“Where Are They: Thomas Penfield Jackson; Outspoken Judge in Microsoft Case Has Retired From the Bench but He Is Still Speaking His Mind.” This article (free access) appears today at The Wall Street Journal Online.

This afternoon’s blogging break on the fourth anniversary of this blog’s existence was courtesy of the Philadelphia Soul arena football team: My son got to sit on the bench with the players during the game in his capacity as Philadelphia Soul’s Ball Boy of the day. The Soul today defeated the Dallas Desperados 51-48 (details here). This was my family’s first arena football experience, made extra special as the result of free tickets and all access passes.

Tomorrow night my son and I will be back in south Philly to cheer on the Philadelphia Phillies against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies have held Bonds homerless through the first two games of the series, so he would have to hit three tomorrow night in order to pass Babe Ruth in the record books while in Philly.

“Nuss panel begins inquiry; Judicial committee examining judge”: The Topeka Capital-Journal today contains an article that begins, “A state commission met privately Friday to consider a formal ethics investigation of Kansas Supreme Court Justice Lawton Nuss for talking with lawmakers about a pending lawsuit.”

Meanwhile, on Friday, The Lawrence Journal-World reported that “Sebelius denies inside information from court.”

And Friday in The Kansas City Star, Barbara Shelly had an op-ed entitled “Meal in Topeka gave court, Capitol indigestion.”

“Ryan judge calls 2 jurors, rejects mistrial; Guilty verdict was not tainted by legal research, she says”: The Chicago Tribune contains this article today.

And The Chicago Sun-Times today contains an article headlined “Ryan judge: Verdict stands.”

“Hosts not liable for partygoer driving drunk; Top court rules in case brought by woman who was left paraplegic after accident”: This article appears today in The Toronto Globe and Mail.

And The Toronto Star reports today that “Host not liable for drunk guests.”

My earlier coverage is at this link.

“U.S. Court Passes on Marriage Lawsuit; Federal judges say the two Orange County men should wait for state courts to sort out issues”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

And today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “Gay couple can’t challenge marriage act; Groups supporting same-sex unions back federal ruling.”

My earlier coverage is here.

“Sniper testimony begins; State starts case against Muhammad with vivid details of the first two killings”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun.

And The Washington Post reports today that “Muhammad Questions Shootings’ Witnesses; Sniper Suspect’s Calm Side Emerges As Testimony Starts.”

Jurisprudence essays available online at Slate: Dahlia Lithwick has an essay entitled “Barely Lethal: How both sides have staked out the worst position in the lethal-injection fight.”

And Hanny Hindi has an essay entitled “Take My Life, Please: Merciful (but messy) alternatives to lethal injection.”

“School worker axed for Net use”: The New York Daily News today contains a news brief that begins, “City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein canned an Internet-surfing employee yesterday, despite a judge’s ruling that city workers can check out the Web at work.”

In today’s edition of The New York Times: Adam Liptak reports that “Nonlawyer Father Wins His Suit Over Education, and the Bar Is Upset.”

And in news from the New York region, “Another Prologue Begins in Epic 9/11 Court Case” and “After a Trial, the Tables Are Turned on a Defense Lawyer.”

“Bar Association Rates Nominee to Federal Court ‘Not Qualified'”: The New York Times contains this article today.

And The Hartford Courant reports today that “Panel Deals Judge A Setback; Bar Committee Opposes Nomination.”

“Illinois high court denies rehearing in tobacco suit”: This article appears today in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

And The Wall Street Journal reports today that “Philip Morris Gets Court Victory” (free access).

“Student’s liaison leads to lawsuit; Off-campus fling earned suspension”: The Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer today contains an article that begins, “A 16-year-old student and his mother have sued the Wake County Board of Education after he was suspended for having sex during school hours at his girlfriend’s house. The suit, filed last week in Wake Superior Court by Ryan Biggar and his mother, Patricia, says school officials have no authority over students’ off-campus behavior.”

“Edwards: Withdraw Boyle’s nomination.” The Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer today contains a news brief that begins, “Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards called on President Bush on Friday to withdraw the nomination of U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle to a federal appeals court.”

On May 6, 2002 — four years ago today — the blog “How Appealing” came into existence: That’s right, today is this blog’s fourth birthday. You can access this blog’s complete archives, consisting of every post that has appeared during the history of “How Appealing,” via this link.

To celebrate this blog’s fourth anniversary, and after much clamoring from my readers, I have decided to resume one of this blog’s most popular monthly features, “20 questions for the appellate judge.” The first 20 months of that interview feature can be accessed via the link provided in the preceding sentence.

Of course, the “20 questions for the appellate judge” feature can only exist if appellate judges are willing to volunteer to be interviewed. On Monday, May 8, 2006 at 9 a.m. eastern time, I will post online here details of how appellate judges can volunteer to take part in this popular monthly online interview feature and when, if all goes as planned, the feature will resume.

Thanks to each and every reader who has made “How Appealing” so much fun to operate during the first four years of its existence!