“2 Phila.-Based Law Firms Join Probe of 9th Circuit Chief Judge”: This post appears at the ABA Journal’s “Law News Now” blog.

“Court: Man who sodomized sheep isn’t sex offender.” The Detroit Free Press provides a news update that begins, “A Calhoun County man convicted of having sex with a sheep will not have to register as a sex offender once he is released from prison, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled.”

The Detroit News provides an update headlined “Man who had sex with sheep won’t appear on sex offender registry, court rules.”

And The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Court: Man involved with sheep not a sex offender.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Court of Appeals of Michigan at this link.

“Final brief on Kennedy v. Louisiana“: Lyle Denniston has this post this afternoon at “SCOTUSblog.” You can access the supplemental brief that the State of Louisiana filed today by clicking here.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “US court: Monitoring Muslims was constitutional” (access today’s Second Circuit ruling at this link); “Court mulls if Jefferson indictment is tainted“; and “W. Va. Supreme Court hears DuPont’s appeal pitch.”

“Broadcom wins upheld injunction against Qualcomm”: Reuters provides this early report about a decision that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued today.

“Appeals Court Rules Bucs Can Resume Fan Pat-Downs”: Today’s edition of The Tampa Tribune contains an article that begins, “Fans attending a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium could have to undergo pat-down searches in less than three weeks. For almost three years, the stadium has been the only one in the NFL where fans aren’t subjected to the searches. But on Monday, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overruled one of its judges who last week upheld an injunction delaying the searches.”

And The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Judge: Bucs can resume pat-downs at stadium.”

“Ex-Creek Co. judge loses law license over sex crimes”: The Oklahoman today contains an article that begins, “The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday disbarred former Creek County District Judge Donald Thompson, saying Thompson’s repeated use of a sex device in the courtroom brought shame on the judiciary and the legal profession.”

And The Tulsa World reports today that “Former Creek County judge disbarred; The state Supreme Court calls Donald Thompson’s behavior ‘unacceptable.’”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s Supreme Court of Oklahoma ruling can be accessed here.

“Nacchio’s next battle begins Thursday”: Today’s edition of The Denver Post contains an article that begins, “Joe Nacchio’s insider-trading case will take center stage again at a federal court in Denver, this time as the focus of a rare full-court appellate review. Nine of the 12 active judges on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (three have been recused) will hear oral arguments Thursday to decide whether the former Qwest chief executive’s insider-trading conviction should be affirmed or overturned.”

“With 2 Hours to Spare, Justices Stay Execution”: The New York Times contains this article today.

And The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that “Court stops Davis’ death.”

“California voters face another measure requiring consent for minors’ abortions; After failing in 2006 and 2005, backers have adjusted this year’s ballot item, Proposition 4, to address concerns; But foes say it still could endanger girls”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Family planning run amok: A federal push to let healthcare workers refuse services is really an assault on reproductive rights.”

“Feds give customs agents free hand to seize travelers’ documents”: Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

“A gay father finds victory in his family; After seven years, a foster dad has fulfilled a 12-year-old boy’s dream to have a real father, as a judge rules against Florida’s ban on gay adoptions”: The Miami Herald contains this article today.

The newspaper has posted the ruling, which issued late last month, at this link.

“Nichols seemed sane to witness; Ex-prosecutor says defendant appeared far from delusional and was constantly alert and scheming”: This article appears today in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Terror suspect asks judge about his faith; At Guantanamo’s war court, an alleged arch-terrorist questioned his Marine Corps judge and learned he is a Christian, not a Jew”: Carol Rosenberg has this article today in The Miami Herald.

The Washington Post reports today that “9/11 Defendant Queries Judge on Beliefs; Accused Mastermind Tries to Prove Bias.”

And The Los Angeles Times reports that “Sept. 11 plotter turns tables on military judge; Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the suicide hijackings, spends more than an hour questioning the competency of the Marine colonel presiding over trial.”

Kate Coscarelli of The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger is reporting: In today’s newspaper, she has articles headlined “High court case centers on use of inflatable rat” and “Top court hears man’s plea to get firearms ID card back; He forfeited it and guns due to restraining order that later was lifted.”

And in yesterday’s newspaper she had articles headlined “Court considers rule changes for police searches of autos” and “Court: No badmouthing rivals on the boardwalk; Shouted accusations aren’t protected speech” (access Monday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of New Jersey at this link).

“Critics of Anthrax Inquiry Seek an Independent Review”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

“Reversal sought in ruling that could set Seale free”: Today in The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi, Jerry Mitchell has an article that begins, “Justice Department prosecutors said Tuesday that a federal appeals court should reconsider a ruling that could free a reputed Klansman serving three life sentences in the 1964 abductions and killings of two African-American teenagers..”

He will be buried with his shoes on: The New York Times today contains an obituary headlined “Barefoot Sanders Dies; Dallas Judge Was 83.” According to the obituary, he was “crowned Freckle King at the Texas State Centennial Celebration at age 11 in 1936.” The obituary also traces the origin of the “Barefoot” name.

“At the Stadium, Possession Is Some Tenths of the Law”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “Yankees catcher Jose Molina hit the last home run at Yankee Stadium. That is not in dispute. Who should have pocketed the ball seems to be.”

And in related coverage, The Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune today contains an article headlined “Dream catch.”

“First-of-its-kind torture trial to start in Miami; The trial of Charles ‘Chuckie’ Taylor Jr. marks the first U.S. prosecution of torture committed in a foreign country”: Jay Weaver has this article today in The Miami Herald.

“2nd Circuit Upholds Release of Photos in Army Probe of Detainee Abuse”: law.com provides this report.

And The New York Sun reported yesterday that “ACLU Says Military Prison Photos Confirm Widespread Abuse.”

“In the New Term, High Stakes for the High Court”: Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal provides this report.