“Parsing pain: As he spoke to the Heritage Foundation, you would never have guessed that mild-mannered John Yoo paved the legal road to torture.” Walter Shapiro has this essay online at Salon.com.

“Redistricting question resurrected”: The Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain today contains an article that begins, “News that the U.S. Supreme Court would hear a Republican Party challenge to the state’s 2003 redistricting ruling drew a venomous response from state Democrats on Tuesday.”

“Justices agree to hear abortion case; Court-watchers eager to see how Alito and Roberts rule”: Charlie Savage has this article today in The Boston Globe.

Today in The Houston Chronicle, Patty Reinert reports that “High court sets stage for ruling on abortion; Bush appointee Alito could cast deciding vote on partial-birth case.”

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that “Supreme Court to hear Nebraska abortion case.”

The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reports that “Top court to consider U.S. curb on abortions; Debate on ‘partial-birth’ ban is set for fall.”

The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that “U.S. reopens abortion debate; In move decried as ‘dangerous’ for women, top court plans to review partial-birth ban.”

The Australian reports that “US to rule on late-term abortion.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer contains an article headlined “Chabot: Law should stand; Supreme Court will review ban of late-term abortion procedure.”

The Cincinnati Post reports that “Abortion foes look to court.”

And The Bergen (N.J.) Record reports that “Both sides brace for pivotal decision.”

“It’s settled: Measure 37 lives; Oregon justices answer the land-use law’s biggest question, but others remain.” This article appears today in The Oregonian, along with articles headlined “Some farmers see eased restrictions as a way to sell a few acres and stay in business” and “Governor’s race: Challengers fault Kulongoski, but he defends his role.”

And The Salem Statesman Journal today contains articles headlined “High court upholds Measure 37; State and counties face thousands of land-use claims” and “Mixed opinions greet court’s land-use ruling; Residents say that questions remain despite the decision.”

“Supreme Court says Oregon’s top court erred in Guzek case”: The Oregonian provides this news update.

“Why Summary Judgment is Unconstitutional”: Law Professor Suja Thomas has posted this article (abstract with link to download) online at SSRN. The “Legal Theory Blog” describes it as a “very provocative and remarkably persuasive piece.”

“Nation’s eyes are on South Dakota as abortion bill passes senate, 23 to 12”: The Sioux Falls Argus Leader provides this news update.

And The New York Times provides a news update headlined “South Dakota Approves Bill Outlawing Nearly All Abortions.”

“Appeals Court to Rehear Admissions Policy Challenge; 9th Circuit grants Kamehameha Schools’ petition for en banc review”: Kamehameha Schools issued this statement today regarding the news I earlier noted here.

Second Circuit holds that United Air Line’s $25 million “Property Terrorism & Sabotage” insurance policy does not cover the airline’s lost gross earnings attributable to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, other than those that may have resulted from the destruction of its ticket office in the World Trade Center in New York: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit at this link.

“There is little caselaw addressing the issue whether the RFRA applies to an action by a private party seeking relief under a federal statute against another private party who claims that the federal statute substantially burdens his or her exercise of religion.” The majority on a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit today issued an interesting decision. The majority concludes that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 may preclude a minister’s federal age discrimination claim against his church, thereby eliminating any need for the Second Circuit to consider whether to adopt the controversial “ministerial exception” to the ADEA. But the majority stops short of reaching a definitive holding regarding RFRA’s impact on the ADEA, leaving the question to be addressed in the first instance on remand.

You can access the majority opinion here and the dissenting opinion here.

“South Dakota to Vote on Far-Reaching Abortion Ban”: This segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on this evening’s broadcast of NPR‘s “All Things Considered.”

The Associated Press is reporting: An article reports that “Federal Appeals Court Rejects N.J. Rig Ban.” My earlier coverage is here.

And in other news, “S.D. Senate Bill to Ban Most Abortions” and “Judge Adds to Moussaoui Jury Pool.”

“Circuit Judge Wallace Honored for Service to Courts”: The Public Information Office of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued this news release today.

“Court to rehear Kamehameha admissions case”: The Honolulu Advertiser provides a news update that begins, “The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will rehear the case involving a non-Hawaiian student seeking to enroll at Kamehameha Schools. The ruling today is a blow to the hopes of the unnamed non-Hawaiian student seeking to gain entrance to the school whose policy is aimed at admitting only students with Hawaiian blood.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Appeals court agrees to rehear Kamehameha admission case.”

You can access today’s order of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granting rehearing en banc at this link.

The now-vacated ruling by a partially-divided three-judge Ninth Circuit panel can be accessed here. I collected press coverage of that ruling at this link, while my coverage of that ruling is here.

Programming note: I’ll be attending a reception at the federal courthouse in Philadelphia this afternoon commemorating the opening of a new exhibit there called “The Lincolns in Philadelphia.” Additional posts will appear here later today.

Federal Circuit affirms dismissal of patent infringement suit against maker of “The Club” vehicle anti-theft device: You can access today’s ruling at this link.

“Panel will examine effect of Alito on women’s issues”: This article appears today in The Penn State Collegian.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains articles headlined “New justices hear wetlands case; Clean Water Act ruling will offer first look at environmental stances“; “Court upholds church rite; Chief Justice Roberts writes opinion on use of hallucinogen“; and “Court backs state in ad fight; Tobacco firms tried to halt tax funding of don’t-smoke pitches.”

Meanwhile, in death penalty-related news, “Morales’ execution postponed; The state decides to wait after a judge sets new limits on lethal injection” and “Doctors found death duty unethical; Now, legislation is proposed to ensure physicians won’t be called to participate.”

“Google infringes on nude photo site: court papers.” Reuters provides this report.

And The San Jose Mercury News reports today that “Google loses fight over photo links.”

The recent ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California can be accessed here.

“Supreme Court Puts Sentencing In California on Shaky Ground”: Brent Kendall of The Daily Journal of California provides this report.

The Associated Press is reporting: Gina Holland reports that “Justices Say Contractor Can’t Sue Domino’s.”

And in other news, “Justices Debate Right to Blame Others.”

“BlackBerry maker scores patent win; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues final rejection on one of the patents at issue in infringement dispute”: CNNMoney.com provides this report.

“Top court rejects new alibi evidence at sentencing”: James Vicini of Reuters provides this report.

When will this Bad Marriage end? Today a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has delivered its latest ruling in United States v. Bad Marriage, known colloquially as Bad Marriage II. My earlier coverage of Bad Marriage I can be accessed here.

Hot or not? What do the attorneys involved in the testy Boston-area email tiff look like? Thanks to CNN.com’s online video library, you can bring speculation to a close by clicking here. My earlier coverage of the matter can be accessed via this link.

The Associated Press is reporting: Gina Holland reports that “Justices Allow Postal Customers to Sue.”

And in other news, “Justices Rule Against Alibis at Sentencing.”

“We have an open government, and secret trials are inimical to the spirit of a republic, especially when a citizen’s liberty is at stake.” Holding that a federal district court violated the Sixth Amendment rights of a criminal defendant charged with aggravated sexual abuse by closing the courtroom during the testimony of the children whom the defendant allegedly abused, today a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed the defendant’s conviction and ordered a new trial. The opinion can be accessed here.

Jess Bravin is reporting: Today in The Wall Street Journal, he has articles headlined “Justices Agree to Hear Abortion Case; As Alito Takes Up Duties, Court Decides to Review Ban On ‘Partial Birth’ Procedure” and “High Court Backs Sect’s Right To Use Hallucinogen” (pass-through links).

“Supreme Court revives bias case; Could restore verdict in case against Tyson”: The Birmingham News today contains an article that begins, “A racial bias case against Tyson Foods by two black men from Gadsden was revived Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said the use of the term ‘boy’ in the workplace could be considered evidence of discrimination.”

“Justices May Hear Detainee’s Appeal”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “The Supreme Court refused yesterday to dismiss a case that challenges the legality of military trials for terrorism suspects, declining to immediately accept the Bush administration’s argument that a new law has stripped the court of its ability to consider the matter.”

The Toronto Globe and Mail is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains articles headlined “Supreme Court short list tests conservative mettle” and “Rivals at the ready if RIM hit; Court to hear final arguments in U.S. patent dispute.”

Even more press coverage of that dam case: The Portland (Me.) Press Herald reports today that “Maine dam case argued at high court.”

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Ark. Can’t Sue Okla. Over Water Pollution“; “Judge to Speed Moussaoui Jury Selection“; and “Justice Dept. Limited in Blackberry Case.”

“Sex tape violates privacy, Kid Rock lawsuit argues”: The Detroit Free Press today contains an article that begins, “Lawyers for Kid Rock went to federal court Tuesday to block the release of an explicit sex video featuring the rap-rocker, several women and former Creed singer Scott Stapp. The Detroit musician got an initial victory when District Judge John Feikens signed a temporary restraining order that said the company planning to sell the video had to take a preview clip down from its Web sites.”

The Detroit News is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains an article headlined “Court reviews Mich. wetlands; Case could redefine government’s role in protecting remote and threatened ecosystems.”

And in other news, “It’s OK to walk on the beach; U.S. high court lets stand Michigan ruling allowing strolls along Lakes’ shorelines.”