“Federal judge declares Utah polygamy law unconstitutional”: The Salt Lake Tribune has this news update.

You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah at this link.

“Appeals court vacates ban on US horse slaughter”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A federal appeals court on Friday removed a temporary ban on domestic horse slaughter, clearing the way for companies in New Mexico, Missouri and Iowa to open while an appeal of a lawsuit by animal protection groups proceeds.”

And Bloomberg News reports that “Commercial Horse Slaughter Allowed During Court Appeal.”

I have posted online at this link today’s order of a two-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

“The Golden Touch: When law professor Kathleen Sullivan joined Quinn Emanuel, it wasn’t clear that the relationship would work; It has.” Susan Beck has this cover story in the December 2013 issue of The American Lawyer.

“Court grants two cases”: Lyle Denniston has this post at “SCOTUSblog.”

You can access today’s Order List of the U.S. Supreme Court at this link.

In other coverage, Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Worker Stock Suits Get Supreme Court Review in Bank Case.”

Lawrence Hurley of Reuters reports that “U.S. justices agree to hear bank’s class-action appeal” and “U.S. top court agrees to weigh bank fraud case.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Court to decide whether lawsuit can move forward.”

“Blagojevich appeal: How to tell ‘legal and straight from a federal offense?'” The Chicago Tribune has this news update.

The Chicago Sun-Times has a news update headlined “Appellate judges lob tough questions about Blagojevich prosecution.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Judges hear arguments in Blagojevich appeal.”

You can access via this link (10.6MB mp3 audio file) the audio of today’s oral argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit that included Circuit Judge Frank H. Easterbrook.

“Supreme Court Prepares To Wade Into ‘La Brea Tar Pits’ Of Software Patents”: Daniel Fisher has this post today at Forbes.com.

“Senate Moves on Judicial, Executive Confirmations”: Todd Ruger has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

“The Most Important Legal Stories of 2013: This year’s lesson is that some courtroom battles must be fought over and over again, from one generation to the next.” Andrew Cohen has this essay online today at The Atlantic.

“Embracing the Fight: A Portrait of Alan Dershowitz After 50 Years at Harvard Law School.” Dev A. Patel has this article today in The Harvard Crimson.

According to the article, “In one week, Dershowitz will retire from a 50-year career at the Law School during which he taught more than 10,000 students, including many who have gone on to join him on the faculty.”

“The Supreme Court of India’s Shockingly Bad Gay-Rights Decision: A surprising disappointment from judges with a progressive record.” Chanakya Sethi has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

My earlier coverage of the ruling appears at this link.

“Judges hear arguments today on Blagojevich appeal”: The Chicago Tribune has this news update.

And The Associated Press reports that “Judges to hear arguments in Blagojevich appeal.”

Once the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit posts the oral argument online, I will link to it.

“Third Circuit Votes to Rehear Katzin En Banc on the Scope of the Davis Good Faith Exception”: At “The Volokh Conspiracy,” Orin Kerr has this post on an order that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued yesterday.

“High court upholds $12.75M award to ex-Seattle firefighter; The firefighter was injured after falling through a pole hole at his fire station 10 years ago; The state Supreme Court Thursday uphold the earlier jury verdict, which the city and its insurer have repeatedly fought”: The Seattle Times has this report on a ruling that the Washington State Supreme Court issued yesterday.

“Tricky case before Minnesota top court: Drunken driver who fled abuser; Woman who drove drunk to flee abuser argues that her license shouldn’t have been revoked.” The Minneapolis Star Tribune has this report.

“Oregon Supreme Court: Police aren’t ‘coercing’ suspected DUII drivers by warning about refusing breathalyzer.” Aimee Green of The Oregonian has this report on a ruling that the Supreme Court of Oregon issued yesterday.

“Tom Chambers, former state Supreme Court justice, dies; Tom Chambers, a 12-year state Supreme Court justice who retired last year while battling throat and mouth cancer, died at his home on Lake Sammamish late Wednesday; He was 70”: The Seattle Times has this obituary.

“An elevated status for Supreme Court”: Online at The Washington Post, Al Kamen’s “In the Loop” has this report.