“A Closer Looks at John Roberts”: This segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Law Professor Jonathan Turley appeared on today’s broadcast of the public radio program “Here and Now.”

“Johnston gets stay of execution”: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides a news update that begins, “Timothy Johnston, who had been set to be executed tomorrow for murdering his wife in 1989, won a reprieve late today from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel of the court voted 2-1 to grant him an emergency stay of execution until 12:01 a.m. next Thursday, Sept. 8.” The article reports that the death row inmate is arguing in support of his request for a stay that “the three drugs used to execute death-row prisoners in Missouri violate his Constitutional right against cruel punishment.”

Update: The stay was short-lived, as “Sentencing Law and Policy” reports in an update here.

“Precedent”: That’s the title of the new ad from Progress for America scheduled to air on TV tomorrow. You can access the ad online via JudgeRoberts.com at this link.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit update: Available online here.

“Gay extramarital flings don’t count as adultery”: The Toronto Globe and Mail today contains a front page article that begins, “Shelly Pickering thinks it is unfair that her husband’s extramarital affair with a man doesn’t legally count as adultery. So today, she’s heading to court in Vancouver to challenge the law.” According to the article, the attorney for the woman who is seeking a divorce spells her name entirely in lower-case letters.

“Gay rights suit on docket; Nine same-sex couples challenge marriage law; Judge to begin hearing case today; Legal actions filed in Md., five other states over bans”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun, which also provides an updated report from The Associated Press here.

Reuters is reporting: Thomas Ferraro reports that “Both sides step up battle over US court nominee.” The article notes that Alliance for Justice today issued a lengthy report opposing confirmation.

And in other news, an article headlined “Appeals court finds for Lexmark in cartridge case” reports on this ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued today.

The Fifth Circuit’s web site is back online: Although oddly it now redirects to the web site of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Texas. Presumably the Fifth Circuit’s headquarters in New Orleans will remain closed tomorrow. The Supreme Court of Louisiana is also headquartered in New Orleans, and its web site remains inaccessible. The web site of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, also based in New Orleans, continues to function. Donations to the hurricane relief effort can be made via this earlier post.

“Progress for America’s ‘Ginsburg Precedent’ is Misleading Propaganda”: People For the American Way issued this news release today.

“Roberts Memos: Who Cares about the Syntax?” David Corn has this blog post online at The Nation.

“Roberts Preps for Senate Hearing”: Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press provides this report.

“Based on the text of this statute and the absence of any contrary expression of congressional intent, we hold that an individual falling within the ‘regarded as’ category of disability under the ADA is entitled to a reasonable accommodation no less than an individual satisfying the actual-impairment definition of disability.” So a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled in an opinion issued today.

“Slate’s Jurisprudence: A ‘Living’ U.S. Constitution?” This segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Dahlia Lithwick appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Day to Day.”

“Plan of Attack: Next week Democrats can criticize Roberts and big government at the same time.” Eric Columbus today has this essay (free registration required) online at The New Republic.

“Be Unprepared: Why the Senate should ask John Roberts the questions he least expects.” Bruce Reed of Slate’s “The Has-Been” offers these thoughts.

“ACLU Urges Senate to Carefully Review Record of John Roberts, Expresses Deep Concern Over Nominee”: The ACLU today issued this press release summarizing the “Report of the ACLU on the Nomination of Judge John Roberts Jr., to be Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court,” also issued today. In addition, the organization today sent a letter to the Chairman and ranking Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ninth Circuit courthouse turns 100 years old and wishes for no more U.S. Supreme Court reversals while blowing out birthday candles: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit yesterday issued a press release entitled “Ninth Circuit Celebrates San Francisco Courthouse Centennial.”

Stephen Aslett gets results: Fast on the heels of this post at “The Volokh Conspiracy,” I received the following email from the aforementioned Stephen Aslett stating:

Mr. Bashman,

I’m sure you’re aware that your blog is one of the more popular legal blogs on the web. Therefore, it gets a lot of traffic from lawyers who have money to spare.
Until a few days ago, I (along with many others) was a law student in New Orleans and I (along with many others) had a place to live. It looks like we won’t be able to get back for weeks or months. There’s been a huge loss of life (no one’s been able to take an accurate count yet) and 80% of the city is underwater in whole or in part. We need all the financial help we can get.

Could you please put a prominent link to the Red Cross website on your main page and encourage people to donate what they can to the relief efforts?

You can access the Red Cross web site at this link, and online donations can be accomplished here.

“US FTC takes Schering patent case to high court”: Reuters reports here that “U.S. antitrust authorities on Tuesday said they had asked the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling and reinstate antitrust charges against Schering-Plough Corp.” I first noted the Eleventh Circuit‘s ruling in a post you can access here.

“Abortion law could mean death penalty for doctors; Lawmakers say that wasn’t their intent when they passed measure”: The Austin American-Statesman today contains an article that begins, “Texas doctors who perform abortions without parental approval or during the third trimester could face capital murder charges because of a law that will take effect Thursday, a prosecutors’ group says.” (Via “Sentencing Law and Policy.”)

“The Big Coverup: Unless the courts say otherwise, this is the week the naked breast in Missouri goes bye-bye.” This article appears in this week’s issue of The Pitch of Kansas City, Missouri, along with a related article headlined “Breast Exam: Dancers answer our questions about why they dance.” Both of these articles are accompanied by images that may not qualify as work-safe.

Last Wednesday, the Kansas City Star reported that “Adult entertainment industry protests law; Restrictions unconstitutional, lawyers say.” And on Saturday, The KCStar reported that “Judge rules against Missouri strip club law; Says restrictions violated U.S., Missouri constitutions.” According to an update (second item) published today, “Missouri plans to appeal a judge’s ruling tossing out a law placing new restrictions on strip clubs.”

“Uneven Treatment Marks Roberts Nominations”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “The last time John Roberts went before the Senate Judiciary Committee, one senator accused another of asking dumb questions.” In fact, the charge was that “dumb-ass” questions were being asked.

“Senator Wile E. Coyote: A terribly troubling letter.” Today at National Review Online, Hadley Arkes has an essay that begins, “In a recent, highly publicized letter to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) mapped out some questions that Roberts can expect — questions not entirely friendly, questions that reflect an adversary stance, closer to the stance of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Precisely why questions of this kind should be emanating from the Republican chairman of the committee is a serious question, somehow never raised in the reporting of this letter.”

“Lawyers for Saudi Prisoner Ask Court to Throw Out Roberts Ruling”: Jess Bravin has this article (pass-through link) today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Documents offer insight into Roberts’ work in ’80s”: Joan Biskupic and Toni Locy have this article today in USA Today.

The Los Angeles Times reports today that “Roberts to Be Quizzed on Torture; The Supreme Court nominee will be asked for his views on Bush administration policy during confirmation hearings, senator says.”

In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Roberts tied to Bush-Quayle campaign; Supreme Court nominee said he provided opposition research.”

The Washington Times reports that “Memos highlight Roberts’ caustic side.”

And The Arkansas News Bureau reports that “Liberal group ask Arkansas senators to review Roberts’ record.”

In commentary, The Boston Globe contains an editorial entitled “The Roberts stakes.”

In Newsday, columnist Marie Cocco has an op-ed entitled “Pill politics raises question on Roberts.”

And in The Wall Street Journal, Quin Hillyer has an essay entitled “How Judges Are Judged: A look at the inside of ‘The Borking Rebellion’” (free access).

“Judges aren’t judges of morality, Scalia says; U.S. associate justice addresses Chapman crowd on law school’s 10th anniversary”: This article appears today in The Orange County Register.

The Los Angeles Times reports today that “Scalia, at O.C. School, Sees ‘Court’ Alter Rule.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Scalia Joins Law Students in Re-Enactment.”

“Catastrophic”: That’s the front page headline today in The Times-Picayune of New Orleans. You can access today’s T-P in PDF format via this link. The web site of the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit remains off-line at this hour, although the web site of the New Orleans-based U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana continues to work as it did throughout the day yesterday. “Ernie the Attorney” rode out the storm in New Orleans and reports here that “it’s pretty clear to me that this city isn’t going to be even marginally operational for at least a couple of weeks or even a month.” If and when I receive updates regarding the Fifth Circuit’s plans to resume operations at its headquarters or elsewhere, I will pass them along.

In Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times: Tomorrow’s newspaper will report that “Nominee Opposed Police Role for Agencies” and “Roberts Leaves Meeting With Homework.”

And in other news, “Rape Charge Follows Marriage to a 14-Year-Old.” I first noted this matter just over one month ago in a post you can access here.

“Roberts Can Expect Difficult Confirmation Process”: John Lott has this essay online at FOXNews.com.

“Alive and Kicking: Why no one truly believes in a dead Constitution.” Law Professor Jack M. Balkin has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate. And he has more to say on the subject in this blog post.

“Roberts Memo Urged Laws Prohibiting Busing, Quotas”: This article will appear Tuesday in The Washington Post.

Reuters provides reports headlined “U.S. sued over toad at center of Roberts’ case” and “US Court nominee to expect questions on torture.”

Newsday on Tuesday will report that “Roberts’ rights views shown.”

In commentary, Tuesday’s edition of The Washington Post will also contain an op-ed by columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. entitled “The Democrats’ Supreme Conundrum.”

And Tuesday in USA Today, DeWayne Wickham will have an op-ed entitled “Democratic deal-makers once again sell out blacks,” while Kathleen Parker will have an op-ed entitled “Recent hearings haven’t done us proud.”

Available online from law.com: An article describes “How a Small-Firm Attorney Took On Merck and Won.”

An article is headlined “11th Circuit Judge: Timeliness Precedent Is Too Strict; To follow case law, federal appeals court upheld ‘erroneous’ prison sentences.”

And in news from Florida, “U.S. Attorney’s Porn Fight Gets Bad Reviews; Obscenity Prosecution Task Force will focus on Internet crimes and peer-to-peer distribution of pornography.”

“Leahy Urges Roberts To Keep Open Mind”: This evening’s broadcast of the PBS program “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” included this segment (transcript with link to audio).

Available online from C-SPAN: This past Saturday’s broadcast of “America & the Courts” was entitled “Interviews with Teacher, Friend & Colleague of Judge Roberts.” Because I haven’t yet viewed the program, I don’t know whether the friend was asked about this photograph in which they appear together; the blog “Underneath Their Robes” dwells on the photo in this post.

Two Saturdays ago, “America & the Courts” aired a program entitled “John Roberts DC Court of Appeals Confirmation Hearing.”

And today’s broadcast of “Washington Journal” contained a segment entitled “Rev. Barry Lynn, Separation of Church & State, & Jay Sekulow, American Center for Law & Justice.”

“A Rotten Ruling”: Law Professor Lawrence Lessig has this Grokster-related essay in the September 2005 issue of Wired magazine (via “Bag and Baggage“).