“CAIR Asks N.C. Judges to Allow Use of Quran In Oaths; Exclusive Use of Bible Called ‘State Endorsement of Religion.'” The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued this press release today.

The News & Record of Greensboro, North Carolina reported on Sunday that “Judges question use of Quran in taking oath.”

And The Associated Press reports that “N.C. Judges Face Quran Question.”

“White House interviews candidates for Rehnquist post, official says”: In Wednesday’s edition of The Chicago Tribune, Jan Crawford Greenburg will have an article that begins, “Stepping up preparations for the possible retirement of Chief Justice William Rehnquist – perhaps as early as next week – the White House has narrowed its list to a handful of federal appeals court judges and has conducted interviews with leading contenders, a senior administration official said Tuesday.”

If it is not obvious already, this article is a must-read for many reasons.

In news from Mississippi: The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson today contains an article headlined “Ex-judge says Minor aided him; However, lawyer never sought favors, former official testifies.”

And The Sun Herald of Biloxi reports today that “Former judge testifies in bribery trial; Biloxi lawyer had influence with judges, politicans, Randall says.”

Available online from law.com: An article reports that “Reporters Plead Their Case to Supreme Court; Scribes from The New York Times, Time magazine hope justices take up their cause.”

In other news, “D.C. Circuit Sends Mutual Fund Rules Back to SEC.”

And an article reports that “Calif. Supreme Court Affirms State Guidelines on Sentencing.”

The Associated Press is reporting: An article reports that “Group to Launch Supreme Court Ad Campaign.”

And in other news, an article headlined “Jury Recommends Death in Iowa Drug Slay” begins, “A federal jury on Tuesday recommended the death penalty for a woman convicted of helping her boyfriend kill five people in 1993 in an attempt to thwart a drug investigation. If sentenced to death, Angela Johnson could become the first woman executed by the U.S. government since 1953, U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams said.” The Federal Death Penalty Act, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit construed in this recent ruling, would appear to make the jury’s recommendation of death binding on the trial judge.

“Gonzales Is Seeking to Stem Light Sentences”: This article will appear Wednesday in The New York Times.

The Washington Post on Wednesday will report that “Minimum Sentences Urged; Gonzales Responds to Rulings Against Mandatory Guidelines.”

And Shannon McCaffrey of Knight Ridder Newspapers reports that “Gonzales calls for mandatory minimum sentences.”

The text of the Attorney General’s remarks prepared for delivery today can be accessed here.

“What Became of Federalism? The Bush White House has been favoring Washington over the states.” Law Professor John Yoo has this op-ed today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Will Rehnquist step down or not? Chief justice may be frail, but his retirement is far from certain.” CNN.com provides this report.

“Seattle public schools urge race as admissions factor”: David Kravets of The Associated Press provides this report on a case argued today before an eleven-judge en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The identities of the eleven judges assigned to hear and decide this case en banc are revealed here.

Once the Ninth Circuit makes the audio of this en banc oral argument available online for download, I will post the link.

“Zaoui’s fate up to politicians, claims lawyer”: Wednesday’s edition of The New Zealand Herald contains an article that begins, “The fate of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui may end up in the hands of politicians and ‘refugees don’t buy votes’, says his lawyer Deborah Manning. Ms Manning was commenting on the Supreme Court decision released yesterday which supported the Crown’s view that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Paul Neazor, did not have to take into account Mr Zaoui’s human rights when he reviewed his alleged security threat.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of New Zealand both here and here. The court has also issued a helpful press summary of its ruling.

“Federal judge upholds private Commandments display in city park”: The Associated Press provides this report from Maryland.

CNSNews.com reports that “Maryland Court Rules Ten Commandments Display Constitutional.”

And the American Center for Law and Justice has issued a press release entitled “With Supreme Court Poised to Rule on Ten Commandments, ACLJ Gets Federal Court Victory on Commandments Display in MD.”

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

“Who is Juan Non-Volokh?” Brian Leiter wants to know.

The June 22, 2056 issue of The Onion: Does the future hold potential for humor? Click here to find out.

“Either Pay Staff or Pay Rent; Caught in Financial Bind, Federal Courts Ask Congress for Relief”: The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts issued this news release today. Related witness testimony delivered to Congress today can be accessed here and here.

“Would a Rehnquist Retirement Make A Difference? Yes, in Some Important Areas.” Law Professor Rick Hasen provides this post at his “Election Law” blog.

Raich and wetlands: Seventh Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner issued this opinion today on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel in a case involving a commerce clause to the federal government’s attempt to regulate activities pursuant to the Clean Water Act.

“Court faults US SEC on mutual fund directors rule”: Reuters provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.

“Court reverses ruling on GSU student paper; Dean not liable for halting printing so she could review articles”: This article appears today in The Daily Southtown of Tinley Park, Illinois.

And The Associated Press reports that “Court Dismisses College Newspaper Suit.”

“Another toast to St. Pat’s ruling; Parade stalwarts recall court victory”: The Boston Globe today contains this article reporting on yesterday’s celebration of the recent tenth anniversary of a particular U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

“Speculation mounts on Rehnquist retirement”: The Scripps Howard News Service provides this report.

And online at The Village Voice, James Ridgeway’s “Mondo Washington” column today is entitled “Pulling Up Lame: Loser versus loser: handicapping the coming supreme court vacancies.”

“Ex-KKK Member Convicted in 1964 Killings”: The Associated Press provides this report from Philadelphia, Mississippi.

“Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference to Focus on Future of Federal Courts”: The Ninth Circuit’s Public Information Office issued this news release last week. A review of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference Speaker and Panelist Biographies suggests that the conference may suffer from a dearth of law blogger-panelists.

“Attorney Gen. Urges Sentencing Guidelines”: The Associated Press reports here that “Attorney General Alberto Gonzales called Tuesday for requiring federal judges to adhere to guidelines that set mandatory minimum prison sentences, saying there is evidence of growing disparity in jail terms since a landmark Supreme Court ruling.”

“State’s banking data law in doubt; An appeals court has invalidated some limits on sharing, saying that U.S. statutes pre-empt them”: This article appears today in The Sacramento Bee.

“Courtney’s sentence affirmed; U.S. Supreme Court had ordered a review at the appeals level”: The Kansas City Star today contains an article that begins, “A federal appeals court panel on Monday upheld a 30-year sentence given to former Kansas City pharmacist Robert R. Courtney for diluting chemotherapy drugs.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Appeal of Ex-Pharmacist Sentence Rejected.”

You can access yesterday’s per curiam ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit at this link.

“Frist blows Graham’s and DeWine’s cover on judicial nominations deal”: This article appears today in The Hill.

“‘They showed her no mercy’; Defense admission has judge, prosecutor asking point of trial”: The Rutland Herald today contains an article that begins, “Donald R. Fell’s attorney didn’t waste much time admitting to the jury that his client played a role in killing a North Clarendon woman in a case that could send him to death row. In Vermont’s first death penalty case in nearly 50 years, federal public defender Alexander Bunin told the jury Monday in U.S. District Court that his client ‘accepted responsibility’ for the death of Tressa King, 53, of North Clarendon on Nov. 27, 2000.”

The newspaper also contains a related editorial entitled “Breaking the cycle.”

Access online today’s en banc nude dancing decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: You can access today’s ruling, which appears to have been decided by a margin of 7-5 on some issues, at this link.

“College paper lawsuit fails; Federal court backs Governors State dean”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article that begins, “In a case with wider implications for college newspapers and their inevitable struggles with the administrations they cover, a full panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit against Governors State University filed by two student journalists who were sharply critical of the school’s president and a dean.”

And Inside Higher Ed reports that “Colleges Can Censor, Too.”

“Fort Trumbull Residents, City Officials Still Holding Their Breath; Supreme Court’s Ruling On Eminent Domain Is Anxiously Awaited”: This article appears today in The Day of New London, Connecticut.

“Kids in legal gray area when gay couples split”: Today’s edition of USA Today contains this article.

“Controversial federal prosecutor loses job; Jeffrey Del Fuoco testified in a case against a Hillsborough circuit judge”: This article appears today in The St. Petersburg Times.

“Are Accounts of Consensual Sex a Violation of Privacy Rights? The Lawsuit Against the Blogger ‘Washingtonienne.'” FindLaw commentator Julie Hilden has this essay today.

“Conservative talking shop puts its mark on judicial agenda”: Financial Times contains this article today.

“Specter: Chief justice doing fine; William Rehnquist doesn’t look like he’s ready to retire just yet, Pa.’s senior senator said.” This article appears today in The Philadelphia Inquirer.