“Turning to the right: Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions are revealing the new conservative influence from the Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.” You can listen online, on-demand to this program (RealPlayer required) featuring Law Professor David Stras. It aired yesterday during the first hour of the Minnesota Public Radio program “Midmorning.”

“Conn. challenges ‘Choose Life’ group”: Yesterday’s edition of The Journal News of Westchester, New York contained an article that begins, “A Yonkers pro-adoption group that is suing New York and New Jersey to get its ‘Choose Life’ license plates on the road now faces a new challenge in Connecticut.”

“Active Liberty: A Progressive Alternative to Textualism and Originalism?” In the June 2006 issue of the Harvard Law Review, Tenth Circuit Judge Michael W. McConnell has this review of Justice Stephen G. Breyer’s book, “Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution.”

“Illinois lawyer tied to indicted law firm; A Tribune investigation raises questions about fees paid to a Springfield attorney by a high-powered law firm; That firm was indicted last month in California on charges it lured clients with illegal kickbacks”: The Chicago Tribune today contains a lengthy article that begins, “For the last three decades, whenever a major corporation has been accused of cheating its stockholders, the powerhouse New York law firm of Milberg Weiss hasn’t been far behind with a class-action lawsuit.”

“Police chief, detective testify at judge’s trial; Sapulpa Police Chief Jim Wall and Capt. Mike Reed testified Tuesday they heard what they believed to be a penis pump while in Donald Thompson’s Sapulpa courtroom in 2002”: The Sapulpa (Okla.) Daily Herald today provides an article that begins, “Jurors received their first look Tuesday at one of the infamous penis pumps former judge Donald Thompson allegedly used while conducting court during 2002 and 2003.”

And The Tulsa World today contains an article headlined “Jury in ex-judge’s case sees photos” that begins, “Graphic photos and testimony marked the second day of trial for a former Creek County judge accused of masturbating while on the bench.”

“Charla Mack’s friend says she warned him, others”: The Reno Gazette-Journal today contains an article that begins, “A Reno man who was dating Charla Mack before she was stabbed to death last week is keeping his blinds drawn and his doors locked, while Darren Mack, charged in her murder and a suspect in the shooting of a family court judge, remains a fugitive.”

“Judge May Deny Bid to End NSA Suit; The federal government has claimed ‘state secrets privilege’ in seeking the dismissal of a rights group’s domestic spying case against AT&T”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

“Close Guantanamo? Yes, but keep in mind: It’s not the main problem.” This editorial appears today in The Washington Post.

“Redistricting Ruling Imminent: Supreme Court’s Decision Could Be Felt Far Beyond Texas.” Jess Bravin and Ben Winograd have this article (free access) today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Executing the Mentally Ill and the Mentally Retarded: Three Key Recent Cases from Texas and Virginia Show How States Can Evade the Supreme Court’s Death Penalty Rulings.” Elaine Cassel has this essay online today at FindLaw.

“Feds urge judge: Force reporters to reveal source; Prosecutors seek leak identity — Chronicle defends articles.” Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday to order two Chronicle reporters to identify who provided them transcripts of grand jury testimony about star athletes’ use of performance-enhancing drugs, saying they have no legal right to withhold the information.”

You can access a redacted version of the federal government’s court filing at this link.

“DeWine seeking to resurrect beleaguered Boyle nomination”: Today’s edition of The Hill contains an article that begins, “Despite a likely fatal lack of support among the Republicans in the Gang of 14, conservative activists this week pushed hard to move the forlorn nomination of Judge Terrence Boyle to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

“Ballot language returns to court”: The Monterey County Herald today contains an article reporting that “The panel of 15 federal judges in San Francisco is scheduled [today] to rehear Padilla v. Lever, a case that concluded that provisions of the Voting Rights Act apply to recall petitions, which must be translated into the languages spoken in the area where they are circulated.”

And the Monterey County Weekly has today posted online an article headlined “Padilla Reconsidered: Landmark case could change the shape of Monterey County–and California.”

After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit posts online the audio of today’s rehearing en banc oral argument, I will link to it.

“Court denies city’s attempt to block Soledad cross ruling”: The San Diego Union-Tribune provides a news update that begins, “A federal appeals court Wednesday denied the city of San Diego’s request to block a judge’s order to remove the Mount Soledad cross by Aug. 2 or face daily $5,000 fines.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Judges Reject City’s Appeal to Keep Cross.”

“Judges troubled by Hawaiian school case; An appellate court hears arguments on Kamehameha’s policy”: David Kravets of The Associated Press provides this report.

And The Honolulu Advertiser reports today that “Judges wrestling with case.”

Last night, in this post, I provided links to download the oral argument audio.

“Books on Wife-Training and Defrauding How-To’s Doom Author’s Bid to Avoid Jail; 2nd Circuit finds defendant’s published works undermine his claim of good character”: law.com provides this report. My earlier coverage appears at this link.

New York Yankees 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0: The many Yankees fans who spent this evening at Citizens Bank Park went home happy tonight, while the Phillies had neither a run nor a Supreme Court Justice to offer their fans. You can access the box score at this link, while wraps are available here and here.

“Because this state court habeas petitioner intended to kill his victim, he must be set free, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled today in an opinion that you can access here.” So I wrote in this post published November 15, 2005. Today, however, the original three-judge panel has decided instead to certify certain questions in the case to the New York State Court of Appeals, that State’s highest court. Today’s opinion setting forth the certified questions is at this link.

Simultaneously, five Second Circuit judges today have gone on record as dissenting from the denial of rehearing en banc as to the panel’s original proposed disposition of the case. You can access their dissenting opinions, along with a per curiam opinion concurring in the denial of rehearing en banc, at this link.

Just underway before the Senate Judiciary Committee: The confirmation hearing for Tenth Circuit nominee Neil M. Gorsuch. Suffice it to say that controversial federal appellate court nominees don’t have their confirmation hearings scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. As noted here at “Confirm Them,” the ABA has given Gorsuch a “well qualified” rating.

“Eminent domain surges after ruling”: This article appears today in The Washington Times.

“Brief says secrecy trumps any wiretap ruling; Government claims an award of damages to plaintiffs would undermine security”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “The Bush administration says its program of clandestine electronic surveillance, and AT&T’s alleged participation in it, are secrets so important that a federal judge couldn’t consider awarding damages even if he agreed with a lawsuit that accuses the company of breaking the law.”

“Judge orders details on Padilla; Indictment of three on terror charges called ‘light on facts'”: Today’s edition of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel contains an article that begins, “A federal judge ordered prosecutors Tuesday to provide more specific accusations against alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla and two other men charged with supporting terrorism overseas.”

“Justices’ Rulings Called ‘Murky’ and ‘Confusing’; The Supreme Court’s decisions in cases involving wetlands and crime victims’ words probably will be ironed out later, lawyers say”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Skilling seeks acquittal or retrial; Motion contends government failed to prove its case”: This article appears today in The Houston Chronicle.

On the editorial page of today’s edition of The Washington Post: That newspaper contains editorials entitled “Wanted: A System of Justice; If U.S. forces captured Osama Bin Laden tomorrow, how and where would he be tried?” and “Flag Burning Redux: If this is an election year, it must be time to amend the Constitution.”

“Misdemeanor count severed from former judge’s felony case; Jurors hear opening statements in Donald Thompson’s indecent exposure trial”: This article appears today in The Tulsa World. And yesterday, the newspaper reported that “Appeals court lets all charges against ex-judge stand.”

The Sapulpa (Okla.) Daily Herald reports today that “Prosecutors ask count be severed from trial.”

And The Oklahoman reports today that “Charge dropped against ex-judge.”

“Memorial ceremony honors Charla Mack”: The Reno Gazette-Journal today contains an article that begins, “Charla Mack, the 39-year-old mother stabbed to death last week just before the judge handling her divorce case was shot, was honored Tuesday by about 500 friends and family in a private memorial ceremony they called ‘a celebration of Charla’s life.'”

“A Place on the Bench Puts Pataki on the Spot”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

“Court limits test used on released sex offenders; Judges say genital response measuring should be ‘last resort'”: Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

And The Los Angeles Times reports today that “U.S. Appeals Court Rejects Arousal Test for Sex Offender.”

My earlier coverage appears at this link.

“Specter to the justices: I’m hungry, let’s do lunch.” Today’s edition of The Hill contains an article that begins, “Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is hosting a series of one-on-one lunches with members of the Supreme Court.”

“In the Wetlands Case, the Supreme Court Divides Over the Clean Water Act–and Seemingly Over How to Read Statutes as Well”: Michael C. Dorf has this essay online at FindLaw today.

“U.S. judge says no to group’s bid to join Soledad cross case”: This article appears today in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Access online the audio from today’s Ninth Circuit rehearing en banc oral argument in Doe v. Kamehameha Schools: The audio file can be accessed here (Windows Media format; 9.82 MB audio file; right-click to download to your computer).

The Honolulu Advertiser provides a news update headlined “Kamehameha Schools case heard in San Francisco.” And that newspaper has posted the rehearing oral argument audio in mp3 format (37.9 MB audio file).

“The Client Who Became a Suspect”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Dahlia Lithwick appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Day to Day.”

“The issue presented in this appeal is whether Florida’s manual recount procedures in those counties employing paperless touchscreen voting machines violate the rights of voters in those counties to equal protection and due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.” So begins an opinion that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued today.