“Abdicate and Capitulate”: The New York Times today contains an editorial that begins, “It is extraordinary how President Bush has streamlined the Senate confirmation process. As we have seen most recently with the vote to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general, about all that is left of ‘advice and consent’ is the ‘consent’ part.”

“Gender gap closing for justices”: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today contains an article that begins, “Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom of the nation in female legislators, but take a look at its judges. On Tuesday Pennsylvania voters elected women to four of five openings on the statewide appeals courts, giving women a majority on the state Superior and Commonwealth courts come January.”

“Supreme Court holds up executions while drugs used in injections are at issue”: This article appears today in The Kansas City Star.

“Plaintiff drops lawsuit in Houston, intending shift to Austin court; Legal challenge is to Judge Keller’s handling of death row appeal”: Chuck Lindell has this article today in The Austin American-Statesman.

“U.S. Attorney Nominated For Palau Supreme Court”: Pacific Magazine provides a report that begins, “An attorney who is chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada has been nominated to serve as an associate justice on the Palau Supreme Court.”

More information about the Republic of Palau can be accessed here and here.

“U.S. justices could decide constitutionality of gun ownership”: Linda Greenhouse has this article today in The International Herald Tribune.

And Agence France-Presse reports that “US right to bear arms may get its day in court.”

“Tattoos and shaved heads out for China judges”: Reuters provides this report.

The Associated Press is reporting: Mark Sherman reports that “Supreme Court Could Take Guns Case.”

In other news, “Desegregation Rulings Cause Confusion.”

And The AP’s “Today in History” feature reminds us that on this date in 1987, President Reagan announced Anthony M. Kennedy’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.. Since then, not until Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her intention to retire has it again taken three nominations to fill a single vacancy on the Court.

“How far did this federal judge go? A judicial council reprimanded U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent for ‘inappropriate behavior’ and accused him of misconduct over sexual harassment charges; But that only begins to tell the story.” This front page article appears today in The Houston Chronicle.

Today’s newspaper also contains an op-ed by columnist Rick Casey entitled “Your honors, it is called sexual assault.”

And The Galveston County Daily News reports today that “DA, federal prosecutor discuss Kent.”