“Top court to review Microsoft patent case”: Patti Waldmeir of Financial Times provides this report.

“‘Partial-birth’ cases test abortion rights’ limits; Central question facing justices: Is procedure medically necessary?” Joan Biskupic will have this article Monday in USA Today.

“Supreme Court broadcasts: Do it on a trial basis.” David Drachsler will have this essay in tomorrow’s issue of The National Law Journal.

“Supreme Court Wades Into Fracas Over Punitives; Tobacco Penalty Case Tests Constitutional Limits for Awards”: law.com’s Tony Mauro provides this report.

In addition, Roy T. Englert Jr. and Daniel R. Walfish have an essay about the case entitled “Too Much? Yes,” while Deborah Zuckerman and Elizabeth J. Cabraser argue the opposing proposition in an essay entitled “Too Much? No.”

Earlier today, I read the merits briefs available online here from the American Bar Association. The brief arguing for affirmance of the large punitive damages award struck me as surprisingly persuasive.

“This Land Is My Land: How an eye-popping Supreme Court decision set off one of this year’s most passionate election fights.” This article will appear in the November 6, 2006 issue of Time magazine.

On this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “Muslim Woman’s Court Case Tossed over Veil” and “Understanding the Veil in Islam, Western Societies.”

In the November 6, 2006 issue of U.S. News & World Report: The magazine will contain articles headlined “A Bitter War’s Latest Front: South Dakota voters will pass judgment on the nation’s toughest abortion law” and “A Host of Questions: Voters will take on eminent domain and a lot more.”

“Army reserve doctor fights call-up; Waterford anesthesiologist claims conscientious objector status, takes case to Army and federal court”: This article appeared Friday in The Detroit News (via “Religion Clause“).

“Sharing a colorful past with old Hall of Justice; As renovation begins, a judge whose career coincided with much of the building’s history takes a stroll down a storied memory lane”: The Los Angeles Times today contains an article that begins, “Judge Arthur L. Alarcon identifies with Los Angeles’ old downtown Hall of Justice: It was built in 1925, the same year the federal appeals court judge was born, and is where he started his legal career more than 50 years ago.”

“Ready to be dads, but they’re going to need help; For a baby of their own, David and Chad will have to draw on science, the law, their families — and most of all, each other”: This lengthy article appears today in The Los Angeles Times, along with a related article headlined “Parents-to-be face legal maze.”

“Sloppy lawyers failing clients on death row; For 11 years, top Texas court largely ignored shoddy work as 273 people were executed”: The Austin American-Statesman contains this article today, the first in a series titled “Writs gone wrong.”

The newspaper today also contains related articles headlined “Supreme Court may be headed toward raising standards“; “Complaint attempts to force State Bar to levy punishment; Group that disciplines lawyers has been slow to respond to lackadaisical legal work, critics charge“; and “Attorney cuts, pastes convicted client’s letter.”

“Death penalty debate hits home; As referendum approaches, families of victims divided as much as any other group”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“Firm lead for ‘No’; Rape or incest exception would switch many votes”: The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota today contains an article that begins, “A new poll finds most South Dakotans would vote against the state’s ban on almost all abortions. But, as a previous poll found, the ban would have broader support if it allowed women to receive abortions for cases of rape and incest.”

“Affirmative action: A lot at stake if ban is passed; Critics see proposition as threat to progress.” This article appears today in The Detroit Free Press.

“Gay Marriage Through a Black-White Prism”: Adam Liptak has this article today in the Week in Review section of The New York Times.

And The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger today contains an article headlined “The cradle of civil unions: What Vermont can teach New Jersey on same-sex ceremonies.”