“Which Federal Appellate Court Has the Best Web Site?” The brand new installment of my “On Appeal” column for law.com can be accessed here.

Trenton Thunder 5, Reading Phillies 2: My son and I spent this evening at a baseball game in Trenton, New Jersey. We were seated in the third row behind first base, which allowed my son to be on the receiving end of a toss from the first baseman of the ball used to record the final out in the top of the fifth inning. A wrap of the rain-shortened game can be accessed here, while the box score is at this link.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Court Revokes Radioactive Storage Permit” and “5 News Organizations Agree to Pay Lee.”

“Lawrence and the Right to Metaprivacy”: That’s the topic of the June 2006 online issue of “The Pocket Part” from The Yale Law Journal. Jamal Greene has the lead essay, while Paul M. Smith (at least for now inaccurately referred to at the YLJ site as Paul H. Smith) and Edward Whelan have responses.

“Stare DCisis: Dishonorable Discharge.” Judy Coleman has this post at DCist.

Third Circuit affirms decision of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania allowing attorney suspended from practice of law in Pennsylvania state courts to open an office in Pennsylvania in support of his practice before that federal district court: Today’s developments in the saga of attorney Robert B. Surrick can be accessed here.

Longtime readers of this blog may recall that quite some time ago, I accepted a pro bono appointment from the Third Circuit to argue in favor of the en banc federal district court’s decision imposing reciprocal discipline on Surrick. That appointment led me to file this appellate brief, and, after oral argument from me and my opposing counsel, a different Third Circuit panel issued this ruling.

“Chief Judge to Set Up Panel for 7-Year-Old Misconduct Case”: Amelia Hansen has this article (free access) today in The Daily Journal of California. My earlier coverage appears here and here.

“Gay marriage ban case to hit Web; Georgia Supreme Court to hear oral arguments June 27”: This article appears today in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“This case presents the question, inter alia, as to whether the likely environmental consequences of a potential terrorist attack on a nuclear facility must be considered in an environmental review required under the National Environmental Policy Act.” Today, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit answers that question in the affirmative in an opinion that you can access here.

In news from Montana: The Associated Press provides a report headlined “Court: Children Can’t Authorize Searches.” You can access Wednesday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Montana at this link.

And in other news, The Billings Gazette reports today that “Museum shrouds statue; Nude art covered up to protest proposed anti-obscenity laws.”

“Federal judge rules that Boynton student can’t be forced to say pledge to U.S. flag”: This article appears today in The South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

And The Palm Beach Post reports today that “Judge says students don’t need OK to skip pledge.”

The court’s ruling does not appear to be readily available online.

Thanks to “Southern District of Florida Blog” for the pointer.

“Chief Judge to Set Up Panel for 7-Year-Old Misconduct Case”: Today in The Daily Journal of California, Amelia Hansen has an article that begins, “More than three years after a federal judge in Los Angeles was accused of giving special treatment to one of his female probationers, the chief judge of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a special committee to investigate the charges. Filed in court last week, but not yet made public by the circuit, Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder said she would appoint a committee to look into whether 81-year-old U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real committed misconduct in 1999.” I am currently seeking The Daily Journal’s permission to reprint the entire article over at “How Appealing Extra.”

My earlier coverage of this matter appears here and here.

Bank robber’s accidental discharge of semi-automatic pistol does not suffice to trigger mandatory ten-year federal sentence for discharging firearm in relation to any crime of violence: Today’s ruling by a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will be of interest to fans of mens rea. The opinion notes that “So far, two circuits have interpreted the
discharge provision and have reached different conclusions as
to intent.”

“Ryan’s lawyers ask judge for retrial because of jury”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

And The Chicago Sun-Times today contains articles headlined “Jury ‘dishonesty’ enough for new trial: lawyers” and “Booted juror: I was read different Web page.”

“Two Important Rulings on AIDS”: The New York Times contains this editorial today.

“Not all speech is free: If you’re a government employee, the 1st Amendment shouldn’t protect your official conduct.” This editorial appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Congress and Justice Dept. May Both Be Overreaching”: Adam Liptak has this news analysis today in The New York Times.

“NL Officials Hail Two Settlements At Fort Trumbull; Deals are ‘good news’ for city; other plaintiffs to speak today”: The Day of New London, Connecticut today contains an article that begins, “City councilors Thursday praised settlements with two of six plaintiffs in the Fort Trumbull eminent domain case.”

“Muhammad Gets 6 Life Terms in Md.” This article appears today in The Washington Post.

The Baltimore Sun reports today that “Families confront sniper; Muhammad gets six life terms.”

And The Washington Times reports today that “Muhammad sentenced to six life terms.”

“Judging Whether a Killer Is Sane Enough to Die”: Ralph Blumenthal and Adam Liptak have this article today in The New York Times.

“A Fourth Federal Judge Turns Down Milberg Trial”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

Available online from law.com: Tony Mauro reports that “Bobble-Justice Kennedy Goes Courtside.”

And Shannon P. Duffy has an article headlined “Libel Laws Don’t Prevent Blog ‘Mockery’; Federal judge rules that bloggers are entitled to immunity under Communications Decency Act.” Additional coverage is available online here and here.