“Feingold Won’t Rule Out Alito Filibuster”: Jesse J. Holland of The Associated Press provides this report.

“Billable Horrors: A Slate reader contest for wicked lawyers.” Dahlia Lithwick launches this jurisprudence contest online at Slate.

“The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to rule on the $10.1 billion Madison County bench verdict against Philip Morris USA on Thursday.” The Madison County Record provides this report.

MarketWatch reports that “Altria gains on hope for Illinois ruling.”

And Reuters reports that “Altria shares rally before Illinois ruling.”

“Pastor’s rights not violated, federal judge rules”: The Wisconsin State Journal today contains an article that begins, “Monroe pastor and anti-gay crusader Ralph Ovadal’s rights to free speech were not violated when Madison police told him to remove anti-gay banners over the Beltline in 2003, a federal judge ruled Monday.” Ann Althouse looks ahead to the case’s likely forthcoming second visit to the Seventh Circuit. My earlier coverage of the first visit the case made to the Seventh Circuit is here.

Comparing apples to a Treasury Regulation: A debate between the majority and the dissent over what it means to say “I like apples” causes this bankruptcy tax lien decision that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued today to be a bit more interesting than it might otherwise be. Or maybe it’s simply the presence of a dissent by Circuit Judge J. Michael Luttig?

“Court May Hear Chinese Detainees; Muslims Lack Country of Refuge”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “A federal judge in Washington said yesterday that he will consider allowing two detainees in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to appear before him in court to challenge their confinement, telling lawyers that the ethnic Uighurs who have been cleared for release have been held too long.”

“Will execution move the debate? The case of Stanley Tookie Williams rallied foes and advocates of the death penalty, but there’s no consensus on its legacy.” This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

You can decide who will win the popularity contest to name the “Best Law Blog“: Right now, the battle for first place in the voting is between “Law Dork” and “The Volokh Conspiracy.” Perhaps even more alarmingly, the battle for last place is between a blog that hasn’t been updated since October 19, 2005 (go Astros!; go Harriet Miers!) and “The Becker-Posner Blog.”

“Judge Alito and the Death Penalty”: The American Constitution Society has posted online this paper by Law Professor Goodwin Liu and Lynsay Skiba.

On today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Day to Day“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “Slate’s Jurisprudence: Texas Redistricting in High Court” (featuring Dahlia Lithwick); “Witnessing the Execution of Stanley Tookie Williams“; and “Mixed Response to Williams’ Execution in L.A.” RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issues a holding on the meaning of dicta: Today’s opinion, by Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner, also tackles the question of stare decisis.

“Despite the substantial powers that Congress may exercise in regard to aliens, it is constitutionally doubtful that Congress may authorize imprisonment of [over two years and four months] for lawfully admitted resident aliens who are subject to removal.” A divided three-judge Ninth Circuit panel issued this decision today.

“Court sees enough safeguards, discards muzzle; The proposed rule was meant to block the release of confidential or prejudicial information, but Chief U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres says it was worded too broadly”: This article appears today in The Providence Journal. My most recent earlier coverage is here.

Divided three-judge Eighth Circuit panel rejects Zimbabwean’s asylum claim based on the Zimbabwe government’s intolerance of homosexuality: You can access today’s ruling at this link. In dissent, Senior Circuit Judge Gerald W. Heaney writes, “Our court ought not sanction the return of an openly gay man to a country whose leader has vowed to rid the country of homosexuals.”

D.C. Circuit holds that National Association of Securities Dealers cannot obtain judicial review of Securities and Exchange Commission’s reversal of NASD’s decision to impose discipline against a member: You can access today’s ruling at this link.

“The importance of determining Alito’s brand of conservatism”: Noah Graubart has this essay at Online Journal.

“Student’s striptease posted online; UWO investigates, discipline unlikely; Student knew photos were being taken”: The Toronto Star provides this report. And the author of the blog “c’est what?” offers these thoughts.

My recent coverage of a somewhat similar controversy at the University of Pennsylvania can be accessed here and here.

“British to his prison camp boot straps, High Court rules”: Wednesday’s edition of The Sydney Morning Herald will contain an article that begins, “The Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks won British citizenship and the hope of freedom last night, and moves are afoot to have him swear an oath of allegiance to Britain within days inside the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.” The newspaper will also contain a news analysis headlined “Glimmer of hope, but a long way to go.”

BBC News reports that “Terror suspect becomes UK citizen; An Australian held as a terror suspect at Guantanamo Bay has won a legal battle in the UK High Court to be registered as a British citizen.”

The Associated Press reports that “Australian at Guantanamo Wins Court Battle.”

And Reuters reports that “Australian Guantanamo inmate wins UK legal battle.”

“Solomon Law Might Not Bar Jeering; Solicitor general says statute gives universities leeway to protest ‘don’t ask, don’t tell'”: Javier C. Hernandez has this article, in which I am quoted, today in The Harvard Crimson.

The Emory Wheel reports today that “Court hears military recruitment lawsuit.”

Dan K. Thomasson has an op-ed entitled “Take Uncle Sam’s money, play by his rules” for the Scripps Howard News Service.

And online at FOXNews.com, Martin Frost has an essay entitled “Law Schools Should Permit Military Recruiting.”

“Bait and Snitch: The high cost of snitching for law enforcement.” Law Professor Alexandra Natapoff has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

In news from Canada: The Toronto Globe and Mail today reports that “Nfld. lawyer cleared of charge; He faced complaint after saying judges are partly at fault in wrongful convictions.”

In other news, The Globe and Mail today reports that “B.C. court strikes down gang law.” And in related coverage, The Vancouver Sun reports that “Ruling hobbles organized crime battle, police say.”

In news from China: The Shenzhen Daily reports today that “Love-addicted man cleared of charges.”

“Ressam’s attorneys ask court to overturn part of his conviction”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Lawyers for Ahmed Ressam, who plotted to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on the eve of the millennium, asked a federal appeals court on Monday to overturn his conviction on one of the counts he faced at trial.”

On today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “The Secret Court of Terror Investigations“; “Crips Co-Founder Tookie Williams Put to Death“; and “Death Penalty Facts.” RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.

“New Developments in the Same-Sex Marriage Wars: The Fight Over the Issue in New York, and the Growing International Acceptance and American Rejection of ‘Genderless’ Marriage.” FindLaw commentator Joanna Grossman has this essay today.

“Step up Alito fight, right urges GOP”: This article appears today in The Hill.

The Portland (Me.) Press Herald reports today that “Lobbies forming to press on Alito.”

And The Washington Times reports that “Alito called ‘perfect’ student.”

“Redistrict Fight Will Go Before High Court; Critics say Republican remapping in Texas, led by Tom DeLay, diluted minority voters’ power”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

In today’s issue of USA Today, Joan Biskupic reports that “Court to review Texas redistricting arranged by DeLay.”

Michael McGough of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Supreme Court agrees to hear dispute over Texas redistricting.”

The Dallas Morning News contains articles headlined “Justices take up Texas remap; Stakes sky high as court weighs whether process was too partisan” and “Review heartens Democrats; Republicans doubt a change.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that “U.S. Supreme Court will hear Texas redistricting appeal.”

The Houston Chronicle reports that “High Court will weigh in on Texas remapping; Justices’ options include keeping redistricting in place or calling for another redraw.”

The San Antonio Express-News reports that “Justices to rule on Texas remap” and “Demos, Republicans confident justices will see remap their way.”

The Austin American-Statesman reports that “Supreme Court to review Texas congressional districts; Decision to take case is hailed by lawyers for minorities and Democrats, who call redistricting illegal.”

The Brownsville Herald reports that “High Court to hear Texas redistricting case.”

The Monitor of McAllen, Texas reports that “High court to hear Texas redistricting case.”

Financial Times reports that “Supreme Court to rule on Texas poll maps case.”

And The Hill reports that “High court to review map.”

In commentary, The Boston Globe contains an editorial entitled “DeLay’s poison fruit.”

And Newsday contains an editorial entitled “Supreme Court tries again; Its view on redistricting badly needed.”

“Legal Gadfly Bites Hard, and Beijing Slaps Him”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

“Tookie Williams Is Executed; The killer of four and Crips co-founder is given a lethal injection after Schwarzenegger denies clemency; He never admitted his guilt”: The Los Angeles Times provides this news update. Today’s newspaper contains a news analysis headlined “Governor Didn’t Believe Williams Had Reformed.” And columnist Steve Lopez reports that “‘I Watched a Man Die Today.’”

The San Francisco Chronicle today contains articles headlined “Williams executed; Gang co-founder put to death for 1979 murders of four in L.A. area“; “Granting Williams clemency could have cost Schwarzenegger even more GOP support“; “Tears, anger, silence at protesters’ candlelight vigil; Speakers read from Williams’ anti-gang children’s books“; and “In black community, Williams case brings out calls for mercy and calls for punishment.”

The Sacramento Bee provides a news update headlined “Crips founder Williams executed at San Quentin; Anti-gang efforts in prison drew world attention.”

In The San Jose Mercury News, Howard Mintz reports that “Crips co-founder Williams executed.” An article reports that “More sadness than anger greets the decision against clemency.” And the newspaper also contains this news analysis.

The Washington Post contains a front page article headlined “Schwarzenegger Declines to Halt Execution of Gang Founder” and a news update headlined “Gang Founder Is Executed in Calif.”

The New York Times reports that “Governor Rejects Clemency for Inmate on Death Row.”

And USA Today reports that “Crips founder executed early today; Late appeals failed to save ‘Tookie’ Williams.”

Available online from law.com: Justin Scheck reports that “9th Circuit Reverses Ghost-Written Opinion.”

In other news, “Bomb Threat Doesn’t Shake Tenacious Rookie; In first appearance before Conn. high court, lawyer seeks new cause of action.”

And in news from Texas, “Federal Vioxx Suit Ends With Mistrial.”

“Supreme Court to Hear Dispute on Texas Redistricting”: Linda Greenhouse will have this article Tuesday in The New York Times.

And Tuesday’s edition of The Washington Post will contain a front page article headlined “Justices To Review DeLay-Led Districting; Texas Plan Has Been Called Discriminatory.”

“Texas cases to be heard March 1”: Lyle Denniston has this post at “SCOTUSblog.”

“Supreme Court Denies Williams a Stay”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Governor denies Williams’ clemency request”: The Sacramento Bee provides this news update.

And The San Francisco Chronicle provides a news update headlined “Californians react to clemency denial.”

On this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered“: The broadcast contained segments entitled “High Court to Review Texas Congressional Districts” (featuring Nina Totenberg); “Governor Denies Clemency for Ex-Crips Leader Williams“; and “Judge to Set New Trial Date After Vioxx Mistrial.” RealPlayer is required to launch these audio files.