In the interim, you could read an appellate brief: As WSJ.com’s “Law Blog” notes in this post today, lawyers for former Enron executive Jeff Skilling have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to accept an opening brief for appellant that runs nearly 237 pages. That’s just a little more than 4.28 times the size of the maximum length of an opening brief for appellant that may be filed without the court’s permission. As a result, Skilling’s lawyers have asked the Fifth Circuit for permission to file their longer than normal brief. Stay tuned.

Programming note: I’ve really been enjoying my visit to Atlanta, and this evening a former colleague and I will be heading to Turner Field to watch the Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals.

Midday Saturday I’ll be returning home, so additional posts will appear here later tomorrow.

“Panel to study state’s judicial election laws”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “California’s chief justice, citing the increasing influence of money and partisan politics on judicial campaigns elsewhere, has created a commission to study possible changes in the state’s judicial election laws.”

And yesterday’s edition of The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California reported that “Inland judges keep tabs on impartiality.”

“Book Says Souter Almost Left Court”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Justice David Souter contemplated resigning from the Supreme Court because he was so upset by the decision that sealed the 2000 presidential election for George W. Bush, a new book says.”

“Senator Lott drawing fire again on race from civil rights groups”: The Hill today contains an article that begins, “When Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) broke ranks and voted with Judiciary Committee Republicans in August to back the most contentious judicial nominee of the 110th Congress, she surprised nearly everyone with a stake in the battle. Everyone, perhaps, except Republican Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi.”

“Bush federal judge pick criticized; Getchell was not on joint list of nominees favored by Sens. Warner, Webb”: This article appears today in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The Virginian-Pilot reports today that “Bush snubs Virginia’s senators in pick for judge seat.”

And The Washington Post reports that “Bush’s Picks for Court Spur Criticism by Warner, Webb.”