“Judge Admits Viewing Porn In Chambers”: The Tampa Tribune contains this article today.

And The St. Petersburg Times reports today that “Deal means no return for judge; The JQC stops investigating allegations against Pinellas-Pasco Judge Downey; He must retire in January, permanently.”

“Court asked to rush ruling on gay unions”: This article appears today in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Falsely Accused Suspect Pursues Libel Case”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “It has been 10 years since Richard Jewell was identified as a suspect in the Olympic Park bombing here and then quickly cleared. On Friday, his lawyer argued that he should be allowed to proceed with his libel case against The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the first news organization to have described him as the focus of the investigation.”

“‘So Help Me God’: The ‘Ten Commandments Judge’ battles to become Alabama’s governor.” Kyle Wingfield has this interview (free access) today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Tough Justice for Executives in Enron Era”: This article appears today in The New York Times, along with articles headlined “Jurors Bonded as a Family From the Start of the Trial” and “Executives’ Downfall: The ‘Managing’ of Numbers Turned Into Manipulating Them.”

The Washington Post reports today that “Enron’s Lay, Skilling Face Uphill Battle on Appeal.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “Enron Jury Saw Story Defense Missed.”

And in The Houston Chronicle, Mary Flood has an article headlined “The more pennies lost, the more days in jail.” The newspaper also contains articles headlined “A daily invocation gave the diverse group confidence and unity; Intense debates always led them back to overpowering evidence” and “Expert: Headlines need to be catchy — and fair; Journalist thinks court verdict isn’t a time for humor to trump substance.”

“KOCE Sale Ruled Invalid; A court again questions the deal with a local foundation, instead of a Christian broadcaster; The future is unclear”: The Los Angeles Times today contains this article reporting on an unpublished opinion that the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, issued yesterday.

“Judge pays off debt for cutting park trees; Money funds full-time gardener, native plantings”: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer today contains an article that begins, “Nearly four years after more than 120 cherry and maple trees were cut down in Colman Park to create a better lake view, a federal judge has fully paid off his debt to the city. Senior Judge Jerome Farris of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has paid a total of $618,000, city officials said Friday.”

And The Seattle Times reports today that “Judge pays city $618,000 for cutting 120 trees.”

“Bloggers can shield sources, court rules; In setback for Apple, Internet journalists are protected by law”: This article appears today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Today in The San Jose Mercury News, Howard Mintz reports that “Apple loses case against bloggers.”

And The New York Times reports that “First Amendment Applies to Internet, Appeals Court Rules.”

My earlier coverage appears here.

“Sex Assault Victim Can’t Sue Defense Team, Judge Rules; Teen videotaped as she was assaulted in Corona del Mar alleged that the probe of her past went too far; Other portions of the lawsuit remain”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

And The Orange County Register reports today that “Haidl victim can’t sue attacker’s parents.”

“Bizarre end to sniper defense; In 3 1/2 -hour closing, Muhammad argues that he was framed”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun.

And The Washington Post today contains an article headlined “Conspiracy All Around, Sniper Insists; 3-Hour Closing Speech Mentions Lies, Bible.”

“Time Ordered to Give Internal Documents to Libby”: Charles Lane has this article today in The Washington Post.

And today in The New York Times, Neil A. Lewis reports that “Judge Orders Private Drafts Turned Over in Leak Case.”

My earlier coverage appears at this link.

“Stern Gets Rights to Tapes In Settlement With CBS; Sirius Agrees To Pay $2 Million”: Today’s edition of The Washington Post contains this article.

“A Defiant Stance In Jefferson Probe; Justice Dept. Talked of Big Resignations If White House Agreed to Return Papers”: This front page article appears today in The Washington Post.

“Drive for Vote on Abortion Accelerates”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “Advocates of abortion rights were planning a final push this weekend for signatures to a petition that could send South Dakota’s ban on abortion, which was intended as a direct legal challenge to the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to abortion, to a statewide vote in November.”

And The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota reports today that “Abortion clinic overture upsets tribal council; Reservation ban possible.”

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains an article headlined “U.S. judge is pressed for ruling on T-shirt; Poway student and district at odds over anti-gay slogan” that begins, “A San Diego federal judge was asked yesterday to decide whether Poway High School administrators acted properly when they pulled a student from class for wearing an anti-gay slogan on his T-shirt two years ago.”

And in other news, “Forum turns to talk of cross; 4 candidates support keeping it.”

“Appeals Court Upholds Richardson Firing; University officials vindicated by ruling”: This article appears today in The Morning News of Springdale, Arkansas.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports today that “Dismissing Richardson suit correct, judges rule.”

And Rainer Sabin of The Northwest Arkansas Times has an essay entitled “Appeal decision closes ugly UA-Richardson episode.”

My earlier coverage appears here.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Afghan Lawmakers Nix Supreme Court Nominee“; “Armless Man Stopped for Speeding“; and “Scholars Ponder Same-Sex Marriage Issues.”

“Names offered for 4th Circuit; Lawyers’ groups list possible candidates for appeals court here”: This article appears today in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

And The Roanoke Times reports today that “S.W. Va. judges in running for seat; The state’s two U.S. senators had requested recommendations to replace Michael Luttig.”

Available online from law.com: Justin Scheck reports that “NSA Cases May Hinge on Issue of Standing.”

And the brand new installment of my “On Appeal” column is headlined “Recognizing Greatness in 3rd Circuit’s Judge Becker.”

By the way, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s article from Tuesday reporting on Monday’s funeral service for Third Circuit Judge Edward R. Becker stated that “the stretch of Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets will now be named Edward R. Becker Way.” One of Judge Becker’s former law clerks today emailed to me this photograph of the new street sign on display at 5th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia.

“Top Bush Aide at Justice Dept. Was Set to Quit”: The New York Times on Saturday will contain an article that begins, “Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and senior officials and career prosecutors at the Justice Department told associates this week that they were prepared to quit if the White House directed them to relinquish evidence seized in a bitterly disputed search of a House member’s office, government officials said Friday.”

“Why Do We Care? — Reflections on Dead Judges Voting.” Steve Vladeck has this interesting post today at “PrawfsBlawg.”

Access online the federal government’s Brief for Petitioner filed on Monday in Gonzales v. Carhart, the case seeking to uphold the constitutionality of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003: I have posted online a copy of the brief at this link.

“A Man Scorned: His private life was made shockingly public; So why does he want to go through it all again?” law.com’s T.R. Goldman provides this report.

“Apple Loses Court Bid to Identify Sources”: The Associated Press provides this report.

And Howard Mintz of The San Jose Mercury News provides an update headlined “Court protects bloggers, rebuffs Apple in leak case.”

My earlier coverage appears here.

“Three Top Partners Flee Milberg”: law.com’s Justin Scheck provides this news update.

“President’s Statement on Senate Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Court of Appeals”: The White House issued this statement today.

“Judge: Reporters Must Give Libby Documents.” The Associated Press provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued today.

“Apple v. Does Decision Issued”: At her “Bag and Baggage” blog, Denise Howell has this post focusing on today’s ruling of the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth Appellate District.

The court’s opinion begins, “Apple Computer, Inc., a manufacturer of computer hardware and software, brought this action alleging that persons unknown caused the wrongful publication on the World Wide Web of Apple’s secret plans to release a device that would facilitate the creation of digital live sound recordings on Apple computers.” The opinion continues:

In an effort to identify the source of the disclosures, Apple sought and obtained authority to issue civil subpoenas to the publishers of the Web sites where the information appeared and to the email service provider for one of the publishers. The publishers moved for a protective order to prevent any such discovery. The trial court denied the motion on the ground that the publishers had involved themselves in the unlawful misappropriation of a trade secret.

Today’s opinion concludes that the trial court erred and should have granted the protective order precluding the discovery that Apple was seeking.

“This consolidated appeal presents the issue of whether photographs and videotapes of deputy sheriffs engaging in sexually explicit, off-duty conduct available for pay-per-view on the Internet is entitled to First Amendment protection.” So begins an opinion that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued today.

“Muhammad Rests His Defense in Sniper Trial”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Strong Booker work from the Sixth Circuit”: At the “Sentencing Law and Policy” blog, Law Professor Doug Berman has this post about an interesting decision and concurrence that the Sixth Circuit issued today.

“Nolan Richardson, Jr., appeals the district court’s dismissal, following a bench trial, of his race-discrimination and free-speech claims arising out of his termination as the men’s head basketball coach for the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Razorbacks.” So begins a lengthy opinion that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued today. Today’s ruling affirms the dismissal of those claims.

In early press coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Federal court denies Richardson’s appeal.”

“Senate Confirms Kavanaugh to Appeals Court”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Bar recommends 7 for appeals court”: The Virginian-Pilot today contains a news brief that begins, “The Virginia Bar Association on Thursday recommended seven people, including two judges from South Hampton Roads, to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.” After identifying those seven people, the news brief notes that “The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge J. Michael Luttig.”

In today’s edition of The Hartford Courant: An article headlined “Pro-Life License Plates Under Fire; DMV To Reconsider Sponsor’s Eligibility” begins, “A swirling national First Amendment debate hit Connecticut Thursday as the Department of Motor Vehicles said it will stop issuing special ‘Choose Life’ license plates for The Children First Foundation – a New York-based pro-adoption group opposed to abortion – while it investigates, along with the attorney general, whether the foundation qualifies for the plates.”

And Lynne Tuohy reports that “Judicial Access Panel Gets To Work.”