“Rulings spur proposal to break up court; Its reversals of death-penalty cases open old wounds for police, families”: The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California today contains an article that begins, “The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the nation’s largest judicial circuit, with 28 judgeships covering nine states, including California. It handles three times more appeals than the average for the other federal circuits. A proposal in Congress aims to break it up.”

“Will Roberts steer court to protect rights of gays?” Columnist Deb Price has this op-ed today in The Detroit News.

“Exemptions for health prove murky; In practice, abortion laws that include provision can be tricky”: The Concord (N.H.) Monitor today contains an article that begins, “The state’s parental notification law is being challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court because it doesn’t give a minor the opportunity to bypass the law and get an abortion if her health is at risk. But even in states that provide such an exemption, the definition of a heath risk can change from one doctor to the next.”

And in commentary, The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg, Virginia today contains an editorial entitled “Dissent on consent; Parental rights at issue in Supreme Court abortion case.”

“A clash of traditions: Lawyers vs. cowboys; Man’s death in bullring at Mexican-style rodeo brings American-style reaction in Lake County.” This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

“Judge in Indian Case Holds Little Back”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth may have long ago chosen to work in straight-laced Washington, but he radiates his love for his home state of Texas.” The article goes on to state, “Lamberth’s decisions, however, have been anything but boring. Fans and detractors alike have marveled at how this cowboy has sided with the Indians.”

“Alito’s Record Provides a Target, Creates Risks for Democrats”: Bloomberg News provides this report.

Meanwhile, in commentary, The Salem Statesman Journal today contains an editorial entitled “Oregon cases show impact of justice selections; Much of national debate over Samuel Alito is off the mark.”

The Allentown Morning Call contains an editorial entitled “Ads that use emotion, distort Alito record are a dis-service to confirmation process.”

The Times Argus of Barre, Vermont contains an editorial entitled “Who’s the sucker?”

In The Baltimore Sun, Law Professors Steven Lubet and David McGowan have an op-ed entitled “Judicial temperament.”

And in The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Gary Cass has an op-ed entitled “Alito fits mold of mainstream.”

“The stage is set: As local players line up on either side, New Hampshire’s attorney general on Wednesday will try to persuade US Supreme Court justices to reinstate a controversial abortion notification law.” This article appears today in The Boston Globe.

“Alito and Abortion: Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, but he shouldn’t say if he’d overturn it.” Roger Pilon has this op-ed today in The Wall Street Journal.