“Reading Twombly Tea Leaves on Boylston Street”: Randy Picker has this post today at “The Faculty Blog” of the University of Chicago Law School.

“High Court Hears Logging Industry Case”: The Associated Press provides this report.

Show me the money! U.S. District Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today issued a ruling in American Council of the Blind v. Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury holding that “the Treasury Department’s failure to design and issue paper currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired individuals violates § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.”

Earlier, the opinion observes that “Most people with low vision, and all blind people, are incapable of looking at American currency and distinguishing one denomination from another.”

Judge Robertson has certified his decision as one involving “a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion, and an immediate appeal from this order may materially advance the ultimate termination of this litigation.” As a result, the U.S. Treasury Department can now pursue an interlocutory appeal by permission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

“Analysis: Patent law made for tinkerers?” Lyle Denniston has this post online at “SCOTUSblog.”

Available today from National Review Online: Roger Clegg has an essay entitled “Race-Based Review: Compelling issues before the Court.”

And Byron York has an essay entitled “Alcee Hastings: I’m An Innocent Victim of Politics; He says his impeachment was a political hit job; The record says otherwise.”

Does the U.S. Navy discriminate against evangelical chaplains? Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion addressing the claims of unlawful discharge asserted by Rev. D. Philip Veitch.

The D.C. Circuit’s opinion’s first paragraph concludes: “[Veitch’s] complaint alleged that he had been constructively discharged for unconstitutional reasons; that the Navy had forced him out of the service in violation of his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion and in contravention of the Establishment Clause. The district court concluded that since Veitch had resigned voluntarily, he lacked standing to bring his constitutional claims. We affirm.”

“EPA argument 11/29/06: Major precedent looms? Maybe not.” Lyle Denniston has this post online at “SCOTUSblog.”

“Philip Morris prevails in Illinois smokers’ suit”: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch contains this article today.

And in other cert. denied-related coverage, The Providence (R.I.) Journal reports today that “High court won’t hear smoke-shop raid case; The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision means a federal appeals court ruling that the state had the right to raid the Indian smoke shop in 2003 will stand.”

The Express-Times of Easton, Pennsylvania reports today that “Supreme Court rejects tribe’s claim to Forks Township land.”

And The Allentown Morning Call reports that “High court rejects Indian tribe’s case; Forks property owners are pleased that land dispute is over.”

“City in suit on climate change; High court to hear arguments on EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun.

“Court to consider whether sperm donor has parental rights”: The Associated Press provides this report from Kansas.

“Dixie courthouse unveils the Ten Commandments”: The Gainesville Sun today contains an article that begins, “Dozens of county residents took a few extra minutes on the way home from church Sunday or on the way to work Monday morning to drive past the Dixie County courthouse to see for themselves if what they had heard was true. It was. A six-ton block of granite bearing the Ten Commandments had been installed atop the courthouse steps. Inscribed at the base was the admonition to ‘Love God and keep his commandments.'”

The newspaper also provides this photograph of the monument.

“Reduced payout in libel suit rejected; State’s top judge offered to lessen $7 million award”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article that begins, “An attorney for Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Thomas said Monday that his client offered to accept a reduced settlement after a $7 million victory in a defamation case against a Kane County newspaper, but opposing attorneys did not respond.”

“Supreme Court Reviews U.S. Patent Rules in Suit Over Gas Pedals”: Bloomberg News provides this report.

“Justice review will assess NSA surveillance conduct”: The Washington Times contains this article today.

“Global Warming Goes to Court”: This editorial appears today in The New York Times.

And The Houston Chronicle today contains an editorial entitled “Clearing the air: Supreme Court should label greenhouse gases pollutants that cause global warming and threaten public health.”

“Justices rule on transport of medicinal pot; State high court decision protects patients who carry marijuana for their own use; The action expands defense options, attorney says”: Maura Dolan has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

And today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “Transporting pot is legal for medicinal users, court rules; But conviction of man with a pound of marijuana upheld.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of California at this link.

“Court declines school-choice appeal”: The Washington Times contains this article today.

“Ivy Apologizes for Hosting ‘Fighting Sioux'”: This article appears today in The Harvard Crimson.

And The Dartmouth provides a news update headlined “National news media cover Harper apology; College, UND reactions mixed.”

“Giordano Attacked In Prison”: Today in The Hartford Courant, Lynne Tuohy has an article that begins, “Former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano, serving a 37-year sentence for sexually assaulting two preteen girls while mayor, was attacked this past weekend by another inmate in a housing unit at a Newtown prison.”

And The News-Times of Danbury reports today that “Garner prisoner accused of assaulting ex-Waterbury mayor.”

On this date in 1975: As The Associated Press notes here, “President Ford nominated Federal Judge John Paul Stevens to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by William O. Douglas.”

“An Intelligent Choice for A Key Panel”: Today in The Washington Post, attorney Terence J. Anderson has an op-ed that begins, “No one can reasonably question Alcee Hastings’s qualifications to serve as chairman of the House intelligence committee.”

“Nicaragua’s Total Ban On Abortion Spurs Critics”: This front page article appears today in The Washington Post.

“Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: Can Mitt Romney spur a broader debate?” Brendan Miniter has this essay online today at OpinionJournal.

“Victory on the Hill Within Reach for Gay Community”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

“Gay marriage bans proposed; But backers of the 2 bills also want new rights for untraditional families”: This article appears today in The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

The New York Times today contains an article headlined “In Trenton, a Move to Define Marriage.”

And The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Dems looking to civil unions; Two N.J. legislators say a quick resolution – not one on marriage – would help them meet a U.S. deadline.”

“Trial of Class-Action Law Firm Is Set for 2008”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “The trial of the prominent class-action securities law firm Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman and two of its named partners has been scheduled for January 2008 so that defense lawyers will have time to prepare if additional charges are filed.”

And The Los Angeles Times reports today that “Milberg Weiss fraud case may grow.”

“Court Explores Complexities in Job Discrimination Case”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The New York Times.

“Justices reject N.Y. Times in leak case; U.S. prosecutors can now review reporters’ phone records”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

And today in The New York Sun, Josh Gerstein reports that “New York Times Is Handed A Defeat in Charity Probe Case.”

“Court Clears Way for Prosecutor to Review Records in Times Case”: Adam Liptak will have this article Tuesday in The New York Times.

And Tuesday’s edition of The Washington Post will report that “Court Won’t Hear Case on Reporters’ Phone Records.”

“Justice Dept. to Examine Its Use of NSA Wiretaps; Review Won’t Address Program’s Legality”: This article will appear Tuesday in The Washington Post.

The New York Times on Tuesday will report that “Justice Official Opens Spying Inquiry.”

And McClatchy Newspapers report that “Justice Department begins internal review of spying program.”

“Top US court skeptical of telecom antitrust case”: Reuters provides this report.

“Case Heats Up Global Warming Debate; Supreme Court Showdown Over EPA Regulation Of Greenhouse Gases May End Up In Congress”: CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen has this essay today.

“EEOC Seeks to Block Sidley Discovery Bid in Former Partners’ Age Discrimination Case”: law.com provides this report.

For fans of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8‘s “short and plain statement” rule of pleading: It’s not every day that the U.S. Supreme Court has occasion to hold an oral argument focusing on just how concise is too concise when it comes to pleading a valid cause of action in federal court. But today was such a day.

Fans of FRCP 8 (and of Seventh Circuit decisions applying the rule; see this decision, for example) will certainly enjoy reading the transcript of today’s oral argument in Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, No. 05-1126. During oral argument, Form 9 of the FRCP’s Appendix of Forms is mentioned. You can access Form 9 online at this link.

Update: Apropos of my law.com essay from May 2006 headlined “Scalia-Alito Is the New O’Connor-Ginsburg,” it is interesting to note that on page 7 of today’s oral argument transcript, attorney Michael Kellogg refers to Justice Ginsburg as “Justice O’Connor” before correcting himself.

“Justices Rebuff New York Times on Leak Inquiry”: Adam Liptak of The New York Times provides this news update.