“Allen concedes, giving Senate control to Dems”: CNN.com provides this report.

The Washington Post provides a news update headlined “Allen Concedes Election, Democrats Win Control of Congress.”

And The New York Times provides a news update headlined “Allen Concedes in Virginia Senate Race; Democrats Win Full Control of Congress.”

“Sex offender not ‘exiled’ to Canada, judge says”: Canadian Press provides this report.

“High Court Weighs Ban On Late-Term Abortions”: Jess Bravin has this article (pass-through link) today in The Wall Street Journal.

Available today from National Review Online: Edward Whelan has an essay entitled “Don’t Despair: Strong justices can still be confirmed.”

Henry Payne has an essay entitled “Prop 2: A Lesson for Republicans; It would behoove Republicans to consider the unpopularity of racial preferences.”

And Roger Clegg has an essay entitled “Learning from the MCRI: Five comments in light of another vote to end racial preferences.”

Free software wins antitrust victory in the Seventh Circuit: Today’s opinion, which Circuit Judge Frank H. Easterbrook issued on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel, begins, “Does the provision of copyrighted software under the GNU General Public License (‘GPL’) violate the federal antitrust laws?” And the opinion concludes, “The GPL and open-source software have nothing to fear from the antitrust laws.”

“Judiciary Priorities Shift Left in Congress; Democratic Chairman Conyers Will Ease Up on Judges and Bear Down on Bush”: Lawrence Hurley has this interesting article today in The Daily Journal of California.

“Anti-abortion measures fall, but neither side giving an inch”: This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.

“Top justice in brief: Modest and warm; As new chief settles into his role, friends testify on his commitment to fairness.” The Newark Star-Ledger today contains an article that begins, “The chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court was stumped.”

“Judge OKs Broadcasting Atlanta Trial”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Television crews will be allowed to broadcast the murder trial of a rape defendant accused of killing four people in an escape from a downtown Atlanta courthouse, a judge ruled Thursday.”

And in related coverage, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that “Nichols legal team claims it can’t get a fair jury.”

“High Court Hears Abortion Ban Case”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Nina Totenberg appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR‘s “Morning Edition.”

“Liberals Find Rays of Hope on Ballot Measures”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “Liberal supporters of social issues said yesterday that they were heartened by the outcome of several ballot initiatives around the nation: the first rejection of an amendment restricting marriage to a man and a woman, the success of a much-debated measure to allow stem cell research and the firm defeat of what would have been the nation’s strictest abortion ban.”

The Los Angeles Times today contains articles headlined “Abortion foes energized by their losses; Activists seek new ways to limit access and change minds; One aim: Make women view their fetuses in the womb” and “Gay-marriage votes get diverse spins from activists; Arizona defeats a ban on the unions, but seven states pass them; Supporters on both sides see progress.”

The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota reports today that “S.D. considers next move on abortion; Legislators differ on how to proceed.”

The San Francisco Chronicle yesterday contained an article headlined “Abortion: Early returns reject Prop. 85, which requires doctors to notify unwed teen’s parents.”

And The Boston Globe reports today that “Leaders seek to kill gay marriage ban; Goal is recess without a vote.”

“Dwelling Where Lawyer Was Killed Is Robbed; Rowhouse Was Empty Since August Slaying”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “The Northwest Washington rowhouse where prominent lawyer Robert Wone was slain over the summer was burglarized last week, D.C. police said yesterday.”

“Malvo: ‘I am truly sorry’; Sniper gets 6 life terms in Montgomery Co. deaths.” The Baltimore Sun contains this article today.

And The Washington Post reports today that “Malvo Apologizes at Md. Sentencing; ‘Grieved and Ashamed’ Sniper Receives Six Consecutive Life Terms.”

“Michigan Rejects Affirmative Action, and Backers Sue”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

The Detroit News today contains an article headlined “Affirmative action backlash: Group files suit, U-M, others may challenge ban.”

And The Detroit Free Press reports today that “Legal assault begins on affirmative action ban.”

“High court hears cases on ban of abortion method; The justices are to decide whether to uphold a ‘partial-birth’ prohibition passed by Congress in 2003”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

And today in USA Today, Joan Biskupic reports that “Abortion cases draw throngs to high court; Lawyers focus on Justice Kennedy in arguments.”

“A British Court’s Libel Judgment Is Reviewed by American Judges; Saudi Sued Ehrenfeld Over Allegations”: The New York Sun today contains an article that begins, “A federal appellate court heard arguments yesterday in the case of a New York-based counterterrorism researcher who was ordered by a British court to pay and apologize to a Saudi billionaire she accused of funding terrorism.”

“Is Joe Lieberman the New Anthony Kennedy? And will the New Congress Function Like the Closely-Split, Seesawing Supreme Court?” Edward Lazarus has this essay online at FindLaw.