“Diaz ready to go back to work”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “A federal jury today acquitted Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. of Biloxi on tax evasion charges, likely ending a legal saga that has kept Diaz off the bench for more than two years.”

“He was dressed in a tan tunic: I don’t want this court, he said; The secrecy is lifted on the trials in Camp Delta as world hears defendants speak for the first time.” Friday’s edition of The Times of London contains this article.

“How judge’s secret Da Vinci code was cracked”: This article providing the answer appears Friday in The Guardian (UK).

The New York Times on Friday will contain an article headlined “Broken: The Code in the ‘Da Vinci Code’ Ruling.”

Friday’s edition of The Telegraph (UK) contains articles headlined “Sir Peter is happy to be a puzzle to most lawyers” and “Jaeiextostgpsacgreamqwfkadpmqzv (So can you crack the secret code of the Da Vinci case judge?)”

And The Times of London on Friday contains an article headlined “A nudge from the Da Vinci judge to help you to crack his code.”

“Court Upholds City Firings Over Racial Insult at Parade”: The New York Times on Friday will contain an article that begins, “The city was within its rights to fire a police officer and two firefighters after they appeared in Afro wigs and blackface on a float during a 1998 Labor Day parade in Broad Channel, Queens, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday.” My earlier coverage is here.

“Judge Reprimands Temp Prosecutor for Personal Blog”: law.com provides a report that begins, “When a temporary San Francisco prosecutor wrote on his personal blog about a misdemeanor case he was handling last December, he probably didn’t think the judge would read it.”

“N.Y. Court Upholds Giuliani Float Firings”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Diaz found innocent on tax charges”: The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi provides a news update that begins, “State Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz was found not guilty today in U.S. District Court. He was charged with tax evasion and filing a false tax return.”

Second Circuit orders entry of judgment in favor of defendants in lawsuit brought by former New York City police officer and firefighters who were dismissed from their jobs for having participated in a Labor Day parade on a float that featured mocking stereotypes of African-Americans: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit at this link.

“Recapturing ‘Winnie-the-Pooh'”: Lyle Denniston has this post today at “SCOTUSblog.”

“Judge joins Da Vinci fun with a code of his own”: This article appears today in The Times of London.

The Guardian (UK) today contains an article headlined “Smithy’s code: new twist in Da Vinci drama; Judge’s secret message comes in italicised letters; Codebreakers set to work on cracking encryption.”

The Sun (UK) reports that “Judge does a Da Vinci.”

And BBC News reports that “Judge creates own Da Vinci code.”

“Sex ranking list of high school girls has Mt. Lebanon abuzz; Lawyer for one of the boys says it’s not a crime; lawyer for girl on list says it’s a ‘personal sexual attack'”: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today contains this article. According to the article, “At issue is whether the list, which includes grades for girls’ faces, breasts and buttocks and talks about drug use, oral sex, sexually transmitted disease and weight, constitutes criminal sexual harassment or violation of the school’s policy against sexual harassment.”

Third Circuit Judge Jane R. Roth has announced that she will take senior status effective May 31, 2006: The information is available here.

“Why we should repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell'”: U.S. Representative Martin Meehan (D-MA) has this op-ed today in The Boston Globe.

“Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee On The Nomination Of Brett Kavanaugh”: U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) issued this statement today.

Life sentence without the possibility of parole-related humor: From a decision that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued today: “Sherrod also argues that the district court wrongly concluded that it was required to impose his two life sentences consecutively, based on its interpretation of [a section of the federal criminal code]. [I]t unclear how Sherrod would benefit if the court were allowed to consider imposing his two life sentences concurrently instead….”

“D.C.-Area Sniper’s Trial Returns to Md.”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Who Is Juan Non-Volokh?” Eugene Volokh launches the long-awaited, pre-unmasking competition at this link. I’ll recuse myself from the competition, as I recently had the pleasure of having lunch with the individual who is Juan Non-Volokh.

Greetings from Cambridge, Massachusetts: Where it’s not quite as warm outside as it was in Philadelphia, but at least it’s just as sunny.

Programming note: Shortly I will be en route to the Boston area to participate in this conference tomorrow at the Harvard Law School.

Tonight, you can meet the conference participants at an after dinner gathering detailed here. During the conference’s lunch break tomorrow, I hope to visit Ed Whelan, who will be also be speaking at Harvard tomorrow at a separate Federalist Society sponsored event.

Eighth Circuit remands for further proceedings the claim that that the State of Missouri’s current lethal injection protocol violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment: You can access today’s per curiam ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit at this link.

“Moussaoui Juror Calls Out Sick”: The Associated Press provides this report. As a result, there will be no penalty-phase verdict today.

“More on the Da Vinci Code Decision Code”: The blog “Patterico’s Pontifications,” along with its readers, is attempting to break the code. There’s additional information here.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting: In today’s newspaper, legal affairs writer Claire Cooper has articles headlined “Appeal succeeds for pot activist; Outside influence on the jury affected 2003 case, the 9th Circuit determines” and “Delay sought in lethal injection case.”

In other news, “U.S. hails its Hayat strategy; But others question pre-emptive convictions of potential terrorists.”

And an article headlined “Gay rights face-off; Day of Silence spurs protests, suspensions” reports that the suspensions “may test a controversial ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week. In a 2-1 vote, the court decided schools can forbid students from wearing a shirt that demeans gay and lesbian students.”

In news from Kansas: The Topeka Capital-Journal today contains an article headlined “GOP: He said, she said; Morris offers his version of lunch talk with judge.” In addition, columnist Pete Goering has an essay entitled “Activist court to blame.”

The Lawrence Journal-World today contains articles headlined “Senator explains lunch in memo; School finance talk lasted 5 minutes, Sen. Morris says” and “Call renewed for judicial awareness; Judge’s controversial meeting with lawmakers revives interest in informing voters about bench.”

The Associated Press provides an item headlined “Senate President Steve Morris’ memorandum on Justice Nuss.”

And The Kansas City Star contains an editorial entitled “The big fuss over Nuss.”

“From Judges To Witnesses? Legislature Seeks Their Testimony In Review Of Actions Taken To Aid Rell Nominee.” This article appears today in The Hartford Courant.

Access online the agenda for this morning’s Executive Business Meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee: It is available at this link. Ninth Circuit nominee N. Randy Smith and D.C Circuit nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh are both up for consideration.

“Court tosses Guru of Ganja’s conviction; Finding of juror misconduct results in new trial for Oaklander”: Josh Richman has this article today in The Oakland Tribune.

And today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “Juror’s call upends medical pot conviction; Appeals court rules advice from lawyer prejudiced case.”

My earlier coverage is here.

“Lay gets loud and angry with prosecutor; Former CEO is asked about witness contacts, code of ethics”: Mary Flood has this article today in The Houston Chronicle.

The New York Times reports today that “Lay Loses His Cool on Stand.”

The Washington Post reports that “Enron Founder’s Testimony Is Fiery; Lay, Prosecutor Trade Barbs at Trial.”

And The Los Angeles Times reports that “Lay Admits Witness Contacts; The ex-Enron chairman denies that he tried to sway testimony; The disclosure could be a blow to his defense against fraud charges.”

“In Routine Process, Moussaoui Jurors Weighing Unique Factors”: This article appears today in The Washington Post.

And The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that “Moussaoui deliberations resume today.”

“Court Puts Teeth in ‘Notice’ Needed to Seize Property”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The New York Times.

Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “High Court Rules Against State’s Seizure of House; An extra effort to warn an owner is needed before a sell-off to pay taxes, justices say.”

And The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that “Tax sale invalid, justices conclude; Supreme Court reverses state, 5-3.”

“Justices Debate Illegal Hiring Case; The crux is whether a federal racketeering law can apply to firms using undocumented workers”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

Today in The Dallas Morning News, Allen Pusey reports that “Justices weigh RICO immigrant worker case; Undocumented laborers may face new hurdles if carpet maker loses suit.”

And The Washington Times reports that “Court to decide whether to let illegals suit proceed.”

“Supreme Court Hears Case Involving Lethal Injection”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The New York Times.

Today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “High Court Is of Two Minds on Lethal Injection.”

In USA Today, Joan Biskupic reports that “Supreme Court considers pain of lethal injection.”

The Miami Herald reports that “Justices debate cruelty of Fla. lethal injection; The nation’s highest court is to decide whether a Florida convict can argue that the state’s use of lethal injection poses a risk of inhumane pain.”

The St. Petersburg Times reports that “Justices ask about pain of execution; Florida’s method of lethal injection reaches the high court, where justices are clearly split over the merits of an inmate’s case.”

The Pensacola News Journal reports that “Justices hear out Hill case.”

And The Gainesville Sun reports that “High court hears Florida execution challenge.”

In today’s edition of The Chicago Tribune: An article headlined “Judge bans juror checks; Decision will affect ex-Daley aide’s trial” begins, “Prosecutors and defense attorneys can’t so much as run a Google search on prospective jurors in the upcoming corruption trial of former mayoral aide Robert Sorich, according to a federal judge’s ruling Wednesday.”

In other news, “Ryan judge shields ex-jurors; Request by lawyers to interview 2 tossed off panel is denied.”

And an editorial is entitled “The Ryan jury whirlwind.”

“More Lawlessness at EPA: The D.C. Circuit gives environmental regulators a refresher course in the law — again.” This editorial appears today in The Washington Post.

The New York Times is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains articles headlined “Federal Victory in Terror Case May Prove Brief, Experts Say“; “Company Tells Court Antismoking Ads Go Too Far“; and “Judge Embeds a Puzzle in ‘Da Vinci Code’ Ruling.” Those seeking to break the code can access the ruling at this link.