Should Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales be sworn-in to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee? This morning’s testimony has begun with sharp disagreement between the Republican and Democratic members of the committee over whether the Attorney General should be required to take an oath to tell the truth before testifying today. Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) has decided that Gonzales should not be sworn-in to testify, and that decision was then appealed and upheld by a party-line vote of the committee.

“As case begins, eyes are on appeal; Both sides have specialists who keep watch for legal mistakes”: Mary Flood has this article today in The Houston Chronicle. The newspaper also reports that “Defense readies its attack in Enron trial.”

USA Today today contains an article headlined “If Juror No. 11 is any indication: Look out, defense.”

The Columbia Missourian reports that “Lay chair at MU vacant as Enron trial proceeds; The former CEO’s generosity benefits students, but some say gifts are tainted by scandal.”

And The Christian Science Monitor reports that “A bid to tie Enron duo to deceit; Week 1 of the trial against Lay and Skilling presents first ‘brick’ in ‘wall of evidence.’”

“Jury Selection to Begin in Moussaoui Trial”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Minimum Wage: The $1.50 Attorney Fee.” The brand-new installment of my weekly “On Appeal” column for law.com can be accessed here.

“Samuel Alito Swearing-In Ceremony”: This past Saturday’s broadcast of C-SPAN‘s “America & the Courts” included not only a rebroadcast of that White House swearing-in ceremony, but also very interesting interviews with Seventh Circuit Judge Frank H. Easterbrook and Ninth Circuit Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain. You can view the entire broadcast by clicking here (RealPlayer required). And my earlier “20 questions for the appellate judge” interviews with those two fine appellate judges can be accessed here and here, respectively.

You can access online the contents of the March | April 2006 issue of Legal Affairs magazine: Available via this link. Sadly, as noted earlier, this appears to be the final print issue of the magazine.

“The Power of the President: Bush says he has ‘inherent authority’ to act during wartime; A Senate hearing on domestic spying will debate that contention.” David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

The Washington Times reports today that “Specter says Bush lacks authority to eavesdrop.”

USA Today reports that “Telecoms let NSA spy on calls; AT&T, MCI, Sprint cooperate with warrantless surveillance, execs say.” In addition, William E. Moschella, Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, has an op-ed entitled “Necessary and legal: Constitution, law give president power on terrorist surveillance.”

And in The Wall Street Journal, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has an op-ed entitled “America Expects Surveillance: Monitoring the enemy is necessary and appropriate.”

The Attorney General’s appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. today.

Update: C-SPAN is televising the hearing, and you can access the live video feed by clicking here (RealPlayer required).

“Blawg Review #43”: Available here at “MediationNewsOnline.com.”

“Moussaoui Trial Strategy Outlined; The 9/11 suspect could get death for not acting to stop the attack; Jury selection starts today”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that “Moussaoui jury selection to begin; Jurors will decide if he will be sentenced to death for 9/11 attacks.”

Newsday reports that “9/11 sentencing trial to begin; Jury will be picked to decide whether Moussaoui should get death penalty for complicity in attacks.”

And BBC News reports that “US begins Moussaoui jury search.”