How Appealing



Thursday, February 9, 2006

“Max Rosenn laid to rest”: The Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania contains this news update, which notes that “U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was among those who attended, slipping in and out a side door.”

Posted at 11:04 PM by Howard Bashman



“Choppy Details of Nominee’s Past Emerge”: At CalLaw.com’s “Legal Pad” blog, Justin Scheck has a post that begins, “Sandra Ikuta, the new Ninth Circuit nominee, is known more for her studious demeanor and knowledge of environmental regulatory law than her expertise in kung fu.”

Posted at 10:55 PM by Howard Bashman



“Angels Win … the Lawsuit”: The Los Angeles Times provides a news update that begins, “It’s official: the name of the team will remain the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The 9-3 verdict this afternoon by Orange County jurors resolved the dispute over the lease between the Angels, the 2002 World Series champions, and Anaheim, the team’s municipal host and landlord.”

Posted at 10:50 PM by Howard Bashman



“Judicial Activism: Power Without Responsibility? – A Justice Breyer Podcast.” Sure, some U.S. Supreme Court Justices read blogs in more or less the same manner as you are doing right now, but perhaps Justice Stephen G. Breyer is the first member of that august group to go out and do his own podcast (with the assistance of some folks at the University of Chicago Law School). You can access the podcast via this post at “The Faculty Blog” of the University of Chicago Law School. I earlier linked here to press coverage of Justice Breyer’s appearance.

Posted at 4:28 PM by Howard Bashman



“Senators urge major changes to asbestos bill”: Reuters provides this report.

The Associated Press reports that “White House Has Concerns on Asbestos Bill.”

The New York Times reports today that “Large and Small Businesses Part Ways on Asbestos Bill.”

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today that “Senate asbestos vote nears; Settlement fund would affect Ohio companies, workers, lawsuits.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that “Senate to debate asbestos fund; Proposal could shake up Wisconsin suits.”

And The Pueblo Chieftain reports that “Lawmakers in fight over asbestos claims.”

Meanwhile, yesterday’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition” contained segments entitled “Senate Weighs Creation of Asbestos Trust Fund” and “Asbestos Bill: Winners and Losers” (RealPlayer required).

Posted at 3:25 PM by Howard Bashman



Can a person be convicted of the federal criminal offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm if the underlying state law felony offense did not itself, as a matter of state law, preclude the person from possessing a firearm? Circuit Judge Ed Carnes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued this interesting opinion today.

According to the opinion, the appellant “asserts that it is illogical to treat more harshly a person whose right to bear arms was never terminated than one whose rights, including the right to bear arms, were terminated but then later restored.”

Posted at 2:58 PM by Howard Bashman



“Top judge ‘concerned’ about state court; Justice Kennedy says Hawaii’s high court should find time to hear oral arguments”: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin today contains an article that begins, “U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy told more than 100 attorneys and judges yesterday that he is ‘concerned’ about Hawaii’s highest court, saying it is overburdened.”

More information about Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s current visit to Hawaii can be accessed at this link.

Posted at 2:38 PM by Howard Bashman



“Nichols trial to proceed in Fulton County Courthouse, judge rules”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today contains an article that begins, “The death penalty trial of accused courthouse killer Brian Nichols will be held in the Fulton County Courthouse, a judge ruled Wednesday. Senior Judge Hilton Fuller left open the possibility that the trial could still be moved if too many potential jurors are bothered that the trial is in the same building where Nichols allegedly killed three people in March.”

Posted at 10:30 AM by Howard Bashman



“O’Connor a role model for the ages”: Yesterday in The Chicago Tribune, columnist Mary Schmich had an op-ed that begins, “We need more wrinkled, jowly, white-haired women in power.”

Posted at 7:18 AM by Howard Bashman



“Specter wants special court to supervise surveillance; Currently, president reviews program every 45 days”: This article appears today in USA Today.

Posted at 7:14 AM by Howard Bashman



“Judge to Hear Challenge to Use of Lethal Injection; Foes say the practice may cause a very painful death, thus violating the U.S. Constitution”: Today in The Los Angeles Times, Henry Weinstein has an article that begins, “A federal judge in San Jose will take up an issue today that has the potential to block all executions in California: whether lethal injections used on death row inflict so much pain that they violate the Constitution.” My earlier coverage is here.

Posted at 7:08 AM by Howard Bashman



“Secret Court’s Judges Were Warned About NSA Spy Data; Program May Have Led Improperly to Warrants”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “Twice in the past four years, a top Justice Department lawyer warned the presiding judge of a secret surveillance court that information overheard in President Bush’s eavesdropping program may have been improperly used to obtain wiretap warrants in the court, according to two sources with knowledge of those events.”

Posted at 7:02 AM by Howard Bashman



“Bush picks Jackson lawyer; Michael Wallace nominated for seat on Court of Appeals”: This article appears today in The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi.

Posted at 6:58 AM by Howard Bashman