How Appealing



Thursday, September 14, 2006

“‘Alternative’ CIA tactics complicate Padilla case; Evidence against the American terror suspect was obtained through torture, his lawyers say”: Warren Richey will have this article Friday in The Christian Science Monitor.

Posted at 10:40 PM by Howard Bashman



“Cohabiting no longer illegal in N.C.; Ruling affirms ban is unconstitutional”: This article appears today in The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Posted at 9:54 PM by Howard Bashman



“Former witness in government lawyer’s death faces weapons charge”: This article appears today in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Earlier this year, The Seattle Times published articles headlined “FBI yanks Wales case away from Seattle office“; “Cutback in Wales case is reviewed“; “Wales suspect reportedly in Vegas days before letter sent“; and “Could mystery letter solve case of slain prosecutor?” One of those articles reports that “If Wales was killed because of his work, he would be the first federal prosecutor in U.S. history to be slain in the line of duty.”

Posted at 5:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Examining the Proposal to Restructure the Ninth Circuit”: That’s the title of a hearing the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.

Posted at 5:45 PM by Howard Bashman



“Pa. high court restores raises for all state judges”: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provides a news update that begins, “In a much awaited opinion, the state Supreme Court today reinstated the July 2005 pay raise for 1,030 state judges but allowed the repeal of the raises for state legislators and members of the executive branch to stand.”

My earlier coverage appears at this link.

Posted at 4:14 PM by Howard Bashman



The Associated Press is reporting: An article headlined “Retired Federal Judges Oppose Bush” begins, “Nine retired federal judges accused the Bush administration and Congress of trying to deprive detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, of the most basic legal right.”

And an article headlined “Man Leaves Package at Supreme Court” begins, “A man fired a flare gun into the air Thursday in front of the Supreme Court and authorities were examining a suspicious package he left behind, a court spokeswoman said.”

Posted at 3:33 PM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court to Post Transcripts Online”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “The Supreme Court will post transcripts of oral arguments on its Web site the same day they occur, beginning in October.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Prompt, free access to argument transcripts.”

You can access at this link the press release that the Supreme Court of the United States issued today.

I discussed some of these issues in a recent law.com column headlined “Should Congress Mandate Supreme Court TV? Will original understanding go high-definition?

Posted at 3:25 PM by Howard Bashman



“State Supreme Court contests spark ‘fundraising arms race'”: The Seattle Times today contains an article that begins, “An unprecedented amount of money is flowing into this year’s state Supreme Court races, much of it financing attack ads by conservative and liberal factions fighting over the ideological bent of the court.”

Posted at 2:30 PM by Howard Bashman



Pennsylvania’s Legislature could not repeal earlier pay raise given to Pennsylvania’s judiciary, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rules: You can access today’s lengthy ruling at this link. One Justice issued a concurring and dissenting opinion, which you can access here.

Readers may recall that the Pennsylvania electorate’s dissatisfaction with these pay raises, originally applicable to both judges and legislators, was the main reason why a sitting Pa. Supreme Court Justice in November 2005 lost a retention election necessary to remain in office.

Update: In early news coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Pa. Court Reinstates Judges’ Pay Raises.”

Posted at 2:04 PM by Howard Bashman



“‘I should be in jail’ for sex fling with boy, Lafave says; In a TV interview, the ex-teacher under house arrest says her ‘bizarre’ acts may relate to a childhood rape”: This article appears today in The St. Petersburg Times.

MSNBC offers a transcript of the interview here, while you can access the video of last night’s “Dateline” broadcast via this link.

Posted at 10:24 AM by Howard Bashman



“Enact the President’s Code for Military Commissions: The McCain/Graham/Warner objections are meritless.” Andrew C. McCarthy has this essay today at National Review Online.

Posted at 10:04 AM by Howard Bashman



“Senators to challenge Bush plan for terror trials; Lawmakers concerned about suspects’ rights”: USA Today contains this article today.

The Washington Times reports today that “GOP in standoff on Gitmo rights.”

CNN.com reports that “Senators, White House on collision course over tribunals.”

The Washington Post today contains an editorial entitled “A Crucial Choice: The Senate must decide whether to ratify the president’s abuse of human rights law — or restore decency.”

And The Wall Street Journal today contains an editorial entitled “A Self-Inflicted Defeat: Why we might not break the next Khalid Sheikh Mohammad.”

Posted at 8:50 AM by Howard Bashman



“Funeral protesters say laws can’t silence them; Their belief: Troops dying because USA tolerates gays.” This article appears today in USA Today.

Posted at 8:24 AM by Howard Bashman



“Panel Takes Judge Off Federal Case; Appeals court says ‘impartiality might be questioned’ in a wrongful conviction suit against Riverside County”: Henry Weinstein has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

Posted at 8:22 AM by Howard Bashman