

Posted at 8:38 AM by Howard Bashman



“Administration Again Rebuffs Senators; Rove Ordered Not to Cooperate; Gonzales Refuses to Alter Testimony”: This article appears today in The Washington Post. And an editorial is entitled “Investigating Mr. Gonzales: The Justice Department’s inspector general should take the lead.”

The New York Times reports today that “Gonzales Offers a Defense to Senate Panel.”

McClatchy Newspapers report that “Bush invokes executive privilege for Rove in attorney firings.”

USA Today reports that “Leahy sees ‘word parsing’ in clarification by Gonzales.”

Bloomberg News reports that “Rove Won’t Appear Before Senate Panel to Testify About Firings.”

And The Hill reports that “Gonzales has until Friday to explain testimony.”

Posted at 8:20 AM by Howard Bashman



Available online from law.com: Shannon P. Duffy reports that “Firm Founder’s Shower Fall Leads to Significant Jurisdiction Ruling at 3rd Circuit.” You can access last week’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit at this link.

And an article reports that “Student Who Wrote Violent Story Loses Appeal at 11th Circuit; Panel rules school was in its power to suspend teen in light of other incidents of school violence across the nation.” My earlier coverage of Tuesday’s Eleventh Circuit ruling appears at this link.

Posted at 8:14 AM by Howard Bashman



“Senate panel sets vote on judge; Southwick nomination not expected to pass committee muster today”: This article appears today in The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi.

Posted at 7:42 AM by Howard Bashman