“Snowden says ruling vindicates leak of NSA files; He says decision that collection of phone data is unconstitutional is ‘the first of many'”: USA Today has a report that begins, “Edward Snowden said Monday that his decision to expose National Security Agency surveillance programs was vindicated by a federal judge’s ruling that the mass collection of phone data is probably unconstitutional.”

“Why shield corporations from disclosing political spending?” Alison Frankel’s “On the Case” from Thomson Reuters News & Insight has this report today.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has dismissed as improvidently granted Wyeth’s appeal contending that Pennsylvania law would not permit punitive damages to be awarded on a failure-to-warn claim involving an FDA-approved prescription drug: You can access today’s unanimous order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania dismissing the appeal as improvidently granted at this link.

My earlier posts about this case, in which I served as appellate counsel for plaintiffs while the case was pending at the Pa. Supreme Court, can be accessed here, here, here, and here.

From the plaintiffs’ perspective, today’s outcome is the same as a victory on the merits, in that it leaves undisturbed the Pa. Superior Court‘s decision reinstating the jury’s verdict awarding compensatory and punitive damages in plaintiffs’ favor.

“Federal Judge Rules Against N.S.A. Phone Data Program”: Charlie Savage of The New York Times has this news update.

Ann E. Marimow and Ellen Nakashima of The Washington Post have a news update headlined “Judge: NSA’s collecting of phone records is likely unconstitutional.”

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “NSA collection of telephone records violates Constitution, judge rules.”

Kevin Johnson and Richard Wolf of USA Today report that “Federal judge rules against NSA spying.”

Michael Doyle of McClatchy Washington Bureau reports that “Judge dings the NSA metadata collection program.”

David Ingram of Reuters reports that “U.S. judge rules phone surveillance program is likely unlawful.”

The Associated Press reports that “NSA phone record collection ruled unconstitutional.”

Bloomberg News reports that “NSA Phone Program Probably Unconstitutional, Judge Rules.”

At “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Zoe Tillman and Mike Scarcella have a post titled “Judge Finds NSA Surveillance ‘Almost Certainly’ Violates Privacy Rights.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Judge: NSA phone sweep likely invalid.”

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

“Detroit bankruptcy judge allows appeal of eligibility, pension rulings”: The Detroit News has an update that begins, “A bankruptcy judge Monday allowed creditors to appeal his recent eligibility and pension rulings directly to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.”

News coverage from The Detroit Free Press can be accessed here.

And The Associated Press reports that “Judge allows appeal in Detroit bankruptcy case.”

“Stern Words for Wall Street’s Watchdogs, From a Judge”: Adam Liptak will have this new installment of his “Sidebar” column in Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times.

“Supreme Court Declines to Take Up School Bullying Case”: Mark Walsh has this post at the “School Law” blog of Education Week.

Access online today’s ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in an argued case: Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court in Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., No. 12-729. You can access the oral argument via this link.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Court says health plan lawsuit cutoff legal.”

Access online today’s Order List of the U.S. Supreme Court: The Court has posted the Order List at this link. The Court did not grant review in any new cases, but the Court did request the views of the Solicitor General in one case.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press reports that “High court won’t look at bullying in schools“; “Court won’t hear appeal over news release“; “Court won’t hear appeal over Mich. sore loser law“; “Court won’t hear dispute over Grand Canyon Skywalk“; and “Court won’t take Gulf spill moratorium case.”

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Sept. 11 Victims’ Suit Prompts U.S. Supreme Court Inquiry” and “Ex-InterMune CEO Harkonen’s Conviction Let Stand by Court.”

Lawrence Hurley of Reuters reports that “U.S. justices ask for Obama’s views in Sept. 11 case against banks“; “U.S. high court rejects oil spill contempt case“; and “U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear ex-InterMune CEO’s appeal” and “U.S. top court declines to review Lockheed employee class action.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Liability for 9/11 at issue.”

“In Bizarre No-Fly List Trial, Even the Verdict Might Be Top Secret”: David Kravets has this post today at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog.

“Medicaid filings put morals before court; Usual allies at odds in legal wrangling”: Jim Provance has this front page article today in The Toledo Blade.

“Right-to-die challenge reaches Supreme Court”: BBC News has this report.

And The Independent (UK) has an article headlined “Right-to-die case: Supreme Court hears case of Tony Nicklinson’s widow and Paul Lamb; Campaigners argue the assisted suicide ban contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights.”

“Crackdown on massage parlours spurs debate ahead of Supreme Court ruling”: The Canadian Press has this report.

According to the article, “This Friday, Canada’s top court will bring down a landmark decision on the legality of the country’s anti-prostitution laws.”

“Minnesota judges face new financial disclosure requirements; Fewer than half of state’s top judges earned outside pay last year; Alan Page made nearly $50,000”: The Minneapolis Star Tribune has this report.

“Cruel and Unusual: The lethal-injection dilemma.” Jeffrey Toobin has this comment in The Talk of the Town section of the December 23, 2013 issue of The New Yorker.