“NYC Subway Searches Upheld: A Critique of the Court’s Decision.” Law Professor Daniel J. Solove has this post at the blog “Concurring Opinions.”

“Court Nominee Presents Father as Role Model”: The New York Times on Monday will contain an article that begins, “When a Democratic senator asked the Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. why he might empathize with the plight of minorities or the poor, he had his answer ready: the example of his late father, an Italian immigrant who in college once defended a black basketball player from discrimination on the team.”

“High Court considers military recruiting on campus”: In Monday’s edition of USA Today, Joan Biskupic will have an article that begins, “The Supreme Court on Tuesday will consider whether the U.S. government may withhold funds from colleges that limit military recruiters’ access to campus to protest the Pentagon’s policy of barring openly gay people from serving in the armed forces.”

“Assessing A Lethal Landmark In U.S.; Deep Divide Persists After 1,000 Executions”: Lynne Tuohy has this article today in The Hartford Courant.

“U.S. Supreme Court to consider Kansas death penalty law this week”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Lionel Tate likely faces life in prison”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Lionel Tate killed a young girl when he was 12, was convicted of her murder at 13 and got a fresh start when he was released at age 16. Now, Tate faces a possible return to prison for life for allegedly robbing a delivery man at gunpoint of four pizzas worth $33.60.”

“Future of Campus Military Recruiting Hangs in Balance at High Court; Justices could sidestep Constitutional claims or tackle First Amendment head-on”: Daniel J. Hemel will have this article Monday in The Harvard Crimson.

“Patent sanity is pending”: This editorial appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

Relatedly, the December 12, 2005 issue of Newsweek contains an article headlined “BlackBerry Smackdown: Wrangling over patents is worrying users and investors.”

“Abortion politics”: Columnist Jeff Jacoby has this op-ed today in The Boston Globe.

“Life & Death Arguments: The stakes are high for eight men who may face death and for Attorney General Phill Kline as he defends Kansas capital punishment this week before the nation’s highest court.” This article appears today in The Topeka Capital-Journal.

And The Kansas City Star today contains an article headlined “Death penalty fate is in doubt; Kansas case could be a turning point;The test coincides with slip in support.”

“Colliding cultures: Law schools fight the military over gay rights.” The December 12, 2005 issue of U.S. News & World Report will contain this article.

And Gina Holland of The Associated Press reports that “Court Takes Up Campus Recruitment Dispute.”

“Groups gear up for Alito fight; Some begin campaigns in state, but real battle expected after holidays”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

“Judge apologizes for red-hot comment”: Yesterday’s issue of The Boston Herald contained an article that begins, “Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall publicly apologized yesterday for making an off-the-cuff and – politically speaking, at least – off-color joke about ‘red states’ during a commencement speech in May.”

The Boston Globe yesterday contained an article headlined “Marshall apologizes for ‘red states’ quip; SJC chief justice denies political cast.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Mass. Justice Sorry for ‘Red State’ Remark.”

“Don’t alter juries to add black people, local judges told; High court ruling aims at Wayne Co.” Yesterday’s issue of The Detroit Free Press contained an article that begins, “Judges can’t bring affirmative action to the jury selection process, even if the jury makeup is not representative of the community, the state Supreme Court said in a ruling issued Friday.”

The rule amendment, which the Supreme Court of Michigan approved by a 4-3 vote, can be viewed at this link.

“Law center fights battles of faith; Thomas More cases range from defending intelligent design to opposing same-sex marriage”: This article appears today in The Detroit News.

“Saturday Night Live TV Funhouse With John Roberts”: In case you missed Robert Smigel’s animated cartoon when it appeared earlier this season, you can view the cartoon at this link (QuickTime).

Meanwhile, a reliable source at The Green Bag advises that the publication isn’t the origin of this bobblehead doll.

“Supreme switch: Did FDR’s threat to ‘pack’ the court in 1937 really change the course of constitutional history?” That’s the title of Christopher Shea’s “Critical Faculties” column today in the Ideas section of The Boston Globe.

“Luna case’s few leads keep friends frustrated; Luna case’s resolution remains elusive”: This article appears today in The Harrisburg Patriot-News. The article explains that “Two years ago this morning, the body of Baltimore-based federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna was found in the brook in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster County.”