“Gerrymanders and Judges: A political problem requires a political solution.” This editorial (free access) appears today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Senators press for judges’ safety; Durbin, Obama irked over delay in installing home security systems”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article that begins, “Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama of Illinois met Friday with the head of the U.S. Marshals Service to voice frustration over what they call a lack of progress in establishing new safety measures to protect federal judges. Seven months ago, Congress approved money to provide home security systems for members of the federal judiciary after U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow’s husband and mother were slain by a disgruntled litigant in Chicago. But the government has yet to resolve who would pay the monthly fee for the security service.”

“Late filing halts death row appeal; Court won’t hear case, despite U.S. ban on execution of mentally retarded”: This article appears today in The Austin American-Statesman.

And The Dallas Morning News reports today that “Technicality deals retarded death row inmate setback; Judges uphold 1-year statute of limitations for filing key appeal.”

In today’s edition of The Houston Chronicle: An article is headlined “5th Circuit rejects the late appeal by inmate with low IQ; Attorneys for Texas man facing execution had missed deadline by 40 days.” As I noted here last night, Adam Liptak has a similar article today in The New York Times.

And Mary Flood reports that “Judge says no call for gag order, at present; Lay’s speech ‘just a drop in the bucket’ of publicity.”

“Is the court Catholic? If the Senate confirms Alito, a majority of the justices would share a faith tradition.” Law Professor Marci A. Hamilton will have this essay Sunday in The Los Angeles Times.

“Justices Are Urged to Dismiss Padilla’s Case”: Linda Greenhouse will have this article Sunday in The New York Times.

“Pape & Chandler will seek certiorari for their Pit Bull”: This post appears today at the blog “f/k/a….”

In news from Pocatello: The Pocatello Idaho State Journal reports here (fifth item) today that “President Bush on Friday nominated Idaho State District Judge Randy Smith to serve on the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.” The official notice of yesterday’s nomination is available at this link.

Earlier this month, The Idaho Statesman published an essay by columnist Dan Popkey entitled “Ex-GOP chairman would serve Idaho well on court.”

The nomination could prove controversial, however, as law.com’s Justin Scheck reported earlier this month in an article headlined “Concerns Raised Over Politics of 9th Circuit Nomination.”

“His gay claim likely to hold up; Several legal experts think Joe Redner’s statement that he is gay will survive any future legal challenges”: The St. Petersburg Times today contains an article that begins, “Whether or not Joe Redner is gay, attorneys and First Amendment experts are calling the strip club owner’s recent disclosure a brilliant legal move.”

The New York Times is reporting: Sunday’s newspaper will contain an article headlined “In Speech, Bush Says He Ordered Domestic Spying.” The text of the radio address that President Bush delivered today can be accessed here.

And today’s newspaper contains an article headlined “Pataki Wants Death Penalty for Killers of Police.”

“BlackBerry Maker Is Emboldened By Patent Office”: The Wall Street Journal today contains an article (free access) that begins, “Buoyed by a patent-office ruling, BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd. appears to be gearing up for a court showdown with patent-holder NTP Inc. rather than the last-minute settlement most analysts expect.”

“Rendell moves to fill court opening”: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today contains an article that begins, “Allegheny County’s first black female judge is expected to be nominated to fill an upcoming vacancy on the state Supreme Court. Gov. Ed Rendell today plans to announce his nomination of Common Pleas Judge Cynthia A. Baldwin to fill the spot being vacated at the end of the month by Justice Russell M. Nigro, who lost a retention vote in November amid widespread voter backlash over the controversial legislative pay raise.”

And The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today reports that “Governor to name Baldwin for seat on Supreme Court.”

“Lawmakers Back Use of Evidence Coerced From Detainees”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “House and Senate negotiators agreed Friday to a measure that would enable the government to keep prisoners at Guantanamo Bay indefinitely on the basis of evidence obtained by coercive interrogations.”

And the newspaper also contain a news analysis headlined “Behind Power, One Principle as Bush Pushes Prerogatives.”

“Judge Alito on Civil Rights”: This editorial appears today in The Washington Post.