“Smugglers tell of how truck driver was recruited”: The Houston Chronicle provides a news update that begins, “A confessed human-smuggler who recruited truck driver Tyrone Williams said today that he cooperated with prosecutors to wipe the memory of 19 illegal immigrants’ deaths from his conscience.”

In Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times: An article will report that “Republicans Seek to Stir Up a Grass-Roots Drive for Bush’s Judicial Nominees.”

In news from Texas, “Trial Starts in Nation’s Deadliest Human Smuggling Case.”

And an article reports that “Bankruptcy Bill Set for Passage; Victory for Bush.”

“More DNA evidence comes up empty at federal judge’s house”: This article will appear Wednesday in The Chicago Tribune.

And CNN.com reports that “FBI chief vows to catch killer of judge’s family; Visits cut off for jailed white supremacist leader.”

In news from Connecticut: The Day of New London today contains an article headlined “Bill Would Curb Use Of Eminent Domain; But some say it’s a key tool to help struggling urban areas.”

And The Hartford Courant today contains articles headlined “Supermax On Trial” and “Death Row: Extreme Nothingness.”

Available online from law.com: An article reports that “Senate Democrats Grill Bush Judicial Nominee.”

Jeff Chorney reports that “Hidden Deal Dooms Death Sentence; DA — now a judge — had denied striking bargain with key witness.”

And in other news, “National Geographic Wins Copyright Suit Over Articles, Photos on CD-Rom.”

“Filibuster No More?” That was the title of a segment on this evening’s broadcast of “On Point” from WBUR, Boston’s NPR affiliate. You can listen to the segment online by clicking here (RealPlayer required).

In news from Mississippi: The Associated Press offers a report headlined “House votes to allow religious texts in public buildings” that begins, “The Ten Commandments, the motto “In God We Trust” and Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount could be displayed in any Mississippi public building, under a bill that cleared the House on today.”

On this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “Senate Nears Approval of Bankruptcy Bill“; “High-Level Terror Suspects Held in Limbo“; and “The Appeal of Martha Stewart’s Appeal” (RealPlayer required).

“Bloggers Beware: Threats to the status quo are always ripe for ‘reform.'” John Samples has this essay online today at Reason.

“Gay Marriage Debate Goes To The State Supreme Court”: komo news provides this update from Olympia, Washington.

“Hundreds Jam Council Meeting On Soledad Cross”: NBCSandiego.com provides this news update.

“Abortion collides with bankruptcy in Senate; Schumer fails at effort to pass provision aimed at violent protesters”: Tom Curry, national affairs writer for MSNBC, provides this report.

Article in Russian about “The Volokh Conspiracy”: Eugene Volokh posts here a link to the article. You can access a rather poor translation into English of the article by clicking here.

“Court Nominee Explains Lack of Law License”: Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press provides this report. The article states that “The committee’s chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., may hold one more confirmation hearing before the Easter recess to consider White House staff secretary Brett Kavanaugh, who also wants a seat on the D.C. Circuit.”

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit announces its decision in Schering-Plough Corp. v. Federal Trade Commission: You can access today’s ruling, which the FTC has lost, at this link.

You can learn more about this newsworthy case here (Schering-Plough News Release from 2003); here and here (from Forbes.com); and here (case detail from Washington Legal Foundation).

“Feds halt parents’ access to Matt Hale”: The Associated Press reports here that “Jailed white supremacist leader Matthew Hale, one focus of a massive investigation into the shooting deaths of a federal judge’s husband and mother, can no longer receive visits from his parents or talk to them on the phone, Hale’s father said Tuesday.”

“Tsunami Suit Shows Need to Curb Lawyers, Critics Say”: Reuters provides a report that begins, “A lawsuit against Thailand, U.S. weather forecasters and a luxury resort over the South Asian tsunami disaster is fueling calls for greater curbs on what critics say are frivolous cases brought by lawyers out to make a quick buck.”

“Senators Grill D.C. Circuit Pick; Questions focus on D.C., Utah Bar status, controversial statements about Title IX”: Legal Times offers this news update.

“Gay marriage proponents, foes prepare for Supreme Court hearing”: The Associated Press provides this report from Washington State.

The Washington State Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a case presenting the question “Whether Washington’s Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits same-sex marriages, is unconstitutional under the state constitution” at 4:30 p.m. eastern time today.

TVW, Washington State’s public affairs network, plans to broadcast the oral argument live online. You can access the live broadcast via this link starting at 4:20 p.m. eastern time.

“Supreme Court ruling puts ‘3 strikes, out’ laws in doubt; Court limits prior conviction evidence”: Michael McGough of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has this article today.

The wire services are reporting: The Associated Press reports that “DNA in Judge’s Home Doesn’t Match Profiles.”

Elsewhere, Reuters reports that “US Bankruptcy Overhaul Clears Abortion Vote Hurdle,” while The AP reports that “Senate GOP Gain Victory on Abortion Vote.”

And in other news, The AP “Court OKs AmeriCorps Religious Ruling.”

On today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition“: This morning’s broadcast contained segments entitled “Juvenile No Longer Faces Execution” and “Congress Debates Measure to Prevent Anti-Abortion Activists from Declaring Bankruptcy” (RealPlayer required).

Today’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for D.C. Circuit nominee Thomas B. Griffith has concluded: I heard only four Senators (two Republicans and two Democrats) participate in the questioning of this nominee, and based on the hearing it is not possible to predict whether any Democrats on the committee will vote to recommend confirmation.

Chair of House Judiciary Committee visits Ninth Circuit to examine how best to split it up: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has issued this news release.

“Ruling overturns death sentence; A prosecutor manipulated evidence, the court finds”: Claire Cooper, legal affairs writer for The Sacramento Bee, has this article today.

Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “Murder verdict rejected; Burglary made 1980 killing at motel a capital crime.”

The Associated Press reports that “Death Row Inmate Found Wrongly Convicted.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling by an eleven-judge en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit at this link.

In today’s edition of The Los Angeles Times: An article reports that “Santa Ana Acts to Retain Appellate Court; City hires two lobbying firms to prevent the institution from moving to UC Irvine’s campus.”

Claire Luna has an article headlined “Girl a Willing Sex Partner, Witness at Haidl Trial Says; O.C. judge clashes with a lawyer for one rape defendant as testimony for the defense begins.”

And in other news, “ACLU Backs Student Editor; Group says her article on sexual orientation at a Fullerton high school was protected by law.”

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejects establishment clause challenge to the AmeriCorps Education Awards Program: You can access today’s ruling, by a unanimous three-judge panel, at this link. Today’s ruling reverses a trial court decision that found the establishment clause challenge to have merit.

“U.S. May Still Charge ‘Enemy Combatant,’ Gonzales Says; The attorney general admits that it may be difficult to build a case against Jose Padilla”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“The Big Ten: They’re a good thing.” Larry Kudlow has this Ten Commandments-related essay today at National Review Online.

“Stolt-Nielsen says U.S. to appeal antitrust amnesty”: Reuters provides this report.

In related coverage, yesterday in The Philadelphia Inquirer L. Stuart Ditzen had an article headlined “Questions of credibility after U.S. reneges on deal; The Justice Department revoked a whistle-blower’s amnesty; Lawyers say the Phila. case may hinder future cooperation.”

On the agenda: Today at 9:30 a.m. eastern time, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its second confirmation hearing for D.C. Circuit nominee Thomas B. Griffith. Once the hearing begins, you can view it live online by clicking here (RealPlayer required).

“GOP Senators Seek Victory on Abortion Vote”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Bay judge weighs rights of bloggers; Journalists’ shield claimed in response to Apple’s lawsuit”: This article appears today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that “Judge asked to dismiss lawsuit; Apple accuses web site of misusing trade secrets.”

And BusinessWeek contains a news analysis headlined “Are Bloggers Journalists? A judge didn’t think so, thus his ruling that three blogs must reveal their sources; The decision has sparked a debate and may chill such sites.”

“Immigrant deaths trial opens today; The Supreme Court refused to hear truck driver’s penalty appeal”: Harvey Rice has this article today in The Houston Chronicle.

“Pryor avoids new hearing on his judicial nomination”: This article appears today in The Mobile Register. And Human Events Online reports that “Pryor Won’t Face Senate Judiciary Inquiry.”