“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.”

“Roberts Likely to Stonewall Tough Queries; In 2003, Nominee Offered Little to Judiciary Committee”: Brent Kendall has this interesting article today in The Daily Journal of California.

The Tenth Circuit weighs in on a circuit split over when a copyright registrant becomes entitled to the protections of the Copyright Act of 1976 against copyright infringement: Today’s opinion — by a unanimous three-judge panel — begins:

The Copyright Act of 1976 requires authors to register their works with the federal Copyright Office in order to be entitled to the Act’s protections against copyright infringement. Two conflicting interpretations of the Act’s registration requirement have been upheld by circuit courts: 1) registration occurs when the copyright owner submits an application for registration to the copyright office, or, conversely 2) registration occurs when the copyright office actually approves or rejects the application. We hold that the second interpretation is correct. The Copyright Office must approve or reject the application before registration occurs or a copyright infringement action can be brought.

You can access the complete ruling at this link.

“U.S. Court Upholds Ruling Guarding Fish in Northwest”: Bloomberg News provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued today.

And in other coverage, David Kravets of The Associated Press reports that “Appeals court upholds Washington, Oregon dam spills.”

“Documents Show Roberts Aiding O’Connor”: Gina Holland of The Associated Press provides this report.

Distinguishing between leases and secured loans under the Bankruptcy Code: The United Airlines bankruptcy gives rise to another very interesting opinion from Seventh Circuit Judge Frank H. Easterbrook.

“Senators Battle Over Papers and Politics”: The Los Angeles Times provides a news update that begins, “The White House today released thousands of pages of documents on Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. that nobody on Capitol Hill requested, but declared off limits all materials from the period in Roberts’s government career that would likely be the most revealing about his political views.”

In Wednesday’s issue of The Washington Post: The newspaper will contain a front page article headlined “Papers Show Roberts as Force In Reagan Era; Papers Show Conservative Advocacy.”

And in related news, “Roberts’s Right to Vote Against Roe Is Defended; Gonzales Cites High Court’s Special Role” and “White House To Withhold Nominee’s Tax Returns; Document Release Excludes First Bush Administration.”

In Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times: Tomorrow’s newspaper will contain articles headlined “Files Highlight Legal Stances of a Nominee“; “In Reagan’s White House, a Clever, Sometimes Cocky John Roberts“; and “Timing of Hearings and Vote Stalls Confirmation Talks.”

“Congress aide becomes casualty of controversy; Panel’s attorney exits after lawmaker’s bid to alter drug sentence”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune (via “Sentencing Law and Policy“).

“Supreme Court Justices Devour Sandra Day O’Connor In Ancient Ritual”: The Onion provides this report.

Fourth Circuit decides anti-abortion protestor case: You can access today’s ruling by clicking here.

Houston Astros 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1: 33,866 hometown fans left happy tonight as the Astros first baseman hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Both teams’ starting pitchers were great, but Roy Oswalt pitched a complete game for the win, while Jon Lieber pitched seven strong innings. Minute Maid Park is a beautiful ballpark, and the roof remained closed (with the air conditioning on) all game. Wraps and box score available here.

The Associated Press is reporting: Jesse J. Holland reports that “GOP Presses for Timetable on Roberts Vote.”

An article headlined “Roberts Writes Disability Ruling” reports on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.

And an article headlined “Gonzales: Roberts Not Bound by Statement” begins, “If confirmed to the Supreme Court, John Roberts would not be bound by his past statement that the 1973 decision legalizing abortion is settled law, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday.”

“Judge Roberts Could Face Military Recruiting Case”: This segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Jeffrey Toobin appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Day to Day.”

In the current issue of The New Yorker, Toobin has an article headlined “Sex and the Supremes: Why the Court’s next big battle may be about gay rights.”

Greetings from Houston, Texas: Where it’s just as hot outside as back home in Philadelphia. I’m staying at a quite lovely hotel just blocks away from Minute Maid Park, where I’ll be tonight hoping that the Phillies can salvage the middle game of a three-game series against the Astros. And I’m just a few blocks away from the headquarters of The Houston Chronicle, which is reporting today that “Woman who cut off ex-lover’s penis gets 8 years in prison; Delmy Ruiz may be deported after her prison term.”

Programming note: I’ll soon be traveling to Houston, Texas for reasons previously noted here. Stay tuned for new posts once I arrive there.