Still to come — the D.C. Circuit‘s ruling against Judicial Watch, Inc. in a lawsuit against the judiciary: Last Friday, as I then noted here, the D.C. Circuit ruled against Judicial Watch, Inc. in a lawsuit against the U.S. Senate. Today, the D.C. Circuit has ruled against Judicial Watch, Inc. in a lawsuit the group brought against the U.S. Department of Justice, which of course is part of the executive branch. You can access today’s ruling at this link.

“Lawsuit against Bush? The attorney for the only known target of NSA eavesdropping says his client would be happy to sue the president.” Michael Scherer has this article online at Salon.com.

“Daschle’s Words Aid Padilla”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

“S.D. Makes Abortion Rare Through Laws And Stigma; Out-of-State Doctors Come Weekly to 1 Clinic”: Tuesday’s edition of The Washington Post will contain this front page article.

“Hometown Snubs Schwarzenegger Over Death Penalty”: This article will appear Tuesday in The New York Times.

The Miami Herald is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains an article headlined “Padilla case weaves web of risks for government; The terrorism case of Jose Padilla, dubbed the ‘dirty bomber’ after his arrest in 2002, poses a complex legal challenge for the Justice Department.”

And yesterday’s newspaper contained a news analysis headlined “Congress may prevail on war power; Despite White House claims that war powers authorize domestic spying and the special detention of terror suspects, Congress may well settle the issue.”

“Carter Phillips on Sam Alito”: At “The Volokh Conspiracy,” Orin Kerr has a post that begins, “C-Span’s ‘America and the Courts’ series has a fascinating interview with Carter Phillips, one of the top members of the Supreme Court bar, about his friend and former co-worker Sam Alito. The interview begins at the 23-minute mark and lasts about 35 minutes.” You can view the program online by clicking here (RealPlayer required).

“The war on terror should not supersede the laws of the land”: Dante Chinni will have this essay in Tuesday’s issue of The Christian Science Monitor.

“Faith in Theory: Why ‘intelligent design’ simply isn’t science.” James Q. Wilson has this essay online today at OpinionJournal.

“Fallout From A Nuclear Summer: The conflict over judicial nominations threatened to sidetrack the Senate; But who really won?” T.R. Goldman has this article (free access) in this week’s issue of Legal Times.

As does the use of scare-quotes by The Washington Times: The Washington Times today reports that “Gay ‘marriage’ battles rage on into third year.”

“Effort to speed executions stalls in Senate; Provision unrelated to security had been added to Patriot Act”: Bob Egelko had this article in yesterday’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains a front page article headlined “Higher execution rate is predicted” that begins, “California’s capital punishment debate – ignited by the execution of Stanley Tookie Williams – will likely intensify as the state prepares to carry out death sentences at a pace unseen in more than a generation.”

And yesterday’s newspaper contained an article headlined “Death case a mission for prosecutor; He has pursued Clarence Allen for 24 years and is now prepared to watch him die” profiling Ward Campbell, a long-time friend of “How Appealing.”

“Blawg Review Awards 2005”: This week’s brand new installment of “Blawg Review” can be accessed here.

“Montanans back Alito confirmation”: This article appears today in The Billings Gazette.

One for the birds: The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday that “Racing pigeons are kept grounded; Court denies appeal by club of city ban.”

And Saturday’s edition of The Chicago Sun-Times reported that “U.S. court upholds city’s ban on sport pigeons in residences.”

You can access Thursday’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit at this link.

“The public starts SLAPPing back; States enact relief for sued dissenters”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

“Courts Criticize Judges’ Handling of Asylum Cases”: Adam Liptak has this article today in The New York Times. These charts accompany the article.

Yoo again: The Washington Post today contains an article headlined “Scholar Stands by Post-9/11 Writings On Torture, Domestic Eavesdropping; Former Justice Official Says He Was Interpreting Law, Not Making Policy” that begins, “John Yoo knows the epithets of the libertarians, the liberals and the lefties. Widely considered the intellectual architect of the most dramatic assertion of White House power since the Nixon era, he has seen constitutional scholars skewer his reasoning and students call for his ouster from the University of California at Berkeley.”

“White House Aids Playboy Playmate in Court”: Gina Holland of The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith has an unusual bedfellow in the Supreme Court fight over her late husband’s fortune: the Bush administration. The administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer filed arguments on Smith’s behalf and wants to take part when the case is argued before the justices.”

“Intelligent Design Supporters Vow to Fight On”: This segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered.”

“Kavanaugh Nomination Bounced Back to White House”: The blog “Confirm Them” provides this post. You can confirm this news via the Congressional Record at this link.

“Justice in the Balance: The precedent-setting life of the all-important swing vote on the high court.” Today in the Book World section of The Washington Post, Law Professor Kathleen M. Sullivan has this review of Joan Biskupic‘s new book, “Sandra Day O’Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice.”

In the January 2, 2006 issue of The Weekly Standard: The magazine will contain an editorial entitled “Disorder in the Court.”

And Terry Eastland will have an essay entitled “The Power of 55: Senatorial arithmetic is on Alito’s Side.”

“Alito faces harder review; Scrutiny likely on executive power, in light of 1984 memo, NSA spying”: Julie Hirschfeld Davis has this article today in The Boston Globe.

And United Press International reports that “Alito momentum alarms liberal groups.”

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist bobblehead doll sells at eBay auction for $3,007.56: The auction ended yesterday. The bidding history is here.

“Detainees Face Limited Access to Courts; But Bill Awaiting Bush Signature Would Shield Terror Suspects from U.S. Abuse”: This article appeared yesterday in The Washington Post.

“In Criminal Cases, a Court Nominee Hews to Rules”: Sunday’s edition of The New York Times will contain an article that begins, “If Samuel A. Alito Jr. had been on the Supreme Court back in January, Ronald Rompilla might well be a dead man.”

“Alito to Face Queries on Executive Power Stance”: This segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered.”

“Liberal Groups Gear Up to Oppose Confirmation of Alito; Campaign Includes Forums on His Record”: This article will appear Sunday in The Washington Post.

“Animal cruelty suit on behalf of reindeer”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “On the day before Christmas Eve, President Bush was sued by reindeer.”

“Alito Memo in ’84 Favored Immunity for Top Officials”: Adam Liptak and David E. Rosenbaum have this article today in The New York Times. The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Alito’s Zeal for Presidential Power.”

Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage and Richard A. Serrano report that “Alito Backed Immunity for Wiretapping; A 1984 memo on a suit against a Nixon-era official may complicate his confirmation.”

The Chicago Tribune reports that “Alito gave argument on illegal wiretaps; Papers also reveal plan to fight Roe vs. Wade.”

In The Boston Globe, Charlie Savage reports that “Alito backed immunity in wiretap case.”

In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Michael McGough reports that “Alito memo on wiretaps likely to draw questioning in Supreme Court nomination hearing.”

Newsday contains an article headlined “Alito’s view on wiretaps: Memo he wrote in ’84 reveals he backed official who ordered warrantless wiretap of group in 1970.”

The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reports that “Alito supported wiretaps without warrants in memo; Documents from Reagan administration show new evidence of anti-abortion views.”

The Washington Times reports that “Democrats score Alito view on spying.”

And in The Washington Post, Howard Kurtz’s Media Notes column is headlined “Alito ‘Scoop’: What’s Old Is News Again; Media Rehash Alito’s ‘Roe’ Document.”

Available online from OpinionJournal: Yesterday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal contained an editorial entitled “Padilla Put-Down: Forcing the White House to defend its own convictions.”

And in today’s edition of The Wall Street Journal, Melanie Kirkpatrick has an interview headlined “Home for Christmas — Susette Kelo’s story: from humble abode to eminent domain.”

Available online from National Public Radio: This evening’s broadcast of “All Things Considered” contained a segment entitled “Alito Advocated Immunity for U.S. Wiretap Use.”

And today’s broadcast of “Talk of the Nation” contained a segment entitled “Penn. Trial Sends Intelligent Design Out of Class.”

RealPlayer is required to launch these audio segments.

“Alito Urged Wiretap Immunity; Memo Offers Look at Nominee on Privacy”: This front page article will appear Monday in The Washington Post.