“Judicial pay: Attracting the best.” In today’s issue of The National Law Journal, Abner Mikva has an essay that begins, “Judicial salaries have always been much lower than the quality of service we expect (and get) from the judicial branch of government.”

“Youth won’t hurt AG nominee; Just 36, Milgram has won respect as the first assistant attorney general”: This article appears today in The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

“Shielding the right to know”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an editorial that begins, “A lot of the important stories that journalists uncover come via people who prefer anonymity.”

“Efforts would disregard race; Affirmative action in UW System, state contracting targeted”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“This divorce could break up records; Splitting mega-rich couple’s assets equally could be a first”: The Chicago Tribune today contains an article that begins, “In one of the largest contested divorces ever, a Chicago energy industry magnate is fighting to overturn a judge’s ruling that would give half of his fortune — or about $176 million — to his wife.”

“Justice official is said to have favored GOP loyalists; Bradley Schlozman is slated to testify Tuesday in the U.S. attorneys investigation”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Nominee to Spark Showdown; Judicial Fight on Tap”: Today’s edition of Roll Call contains an article (subscription required) that begins, “After six months of steadily approving President Bush’s top-tier judicial nominations, Senators this week may be headed for their first partisan battle over the bench this Congress when the Judiciary Committee votes to install Leslie Southwick to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

“Justice has its purpose: Attorney General Thurbert Baker must right the wrong sentence thrown at Genarlow Wilson.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contains this editorial today.

“Supreme Court Ruling Brings Split in Antiabortion Movement”: This article appears today in The Washington Post.

“Show Us the Money”: Today in The New York Times, Susan E. Reed has an op-ed that begins, “This year, each of the eight associate justices of the Supreme Court will earn $203,000. The only woman and the only African-American on the court are paid the same as their six white male colleagues. Only Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. earns more than everyone else, $212,100. Their pay is set by Congress, and it is a matter of public record.”

“The Supreme Court Slams the Door on Pay Discrimination Claims: The Ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.” Joanna Grossman and Deborah Brake have this essay today online at FindLaw.

“Oddity in Picking Jurors Opens Door to Racial Bias”: The installment of Adam Liptak‘s “Sidebar” column published today in The New York Times can be accessed here (TimesSelect temporary pass-through link).

The Associated Press is reporting: Mark Sherman has an article headlined “Ginsburg a Minority of One on High Court.”

And in other news, “2 Gitmo Detainees Face Trials.”

“A prosecutor who dreamed of life on the bench hits the jackpot”: The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger today contains an article that begins, “He applied for a federal judgeship and didn’t get it. He pushed for a state judgeship and was unsuccessful. Now Stuart Rabner is the governor’s choice to lead New Jersey’s highest court for the next generation. Gov. Jon Corzine is expected to announce tomorrow he is nominating the 46-year-old former federal prosecutor as chief justice, and Rabner is likely to win quick and easy confirmation in the state Senate.”

“Prosecutorial vendetta?” Today in The Washington Times, Dan K. Thomasson has an op-ed that begins, “What in the world did former vice presidential aide Scooter Libby ever do to special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to make him so angry?”

“Thousands Wait to Hear Ousted Pakistani Justice”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

And The Washington Post reports today that “Thousands of Pakistanis Rally Around Ousted Judge.”

“The Next Big Thing in Law? The Harsh Jurisprudence of Justice Thomas.” Adam Cohen has this Editorial Observer essay today in The New York Times.

And yesterday in The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina, columnist Barry Saunders had an essay entitled “Getting to the heart of a justice.”

“Conn. Lawmakers Limit Eminent Domain Use”: The Associated Press provides this report.

And The Hartford Courant reports today that “Lawmakers Tackle Controversies; Legislation Restricts Seizure Of Private Property.”

Philadelphia Phillies 9, San Francisco Giants 8: My son and I were back at Citizens Bank Park this afternoon. Due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, the weather this afternoon began dark and with occasional drizzle. By 4 p.m., the drizzle had turned into a steady rain. Apparently the umpires had consulted the weather forecast before the game and recognized that a delay would serve no purpose because the pace of the rain was likely to increase as day turned to night.

Phillies starting pitcher Freddy Garcia, who was the cause of much hope among Phillies fans after his off-season acquisition, had another poor outing, surrendering seven runs (six earned) over five and one-third innings. After yielding lead-off home runs to the Giants in both the first and second innings, Garcia held the Giants scoreless in the third and fourth innings. The Phillies bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth, as both Chase Utley and Aaron Rowand hit home runs. At the end of four, the Phillies led 3-2. That lead was short lived, however, as Garcia gave up three runs in the top of the fifth, and the Giants scored another two runs in the top of the sixth. At the end of six full innings, the Giants led 7-3.

Were it not for the Phillies, Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum would be having a wonderful season. Just 22 years old, Lincecum heading into the seventh inning had held the Phillies scoreless in all but the fourth inning, when he surrendered the home runs to Utley and Rowand. In the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings, he retired the side in order. In the seventh inning, holding a 7-3 lead and having already thrown 89 pitches, Lincecum pitched himself into trouble, giving up hits to the first three batters. A single, followed by successive doubles, narrowed the Giants lead to 7-5. Lincecum then retired both Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, but his pitch count was at 101. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy brought in relief pitcher Jack Taschner. He inherited Wes Helms on second base, and Taschner then walked Utley on a full count. 2006 MVP Ryan Howard was up next, and on a 1-1 count he smacked a three-run home run to straight-away center off the brick wall that serves as the batter’s eye. The Phillies now led 8-7.

Barry Bonds, who did not start the game, was called on to pinch hit in the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on first. He hit a grounder over the second base bag, which is where Rollins was playing defense due to the infield shift. Phillies relief pitcher Ryan Madson, who was brought into the game in the top of the eighth to face Bonds and record the final out of that inning, stayed in the game in the top of the ninth to face the top of the Giants order. After retiring the lead-off batter on a grounder to second base, Madson walked the next two batters. The Phillies then replaced Madson with Antonio Alfonseca, who surrendered a hit to Kevin Frandsen, producing the tying run. The next batter, catcher Bengie Molina, grounded into a double play around the horn, third to second to first.

The rain-soaked bottom of the ninth began with Rollins striking out. Next up was Shane Victorino, who entered the bottom of the ninth inning 0-4 at the plate. This afternoon’s promotional give-away for children was the Shane Victorino Hula Figurine, and both before the game and between innings there were numerous tributes to both Shane and Hawaii, Shane’s birthplace. For a moment, amidst the rain and dark clouds, the Flyin’ Hawaiian became the Sluggin’ Hawaiian as Victorino drove the 1-0 pitch in the bottom of the ninth into the seats in left field to win the game with a walk-off home run. A more poetic ending would have been difficult to script. The many rain-soaked Phillies fans who remained till the end left the ballpark quite happy.

You can access the box score of today’s game at this link, while wraps are available here and here. The next game that my son and I are planning to attend is next Sunday afternoon, when the Baltimore Orioles host the Colorado Rockies. The game will feature as a promotional give-away a Cal Ripken 1983 World Series bobblehead doll, which might seem to bring back painful memories for some longtime Phillies fans.

“Bid to rescue the Claiborne issue”: Lyle Denniston has this post today at “SCOTUSblog.”

“Class-Action Firms Extend Reach to Global Rights Cases”: Adam Liptak will have this article Sunday in The New York Times.

“How Libby’s Trial Hurt the Press”: Norman Pearlstine has this essay online at Time magazine’s web site.

“Detainee Abuse Was Well Planned”: This article appears online at Time magazine’s web site.

And today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday” contained an audio segment entitled “U.S. Panel Shapes New Interrogation Guidelines” (RealPlayer required).

“Judge: Mack’s confession can’t be used.” The Reno Gazette-Journal today contains an article that begins, “Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick failed in his duties as a prosecutor by not telling Darren Mack during conversations they had while he was on the run in Mexico that he was represented by lawyers, a judge ruled Friday. Therefore Mack’s confession to Gammick that he killed his estranged wife, Charla, in self defense, and shot Washoe District Judge Chuck Weller can not be used during his murder and attempted murder trial, Judge Douglas Herndon ruled.”

“Former Supreme Court Justice Speaks at TU: Constitutional liberties at risk, O’Connor says.” This article appears today in The Tulsa World.

“Corzine to reshape court beyond chief justice choice”: The Associated Press provides this report from New Jersey.

“After EBay ruling, patent injunctions no longer automatic”: MarketWatch provides this report.

“The Supremes’ Technical Failure”: Ellis Cose will have this essay in the June 11, 2007 issue of Newsweek.

“Executions unlikely the rest of the year; A judge will not hear legal challenges to the state’s lethal injection procedure until October”: Henry Weinstein has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “Execution moratorium extended until fall at least; Judge wants to see death chamber and study procedures.”

And in The San Jose Mercury News, Howard Mintz reports that “S.J. judge plans tour of death chamber; State execution method faces legal challenge.”

“Gitmo: A fetid and cancerous symbol; The offshore prison breeds terror; it must be closed now.” Law Professor Joseph Margulies has this op-ed today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Lawyer under probe may quit; William Lerach says he could retire, adding to talk he may be indicted”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Fraternity urges freedom in teen sex case; Black professionals want Genarlow Wilson released”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today contains an article that begins, “A group of African-American business owners, educators, lawyers and other influential men joined the public crusade Friday to free a Douglas County man sentenced to 10 years in prison for engaging in consensual oral sex as a teenager with a girl two years younger than him.”

“Commission accuses judge of breaching conduct code”: The Orlando Sentinel today contains an article that begins, “An Orlando circuit judge made unwanted sexual advances toward a law-school student and abused people who faced him in court, according to formal charges filed by a state investigative agency Friday.”

You can access the judicial misconduct charges at this link, while a related document is here.

“SEC to Side With Enron Plaintiffs; Agency Asks Court to Back Shareholders”: The Washington Post today contains an article that begins, “Federal securities regulators will throw their weight behind investors in a big-money dispute that could resolve whether shareholders can sue bankers who enabled their corporate clients to engage in fraud, two people familiar with the decision said yesterday. The Securities and Exchange Commission has asked the U.S. solicitor general to file court papers supporting investors in an upcoming Supreme Court case, an action that has not been made public. The agency’s decision follows intense lobbying by industry groups, unions and plaintiff lawyers, including well-known California attorney William S. Lerach.”

“Detainee Case Stirs Arguments on Boy Fighters”: This article will appear Sunday in The New York Times.