On this date in “How Appealing” history: On February 12, 2003, I linked here to an article headlined “Filibuster on Judgeship Halts Business in the Senate” published that day in The New York Times.

And one year ago today, I linked here to an article headlined “Senate’s New Math May Aid Stalled Judicial Nominees” published in the next day’s edition of The New York Times. Ironically, the article reported that William Gerry Meyers III was the judicial nominee who might “end the divisive partisan battle over judges.” Of course, his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remains stalled while other controversial nominees to the U.S. Courts of Appeals have, in the interim, been confirmed.

One more reason why U.S. Supreme Court Justices might choose not to go hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney: The Associated Press reports that “Cheney Accidentally Shoots Fellow Hunter.” The victim is described as “a millionaire attorney from Austin.”

Update: In local coverage, The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports that “Cheney accidentally shoots fellow hunter at nearby ranch.” And The Austin American-Statesman reports that “Austin lawyer Harry Whittington shot by Cheney on hunting trip; Vice president accidentally injured Whittington at South Texas ranch.”

“Innocent, but in limbo at Guantanamo; Five Chinese Muslims, captured in Pakistan by mistake, try to get the US Supreme Court to take their case”: Warren Richey will have this article Monday in The Christian Science Monitor.

“Smears in Cyberspace: Blogs and media ethics.” Cathy Young has this essay in the February 2006 issue of Reason.

“‘All the people in Hamilton are proud of him,’ mom says”: The February 1, 2006 issue of The Trenton Times contained an article that begins, “Like any loving mother, Rose Alito was anxious yesterday to learn if her son would get the job promotion of a lifetime. So she had her eyes on the television and an ear to the phone, waiting for the U.S. Senate’s vote to confirm her son — Hamilton native Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. — as the 110th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Finding Unbiased Moussaoui Jury Not Easy”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Witnesses’ plea deals pose delicate challenge; Lawyers face a tough tango over credibility”: This article about the Enron trial appears today in The Houston Chronicle.

“Same-sex marriage goes to top court; A liberal-leaning New Jersey Supreme Court could swiftly legalize gay nuptials, lawyers and scholars say”: The Philadelphia Inquirer contains this article today.

“Some Immigrants Meet Harsh Face of Justice; Complaints of insensitive — even abusive — conduct by some U.S. immigration judges have prompted a broad federal review”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Death Charge: Zacarias Moussaoui hurtles closer to his execution.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.