Available online from law.com: An article reports that “State Officials Appeal to Fla. Supreme Court on Attorney Fee Caps.”

And the brand new installment of my “On Appeal” column is headlined “Exaggerations Plague Debate Over Need for Judicial Inspector General.”

“126 MPH Jaunt Leads to Jail; Man Gets 12 Days for Sprint on GW Parkway”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “A Georgetown University law student who was trying to impress his girlfriend admitted yesterday that he cranked up his new Infiniti to 126 mph on the George Washington Memorial Parkway — among the highest speeds ever clocked on the stretch of federal road.” The article’s final paragraph states that “The conviction should not affect [the law student’s] eligibility to be a lawyer.”

“Justice Sandy: Five simple rules for discussing judicial independence.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

A racially derogatory comment made by a co-worker in the immediate aftermath of the arrest of the DC-area snipers does not equate to a racially-hostile work environment: A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued this decision today.

“Moussaoui Appeals Judgment and Sentence”: The Associated Press provides this report. You can view the notice of appeal at this link.

“Federal judge freezes Saudi’s war-crimes trial”: The Miami Herald provides a news update that begins, “A federal judge this morning ordered the Pentagon to freeze a Saudi captive’s war-crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay Navy Base, Cuba — until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether President Bush’s Military Commissions are constitutional.” You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia at this link.

“Court Considers Wealth As Asylum Claim”: The AP provides a report that begins, “A federal appeals court has ordered an immigration board to consider whether some Guatemalans could qualify for asylum over fear of persecution for being rich.” You can access Tuesday’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit at this link.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Kan. Justice Accused of Improper Talks” and “U.S. Argues to Block Suit Against CIA.”

“Are Federal Judges’ Salaries too Low?” Ilya Somin has this post at “The Volokh Conspiracy.”

Update: Also available now is a follow-up post titled “Judicial Pay Part II – The Non-Salary Benefits of Being a Federal Judge.”

In today’s mail: My advance reader’s edition of “Anonymous Lawyer: A Novel.”

Thanks to everyone who submitted contest ideas for awarding another copy of the book to a “How Appealing” contest entrant. We have a winner in contest for the best contest idea, and that person has just received an email from me. Next Monday morning, I will launch the contest itself using the contest proposal that was my favorite from among those proposals that various readers of this blog submitted in response to this earlier post.

“Government Seeks Court’s Dismissal of Abduction Case”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

NPR’s summary of the audio report states: “A federal court hears a government motion to dismiss a suit brought by a German citizen who alleges he was abducted in Europe. The man says he was handed over to U.S. agents, beaten and then transferred to a secret prison in Afghanistan. He was released without explanation five months later. The CIA says evidence in the case is protected by the state secrets privilege and can’t be brought to trial.”

“President’s aid sought in battle to save cross; Hunter wants the site declared national park”: The San Diego Union-Tribune today contains an article that begins, “In a last-gasp attempt to prevent the removal of the giant cross atop Mount Soledad, Rep. Duncan Hunter is appealing to President Bush to use his eminent-domain powers to declare the land beneath the cross a national park.” The newspaper has also posted online two related letters to President Bush, here and here.

And The Associated Press reports that “Bush Asked to Help Save San Diego Cross.”

“Survivor calls being shot ‘worst fear come true’; Victim of sniper outside Va. restaurant testifies in Muhammad trial”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun.

And The Washington Post today contains an article headlined “‘Oh My God, I’ve Been Shot’; Victim Tells Muhammad Jury About Attack Near Va. Steakhouse.”

“Diaz gets clearance to regain court seat; Tribunal orders termination of justice’s suspension”: The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi today contains an article that begins, “State Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr., who has weathered two criminal trials and more than two years of suspension, was cleared Thursday to take the bench again.”

“Senate Democrats want new hearing for Boyle”: This news brief appears today in The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Condemned inmate asked staff to end his life”: From Ohio, The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Apparently weary of painful attempts to insert an intravenous line, a condemned killer asked prison staff to finish the job. ‘Can you just give me something by mouth to end this?’ Joseph Clark asked members of the execution team May 2 as they struggled to deliver a lethal injection.”

“Democrats signal filibuster on Bush judicial nominee”: The Washington Times today contains an article that begins, “Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday unanimously opposed President Bush’s most recent judicial nominee, signaling they intend to try filibustering his nomination.”

“House Injects Prayer Into Defense Bill”: The Washington Post contains this article today.

“One Juror Between Terrorist And Death; Moussaoui Foreman Recalls Frustration”: This front page article appears today in The Washington Post.

And the newspaper also contains an op-ed by columnist Charles Krauthammer entitled “Sparing Moussaoui for the Wrong Reasons.”

“Court to Rule on Delaware Public Records Law”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “A panel of federal appeals court judges will rule on the constitutionality of Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act, which denies nonresidents access to public records in the state, the legal home of many major corporations.”

And The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware reports today that “FOIA filing only puzzles U.S. judges; State law refuses queries from non-Delawareans.”

“Five justices to watch as the Roberts court evolves; New chief shows he’ll be forceful presence on bench”: Joan Biskupic has this article today in USA Today.