How Appealing



Thursday, September 29, 2005

“Court told board urged creationism; Witness says she was shocked by bigotry”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports today that “Intelligent design a religious notion, scientist testifies.”

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette contains an article headlined “Witness: ‘Intelligent design’ not science.”

The Harrisburg Patriot-News contains an article headlined “Witness: ID falls short of science.”

And The York Daily Record contains articles headlined “Witness bashes intelligent design; A philosopher of science said the controversial idea rejects science“; “Reporters to testify to stories’ accuracy; Two freelancers are scheduled to give depositions and trial testimony Oct. 6“; and “Anniversary trip: Dover trial; A Spring Garden Twp. couple are among the courthouse spectators.” In addition, columnist Mike Argento has an op-ed entitled “Have you ever really looked at intelligent design?

Posted at 9:50 PM by Howard Bashman



“Outlook for Bush’s Next Supreme Court Pick”: This segment featuring Nina Totenberg appeared on this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered.”

Today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” contained a segment entitled “A New Face and New Issues for High Court” featuring David G. Savage and Joan Biskupic.

And today’s broadcast of the public radio program “Here and Now” contained a segment entitled “The Shape of the U.S. Supreme Court” featuring Law Professor Jonathan Turley.

Posted at 9:25 PM by Howard Bashman



“Pining for Bork: He was as divisive a Supreme Court nominee as can be imagined; But Democrats should hope they get a pick like him; Here’s why.” John Heilemann has this essay in the current issue of New York magazine.

Posted at 9:18 PM by Howard Bashman



“Giving Arizonans a license (plate) to devalue anything”: Today in The Arizona Republic, columnist E.J. Montini has an op-ed that begins, “The lawyer for an anti-abortion organization says he will appeal a federal judge’s decision to deny his client’s request for a special ‘Choose Life’ Arizona license plate. I choose to hope that he wins.”

Posted at 8:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Jailed Times Reporter Freed After Source Waives Confidentiality”: The New York Times provides a news update that begins, “Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who has been jailed since July 6 for refusing to testify in the C.I.A. leak case, was released from a Virginia detention center this afternoon after she and her lawyers reached an agreement with a federal prosecutor to testify before a grand jury investigating the matter, the paper’s publisher and executive editor said.”

Posted at 8:42 PM by Howard Bashman



“Master Roberts Polite, if a Bit Fidgety”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Four-year-old Jack Roberts was the smallest person in the East Room, but he had an outsize presence as father John took the oath to become the 17th chief justice of the United States.”

Posted at 5:24 PM by Howard Bashman



“President’s Remarks at Swearing-In Ceremony of Chief Justice Roberts”: A transcript of this afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony is available at this link via the White House web site.

Posted at 4:40 PM by Howard Bashman



John G. Roberts, Jr. has taken the oath of office to be Chief Justice of the United States: C-SPAN3 (RealPlayer required) televised the ceremony. Unlike yesterday, no one mistook Justice John Paul Stevens, who administered the oath of office to Chief Justice Roberts, for Mr. Six.

Posted at 3:00 PM by Howard Bashman



“Can We Tell In Advance What Kind of Supreme Court Justices Nominees Will Make? Justice Blackmun’s Example Suggests that Our Guesses May Well Be Very Wrong.” FindLaw commentator Edward Lazarus has this essay today.

Posted at 2:40 PM by Howard Bashman



“Judge’s unorthodox rulings raise eyebrows; She’s outlawed sex by probationers, cracked down on rudeness”: This article appears today in The Dallas Morning News.

Posted at 2:35 PM by Howard Bashman



Swearing-in ceremony for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. will occur at the White House at 3 p.m. today: Justice John Paul Stevens will administer the oath. As this photograph indicates, Chief Justice Roberts is already at the White House. Some C-SPAN network or another will provide live coverage of today’s swearing-in. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts issued this news release today.

Posted at 2:15 PM by Howard Bashman



“Senate bill would limit Death Row appeals; Attorney and judicial groups urge its defeat”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

Relatedly, The Washington Post today contains an editorial entitled “Kill Bill.”

Posted at 12:18 PM by Howard Bashman



John G. Roberts, Jr. confirmed to be Chief Justice of the United States by a vote of 78-22: Congratulations to the new Chief Justice! I’ll post a link to the official vote tally once it becomes available online. [Update: The official roll call vote tally is available at this link.] The swearing in of Chief Justice Roberts is likely to occur at the White House this afternoon.

Posted at 11:43 AM by Howard Bashman



“Roberts Confirmed as Chief Justice; Stakes Huge with Replacement for Swing Vote O’Connor”: The organization People For the American Way has issued this press release.

And Progress for America Voter Fund has today launched a television ad (available in QuickTime; Windows Media; and Flash formats) focusing on the yet-to-be-identified nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Posted at 11:40 AM by Howard Bashman



“Roberts to Be Confirmed As Chief Justice”: Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press provides this report. The U.S. Senate will vote on the nomination at 11:30 a.m. eastern time this morning. You can view the vote live, online on C-SPAN2 by clicking here (RealPlayer required).

Posted at 10:33 AM by Howard Bashman



Sixth Circuit holds that pretrial finding of “good cause” does not allow a federal district court to order that a defendant against whom federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty have his guilt determined by a non-death-qualified jury: Today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit — involving when separate juries may be empanelled to decide the question of guilt and the question of penalty under the Federal Death Penalty Act — can be accessed at this link.

Posted at 10:24 AM by Howard Bashman