“Kin Draws Small Firm Lawyer Into High-Profile Supreme Court Privilege Case; Attorney J. Craig Smith said he received threats from big law firms that wanted him to turn over his cousin’s case to them”: law.com has this report.

“Young says solo ‘no’ vote expressed his frustration; Day of tough issues leads lawmaker to oppose Brandeis recognition”: This article appears today in The Anchorage Daily News.

“Number of death sentences falls to a historic low”: Robert Barnes and Maria Glod will have this article Friday in The Washington Post.

“Supreme Court delays medical malpractice damage cap ruling”: The Chicago Tribune has this news update.

“Newburgh lawyer wins $34.3M verdict for client vs. drugmaker Pfizer”: This article appeared Tuesday in The Times Herald-Record of Middletown, New York.

Crocs footware, on appeal: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued this ruling today.

The Nintendo Wii, on appeal: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued this decision today.

“Senate panel delays vote on Thompson nomination”: The Providence (R.I.) Journal has a news update that begins, “The Senate Judiciary Committee has held over until the new year a vote on President Obama’s nomination of Rhode Island Superior Superior Court Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson to a vacant seat on the Boston-based First Circuit U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

Update: The Providence Journal’s news update has itself been updated to now report that “Senate panel to take up Thompson nomination Dec. 24.”

“N.C. judges get easy hearing in Senate”: Today’s edition of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina contains an article that begins, “North Carolina Judges James Wynn of Raleigh and Albert Diaz of Charlotte, on their path to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, breezed through a brief confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, facing just a handful of questions from three senators.”

And yesterday’s edition of The Charlotte Observer contained an editorial entitled “Senate should confirm Al Diaz, Jim Wynn to court; The two state judges would add much to the U.S. 4th Circuit.”

“Going Robe: Obama’s judicial appointment strategy isn’t working; Here’s a better one.” Law professor David Fontana has this essay online at The New Republic.

“Frustrated with fantasy football? Try the Supreme Court.” Bill Mears of CNN.com has this report.

“Frank Coffin, Chief Judge of a Federal Appeals Court, Dies at 90”: This obituary, written by Neil A. Lewis, appears today in The New York Times.

Earlier, The Portland (Me.) Press Herald had an obituary headlined “‘He was a national treasure’: Friends and colleagues extol the South Portland judge’s outsized influence on Maine politics and the law.” The newspaper also published this death notice.

The Bangor Daily News had an obituary headlined “Judge, lawmaker Frank Coffin dies; Architect of Maine Dems’ revival served on federal bench for 40 years.”

And The Associated Press reported that “Maine federal appeals Judge Coffin dies at 90.”

“Woman held for trial in sex-for-tickets case”: Today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer contains an article that begins, “The World Series is long over, but yesterday the legal case against a Phillies fan who allegedly offered sex for Series tickets was just going into its second inning.”

And The Philadelphia Daily News reports today that “Sex-for-tix case going to trial: January date set in Common Pleas Court, Doylestown.”

“Vt. court eyes value of love of man’s best friend”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “Vermont’s highest court is being asked to decide what a dog’s love is worth.”

“Sotomayor delighted with visit to island”: This article appears today in The Puerto Rico Daily Sun.

“Pfizer Seeks Prempro Video’s Removal From Internet”: Bloomberg News has a report that begins, “Pfizer Inc. asked a judge to order the removal of an Internet video about its menopause medicines that the company says is misleading and aimed at swaying potential jurors in future trials over the pills.”

You can access the video on YouTube by clicking here.