Programming note: After my luncheon visit with the Houston Bar Association‘s Appellate Practice Section today, I’ll be heading home to the suburbs of Philadelphia. More later.

“Just what should we hear when listening to the past?” Today in The Houston Chronicle, columnist Cragg Hines has this op-ed about the debate over how to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution.

The Ninth Circuit — a court that gives a dam about salmon. The Seattle Times reports today that “Court upholds spills at 5 dams to help salmon.”

And The Oregonian reports today that “Federal court says dam spills will continue; The 9th U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a judge’s order on the Columbia and Snake to help at-risk salmon.”

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

“This suit’s for you, ‘Buddyweiser'”: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch contains this article today.

“Convicted man’s level of intelligence key to his fate”: This article appears today in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

And The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Virginia reports today that “Death row inmate faces York/Poquoson jury; Daryl Atkins’ teachers say he did not seem capable of doing normal middle or high school class work.”

“Democrats Want to See Additional Roberts Documents”: This segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Nina Totenberg appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

In commentary: Online at Reason, Nick Gillespie has an essay entitled “Making a Federalist Case: Does it matter whether John Roberts was a member of the Federalist Society?”

At Salon.com, Garrison Keillor has an essay entitled “Save your fire: There were worse nominees George Bush might have sent up to the Supreme Court, and he did not; So shake hands with John Roberts and wish him well.”

And at American Prospect Online, Matthew Yglesias has an essay entitled “Just Say No: Democrats don’t have to filibuster John Roberts — but they don’t have to vote for him, either.”

“ACLU sues over court oaths”: The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina today contains an article that begins, “The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit asking the state to rule that the term ‘Holy Scriptures’ refers not just to the Bible but to other sacred texts. The suit stems from a Superior Court judge’s decision not to allow oaths taken on the Quran, the Muslim holy book.”

And in other coverage, The News-Record of Greensboro, North Carolina reports today that “Suit filed over courtroom oaths.”

“It’s open season on private property”: Today in The Los Angeles Times, Rosa Brooks has an op-ed that begins, “Supreme court Justice David Souter must be ruing the day he joined the majority opinion in Kelo vs. City of New London, the controversial case that approved the Connecticut city’s plan to redevelop its waterfront by seizing homes and handing them over to private developers.”

“Chafee: Abortion-rights stance won’t sway his vote on Roberts; Strategically aligned in the ‘Gang of 14,’ the Rhode Island Republican has helped weaken the standing of Democrats who oppose the Supreme Court nominee.” The Providence Journal contains this article today.

“Early on, Roberts leaned to the right; Papers reveal a man willing to be pragmatic with other viewpoints, yet ready to defend his conservative stands”: This article appears today in Newsday.

“Roberts Helped Push Against ‘Activist’ Judges, Papers Show”: Bloomberg News provides this report.

“Outrageous French-fry ruling — Democrats can teach Roberts a lesson”: Stephen J. Fortunato Jr., an associate justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court, has this op-ed today in The Providence Journal.

“Roberts had larger 2000 recount role; The role of U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts in the 2000 election aftermath in Florida was larger than has been reported; Roberts helped prepare the Supreme Court case”: This article appears today in The Miami Herald.

“Roberts’ arguments before high court eliciting attention”: Michael McGough has this news analysis today in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Fair Questions For Roberts”: Walter Dellinger has this op-ed today in The Washington Post.

In today’s edition of The Washington Times: The newspaper contains articles headlined “Democrats dismiss Roberts documents” and “Durbin was source for column about Roberts.”

In addition, Helle Dale has an op-ed entitled “Roe vs. Wade vs. Technology.”

“AG charges 22-year-old man married to 14-year-old girl”: The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star today contains an article that begins, “A 22-year-old Falls City man faces a rape charge in Nebraska after marrying his pregnant, 14-year-old girlfriend across the border in Kansas.”

“Frist wants Aug. hearings”: The Hill today contains an article that begins, “Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and GOP members of the Judiciary Committee are pressing Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to start hearings on Supreme Court nominee John Roberts during the August recess.”

“Roberts showed way to shift the debate; Nominee advised using broad terms”: Charlie Savage has this article today in The Boston Globe.

“Charged issues fill Roberts’ writings”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

“Some Roberts Documents Released; Eight senators want records of the high court nominee’s work under Kenneth Starr, but the White House says they have enough to vet him”: David G. Savage and Warren Vieth have this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

“John Roberts’s Pro-Life Spouse: The Relevance of Jane Roberts’s Politics.” FindLaw commentator Sherry F. Colb has this essay today.

“Roberts’ documents disclose little about nominee”: This article appears today in USA Today.

And Laura Vanderkam has an op-ed today entitled “If ‘Roe’ were overturned: The battle over the Supreme Court nominee and abortion is so much fuss for so little turf; Few states would likely ban abortion — and very few women would be left without ‘choice.’”

“Roberts a Committed Conservative Wary of Judicial Excess, Files Show”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

The newspaper also contains a related editorial entitled “The Religious Test.”

“Casing John Roberts”: Law Professor Vikram David Amar has this op-ed today in The New York Times.

“John Roberts: Comfortable in ‘the Box’; Supreme Court nominee’s experience on circuit court is ‘norm'”: Marcia Coyle has this article online at law.com.

The Omaha World-Herald is reporting: Wednesday’s newspaper contains an article headlined “Nelson says he leans toward approving Roberts for court.”

Tuesday’s newspaper, meanwhile, contained an article headlined “U.P. loses ruling in bias lawsuit” that begins, “A federal judge in Omaha has ruled against Union Pacific Railroad in a class-action lawsuit over coverage of contraceptives in its health care plan. The railroad plans to appeal the ruling, a spokesman said.”

Also on Tuesday, the newspaper reported that “Nebraska charges man for having sex with 14-year-old wife.”

“Assisted suicide quote from Roberts revealing, analysts say”: Stephen Henderson of Knight Ridder Newspapers provides this report.

Available online from National Public Radio: Tuesday’s broadcast of “All Things Considered” contained a segment entitled “Supreme Court Clerks Form Elite Group” featuring historian David Garrow.

And Monday’s broadcast of “All Things Considered” contained segments entitled “Democrats Push For Release of Roberts Papers” and “State to Determine Murderer’s Mental Ability.”

RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.

Available online at Slate: Emily Bazelon has a jurisprudence essay entitled “Answer the Question, Judge! Scalia explains why Roberts should speak freely at his confirmation hearings.”

And Henry Blodget has a moneybox essay entitled “How To Invest Like a Supreme Court Justice: What John Roberts’ portfolio reveals about his character.”