“Judge warns about stirring fanatics; Identifying threats to bench should be high priority, he says”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article that begins, “A veteran federal judge in Chicago warned Friday that political attacks on the nation’s judiciary are fueling fanatics with personal grudges against judges.”

“O’Connor exit ‘wrenching,’ Stevens tells lawyers”: This article appears today in The Chicago Sun-Times.

And Gina Holland of The Associated Press reports that “Justice Stevens Criticizes Death Penalty.”

“Gangland killer on death row gets award from Bush”: The Independent (UK) today contains an article that begins, “President George Bush may have presided over a record number of executions during his six years as governor of Texas, but that has not stopped him sending a citation to a murderer on California’s death row, lauding him for displaying ‘the outstanding character of America.'”

And today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article headlined “2nd look at Bush service award; White House panel unaware honoree was on Death Row.”

“Death-row inmate isn’t retarded, a jury rules”: The Richmond Times-Dispatch today contains an article that begins, “A jury rejected a death-row inmate’s claim of mental retardation yesterday, clearing the way for his execution despite a landmark ruling on his case by the U.S. Supreme Court.”

And The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Virginia reports that “Jury says Atkins isn’t retarded; The convicted murderer on death row showed no emotion as the verdict was read; His execution date is set for Dec. 2.”

“Roberts Helped Pitch Reagan Initiatives; Court Nominee Gave Public Relations Advice”: Charles Lane will have this article Sunday in The Washington Post.

And the newspaper will also contain an article headlined “And the Nominee Is: a) All Right b) Not Quite; The Supreme Court Succession Campaign Turns Shockingly Sedate.”

“Is There Room for a Gentleman in a Debate on Judge Roberts?” This article will appear Sunday in The New York Times.

And the Week in Review section of tomorrow’s newspaper will contain an article headlined “Catholics and the Court.”

“Prosecutors ask court to deny Capano’s death penalty appeal”: The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware contains this article today.

“Top Jurists Pan Faster Death Penalty Appeals; Chief justices from all over the U.S., with the exception of Texas, call for the Senate not to pass a bill that would streamline the process”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Logging Plan in Alaska Forest Overturned on Appeal; Judges criticize federal assessments of demand for Tongass timber and the impact on wildlife”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

The Anchorage Daily News today contains an article headlined “Court: Tongass log plan flawed; The Forest Service erred in what the market could bear.”

And yesterday evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered” contained a segment entitled “Appeals Court Blocks U.S. Plan to Log Alaska Park” (RealPlayer required).

“Democrats Rebuffed on Case Files; The Justice Department refuses Senate requests for details of work done by high court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. for the solicitor general”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

The Washington Post contains an article headlined “A Clash Over Roberts Papers; Justice Department Balks at Senate Democrats’ Demands.”

The New York Times reports that “G.O.P. Chief Says Democrats Play Politics on Court Nominee.”

The Washington Times contains articles headlined “Right downplays Roberts’ gay aid” and “RNC chairman urges comity on Roberts.”

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “GOP chairman urges swift vote on Roberts.”

Newsday reports that “Snippets paint Roberts as moderate.”

In The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “S.F. judge feels ‘sullied’ by Roberts media battle.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that “Nominee Roberts faces trial by blog; Forums increasingly shape, break news.”

And The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that “Groups looking to Lincoln, Pryor on Roberts; Conservatives see Arkansas’ senators as pivotal in vote on high court nominee.”

“Va. Killer Isn’t Retarded, Jury Says; Execution Set”: Saturday’s edition of The Washington Post will contain this front page article.

“Officials Deny a Request for Roberts Documents”: This article will appear Saturday in The New York Times.

“ADA Case Could Be Key Test for Roberts”: Tony Mauro has this article online at law.com.

“Ivory Powers: Let’s stop bashing ‘out-of-touch’ judges.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

“Strip club stirs outrage with less-than-subtle sign; What’s obscene and what isn’t? Frankly worded billboard infuriates merchants along Century Boulevard near LAX, but the owner says he’s merely promoting his business.” This article appears today in The Daily Breeze of Torrance, California.

“Bush Administration Stonewalls Senate: Won’t Release John Roberts Records.” People For the American Way issued this press release today.

And Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. today issued a press release entitled “Attorney General Refusal to Provide Roberts Documents Impedes Nomination Process; Planned Parenthood Voices Outrage, Growing Alarm at Attempts to Hide Record.”

Racial Justice: Why John Roberts’s memos are a political liability. Noam Scheiber has this TRB essay in the August 15, 2005 issue of The New Republic.

“Dear Judge Roberts: Congratulations on your nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.” So begins an open letter from U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel published in this week’s issue of The National Law Journal.

“Court bars logging plan in largest U.S. forest”: Reuters provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued today.

“Billboard law survives second challenge; Adult businesses suffer setback”: Wednesday’s edition of The Kansas City Star contained this article.

“Sex toy sale ban on familiar turf in federal court; Attorneys point to Texas case in effort to strike state law”: This article appeared yesterday in The Huntsville Times.

“Five Big Issues: Sure, Roberts might not be as bad as you fear; But there are reasons to worry.” Law Professor Kermit Roosevelt has this essay online at The American Prospect.

“Florida State to Challenge Ban on Mascots”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Verdict: Atkins not mentally retarded.” The Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Virginia provides a news update that begins, “A jury concluded today that death-row inmate Daryl Atkins, whose case led to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision barring executions of the mentally retarded, is not retarded. The judge set an execution date of Dec. 2. The defense says it will appeal.”

And The Associated Press offers an article headlined “Jurors: Death Row Inmate Not Retarded.”

“Jury waivers in contracts ruled not binding”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article reporting on a ruling that the Supreme Court of California issued yesterday.

“Enigma of Roberts Also Bedevils the Right”: FOXNews.com provides this report.

The Washington Times today contains articles headlined “GOP to make push for Roberts” and “Rehnquist fever stirs up speculation about retirement.”

The Rocky Mountain News today contains an article headlined “Roberts helped foes of gay law; Nominee advised Dubofsky on appeal of Amendment 2” and an op-ed by Mike Rosen entitled “‘Ginsburg Rule’ in play.”

And in The Oakland Tribune, Josh Richman reports that “Roberts’ gay-rights work is cheered; Bay Area civil rights leaders laud nominee for pro bono efforts but still want more information.”

Finally for now, in commentary, The Birmingham News contains an editorial entitled “Judge Roberts points the way.”

“College money of Roberts’ son in Utah”: The Salt Lake Tribune today contains an article that begins, “Young Jack Roberts got national attention for busting a move while President Bush announced his father’s nomination to the Supreme Court. But if Jack fails to land a performing arts scholarship, he has a healthy education fund invested in Utah.”

“Closet liberals”: Patti Waldmeir has this interesting U.S. Supreme Court-related essay today online at Financial Times.

“Rehnquist hospital visit fuels renewed speculation”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Top court stays ruling on private health care”: The Toronto Globe and Mail today contains an article that begins, “The Supreme Court of Canada has granted a one-year stay in its ruling clearing the way for private health insurance in Quebec, but experts expect the movement toward two-tier health care in Canada to continue.”

“Advice and Consent: The Politics of Judicial Appointments,” by Lee Epstein and Jeffrey A. Segal. An “advance reading copy” of this new book published by Oxford University Press, and due to be available for sale to the public next month, arrived in today’s mail.

Owner of invalidated patent probably won’t find today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit aesthetically pleasing: Especially since the ruling affirms a district court’s decision finding the patent invalid because the patent’s use of the term “aesthetically pleasing” was too indefinite to be enforced.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Mehlman Seeks Swift Roberts Confirmation” and “NCAA Bans Indian Mascots From Postseason.”

“Money, Judicial Elections, And The First Amendment”: That’s the title of my monthly appellate column that will appear on Monday in The Legal Intelligencer. The column focuses on the Eighth Circuit‘s en banc decision earlier this week striking down Minnesota’s prohibition on the direct solicitation of funds by candidates for elective judicial office.

“Quarreling About Quotas: The Left’s attack on Roberts’s civil-rights record.” Edward Whelan has this essay today at National Review Online.