“The Supreme Court’s habeas hearing: How the justices reacted to the case for giving Guantanamo inmates more rights.” This editorial appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“U.S. attorney firings open doors for the 9; A year ago, a Justice Department scandal forced them into new careers; Despite some bitterness, they’ve landed on their feet”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

“The Trials and Tribulations of Hashmel Turner: An unassuming small-town preacher and his unconventional Christian lawyer are trying to win the right to pray to Jesus at city council meetings.” This article is the cover story in today’s issue of The Washington Post Magazine.

“Guantanamo: Legal No-Man’s Land?” The Associated Press provides this report. According to the article, “U.S. law protects endangered iguanas on the naval base, but the Supreme Court is struggling to determine whether it also applies to the 305 men imprisoned there.”

“Right to bear arms clearly an individual freedom”: Joe Nava has this op-ed today in The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

“Buffer zone law passes its first test”: This article appears today in The Boston Globe.

“Mukasey on the Spot: How will the new attorney general respond to the CIA’s destruction of interrogation videotapes?” Michael Isikoff, Mark Hosenball, and Michael Hirsh will have this article in the December 17, 2007 issue of Newsweek.

In today’s edition of The New York Times Magazine: The subject of this week’s issue is “The 7th Annual Year in Ideas.” Among the ideas discussed are “Mob Jurisprudence“; “Right to Medical Self-Defense, The“; and “Suing God.”

“Supreme Court justice apologizes for comments to Pakistani lawyer”: The Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail on Friday contained an article that begins, “State Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher has apologized to a Virginia lawyer for referencing her Pakistani heritage during a hearing in a discrimination case.”

You can access at this link the concurring opinion that Justice Larry Starcher of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals filed on Thursday.

“Law clerks’ most morbid duty eases”: The Newark Star-Ledger today contains an article that begins, “Ever since New Jersey restored capital punishment a quarter of a century ago, the state Supreme Court has assigned at least one of its law clerks each year to delve deep into the law of death.”

“Pinpointed”: In the December 10, 2007 issue of The New Republic, Law Professor Jeffrey Rosen has this review of the books “My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir” by Justice Clarence Thomas and “Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas” by Kevin Merida and Michael A. Fletcher.

“Bonds Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges”: This article appears today in The New York Times, along with an article headlined “Elite Lawyers Anchor the Defense.”

Today’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle contains articles headlined “Bonds: I will be vindicated” and “Barry Bonds first court appearance sets off media frenzy.”

The San Jose Mercury News contains articles headlined “Barry Bonds launches legal battle against charges of perjury, obstructing justice” and “Bonds draws few fans to court; ‘I’ve got his back for life,’ says one.” In addition, columnist Mark Purdy has an essay entitled “Bonds’ case shaping up as World Series of perjury trials.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “Bonds trial may be a year away; Judge doesn’t restrict the travels of the former Giants slugger, meaning he could play another season; His legal team has been expanded.”

And The Washington Post reports that “Bonds Takes Center Stage, Pleads Not Guilty.”

“High Court to Rule On Wal-Mart Transfer Of Disabled Worker”: Dow Jones Newswires provide a report that begins, “In a case involving Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the Supreme Court Friday said it will determine if a disabled employee, under federal disabilities law, gets preference over others for a vacant position even if they aren’t the best qualified for the job.”

“Lawyer sues again over Web site he says defamed him”: On Tuesday, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article that begins, “Pittsburgh attorney Todd Hollis has revived his lawsuit against a Web site that accused him of infidelity and infecting women with herpes. Mr. Hollis said the site — DontDateHimGirl.com — defamed him by publishing false and malicious statements. Acting as his own lawyer, Mr. Hollis filed suit last week in U.S. District Court in Miami against the Florida-based Web site and its owner, Tasha Cunningham. A judge in Allegheny County dismissed Mr. Hollis’ initial lawsuit last year, saying a Pittsburgh court had no jurisdiction over a Miami company. Mr. Hollis, 39, said he reluctantly sued again in Miami because Ms. Cunningham refused to remove the numerous lies that her Web site has published about him.”

I have made available online via this link a copy of the pro se complaint initiating suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

“L.A. County’s religion-free seal: Squabbles over a cross once found on the emblem have done little but divert attention from more pressing issues.” The Los Angeles Times contains this editorial today.

“Inquiry Begins Into Tapes’ Destruction”: This article will appear Sunday in The New York Times, along with an article headlined “Detainee Says He Was Tortured in C.I.A. Prison.”

Today’s edition of The New York Times contains articles headlined “C.I.A. Was Urged to Keep Interrogation Videotapes” and “Congress Looks Into Obstruction as Calls for Justice Inquiry Rise.”

The Washington Post today contains a front page article headlined “Inquiry Sought On CIA Tapes; Destruction Is Said To Be News to Bush.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “The Torture Tapes: The CIA may have destroyed evidence of crimes.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that “Democrats demand probe into destruction of tapes; Congress members want the Justice Department to investigate whether the CIA acted illegally in destroying the video of terrorism suspects’ interrogations.”

And McClatchy Newspapers report that “Democrats seek investigation of destroyed CIA videotapes.”

“Guantanamo detainees face uncertain future; As the number of prisoners dwindles, many are left in diplomatic limbo”: Carol J. Williams will have this article Sunday in The Los Angeles Times.

“Cases of 2 U.S. Citizens in Iraq to Be Heard; Supreme Court Extends Review of Role Federal Judges Play in Terrorism Fight”: Robert Barnes has this article today in The Washington Post.

And today in The Los Angeles Times, David G. Savage reports that “Americans held in Iraq reach Supreme Court; The justices will decide whether citizens detained by the American military can seek U.S. courts’ protection.”

“In Denver, Former City Official’s Death Prompts Promise of a Lawsuit”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “As its city attorney, Larry Manzanares was one of Denver’s most prominent public officials, a rising star in Colorado’s legal community, when he resigned abruptly in February amid well-publicized accusations that he had stolen a state-owned laptop computer. The authorities later announced that pornographic files had been downloaded on and erased from the computer while it was in Mr. Manzanares’s possession.”

The Denver Post reports today that “Manzanares’ widow files intent to sue notice.”

And The Rocky Mountain News reports that “Manzanares’ widow to sue DA in Jeffco; She says actions of prosecutor led to suicide.”

“Policeman’s widow seeks execution of Abu Jamal”: Reuters provides this report. According to the article, “Abu Jamal’s lawyers are seeking a new trial on grounds his first was tainted by racism. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia could rule on the request at any time.”

“New trial in ‘stand your ground’ test case; A man convicted of manslaughter will get another chance to argue he acted in self-defense”: The St. Petersburg Times contains this article today.

You can access yesterday’s ruling of Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal at this link.

“R.I. high court rules against divorce in same-sex marriages”: This article appears today in The Providence Journal.

The Boston Globe reports today that “R.I. court won’t let gay couple divorce; Ruling cites 1961 law, deals setback to pair married in Mass.”

And The New York Times reports that “Court Rules Against Same-Sex Divorce.”

You can access yesterday’s 3-2 ruling of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island at this link.

“Roberts says she believed petitions legal”: The San Antonio Express-News today contains an article that begins, “A lawyer on trial for helping her husband, also an attorney, unlawfully extract thousands of dollars from her former lovers testified Friday that she does not believe the unorthodox means used to get the money is illegal.”

“America’s Best-Known Atheist Riffs On Golden Compass“: Michael Newdow has this essay online at Wired.

In the current issue of The Harvard Law Record: The publication contains articles headlined “Professor Suk Explains How to Clerk for the Supreme Court” and “Supreme Court Forum Highlights Seattle Schools.”

Available online from law.com: An article reports that “CIA’s Acting GC Apt to Get Tangled in Agency’s Destruction of Interrogation Tapes.”

And the new installment of my “On Appeal” column is headlined “Per Curiam Opinions: What’s the Point?”

“Americans Held in Iraq Draw Justices’ Attention”: In Saturday’s edition of The New York Times, Linda Greenhouse will have an article that begins, “The Supreme Court, expanding its inquiry into the role of federal courts at a time of armed conflict, today accepted two cases testing whether federal judges have authority to prevent military officials in Iraq from turning United States citizens over to the Iraqis for criminal prosecution or punishment.”

“CIA Tapes Re-ignite Debate on Interrogation Tactics”: This segment (transcript with link to audio) appeared on this evening’s broadcast of the PBS program “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.”

“Detention Retention: Think the Guantanamo detainees are all innocent? Think again.” Benjamin Wittes has this essay online at The New Republic.

“Is Breyer floating a Guantanamo solution? Supreme Court justice muses about ‘preventive detention.'” Tom Curry, national affairs writer for MSNBC, provides this written report.

“Bush Does Not Recall Learning of Destroyed Tapes; Senate’s Second-Ranking Democrat Calls for Justice Dept. Probe”: The Washington Post provides this news update.

The New York Times provides a news update headlined “Democrats Call for Inquiry in Destruction of Tapes by C.I.A.”

Time magazine’s web site contains articles headlined “CIA Tapes Furor: A Legacy of Mistrust” and “The Destroyed Tapes: A Boon for Conspiracy Theorists.”

This evening’s broadcast of NPR’s “All Things Considered” contained audio segments entitled “Congress Calls for Hearings About CIA Tapes“; “Fallout Grows from Destroyed CIA Tapes“; and “A View from Inside the CIA” (RealPlayer required).

And at the blog “Balkinization,” Marty Lederman has posts titled “Why’d They Do What They Did?“; “The Questions that Beg to Be Answered“; and “Where’s Rose Mary Woods When You Need Her?”

“Supreme Court Continues Case Review of Americans Held in Iraq”: Robert Barnes of The Washington Post provides this news update.

And David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times provides a news update headlined “High court to weigh access to U.S. courts for citizens detained abroad; The justices will take up the cases of two dual citizens held in Iraq; They will also consider restoring the prison sentence of the ‘millennium bomber.’”

“Kennedy’s Turn Signals”: At her “Legalities” blog, ABC News correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg has a post that begins, “Throughout [Wednesday’s] argument in the Guantanamo detainee cases, all eyes were focused, of course, on Justice Kennedy. With the Court presumably divided 4-4 along ideological lines, Kennedy once again is at the wheel, deciding where he’s going to take the car.”

“Suspect Detained in Paris Office Bombing”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “Police detained a suspect in an overnight raid in connection with the deadly explosion of a parcel bomb at a Paris law firm, and they have ruled out terrorism, officials said Friday.”

And in earlier coverage, today’s edition of The New York Times reports that “Package Bomb Kills 1 in Paris.”

Law Professor Eugene Volokh is now off the case: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued this order today in a case I previously reported on here. This should allow Eugene to spend more time blogging.