“The Supreme Court has thrown out a $79.5 million punitive damages verdict against cigarette maker Philip Morris.” The Associated Press provides this news alert.

Today’s rulings of note from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit: In an opinion issued today, a unanimous three-judge panel has affirmed the entry of summary judgment against James Nichols, the brother of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols and acquaintance of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, in his lawsuit against filmmaker Michael Moore asserting defamation claims arising from the movie “Bowling for Columbine.”

And in a separate ruling issued today, the operators of box trucks displaying on their exteriors “large, colorful pictures depicting graphic images of first-term aborted fetuses” have achieved the reinstatement of certain of their claims alleging a violation of their federal constitutional rights during a confrontation with police in an Ohio town.

“The Chief Justice’s Quest for Less Fractured Supreme Court Rulings”: Because of yesterday’s holiday, this week’s installment of my “On Appeal” column for law.com bears today’s date.

“Big tobacco asks Supreme Court to clarify ad restrictions, make it more like beer”: Canadian Press provides this report.

“Judges to hear Ryan appeal”: The Chicago Tribune provides a news update that begins, “Attorneys for former Gov. George Ryan will have a half hour before a federal appeals court today to try to persuade a three-judge panel to overturn the racketeering and fraud conviction of their client.”

And The Chicago Sun-Times today contains an article headlined “Second chance for Ryan; Juror replacement rulings likely focus of appeals court today.”

Once the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit posts online the oral argument audio, I will link to it.

“Critics fear SEC chief is seeking to limit investors’ ability to sue; Cox says he wants to prevent ‘abusive litigation’; But recent events raise questions about his intentions”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Libby Trial Dodges The Truth”: Josh Gerstein has this article today in The New York Sun.

Reuters reports that “Libby has one final chance to beat perjury charge.”

And The New York Times reports today that “Trial Spotlights Cheney’s Power as an Infighter.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting: Today’s newspaper contains an article headlined “Lawmakers argue over penalty for teen sex crime; Senate leader opposes bill to give judges a year to review cases like one in Douglas” that begins, “A war of words has erupted over the highly publicized case of a Douglas County teenager sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual sex with a minor.”

And in other news, “Fee fight could halt death penalty cases.”

“Deliverance by DNA”: This article, part three in a three-part series on the death penalty in the United States, appears today in The National Post of Canada. I earlier linked here to parts one and two.

And BBC News reports that “US wrestles with execution question; On a pitch black winter’s night at the Lady of Mercy church in the small town of Potomac, Maryland, about 50 people have braved sub-freezing temperatures to hear a chilling tale of an early death.”

“Florida Executioner Says Procedures Were Followed”: The New York Times contains this article today.

The St. Petersburg Times today contains an article headlined “Claims of faulty injection disputed; Expert: Needles tore inmate’s veins after execution, not during.”

And The Gainesville Sun contains an article headlined “Doctor: Execution not medical work.”

“Kearny student moves to sue district; He cites harassment after challenging teacher’s preaching”: This article appears today in The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

The New York Times reports today that “Student, 16, Finds Allies in His Fight Over Religion.”

And The Herald News of Passaic reports that “Classroom pulpit sparks legal action.”

“‘A Skull Full of Mush'”: Today in The New York Times, Ann Althouse has an op-ed (TimesSelect temporary pass-through link) that begins, “‘The Paper Chase’ is the book you’re supposed to read before you go to law school. ‘Paper Chase’ or ‘One L.'”