“Grisham’s ‘Appeal’ Tackles Down-and-Dirty Politics”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) appeared on this evening’s broadcast of NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

“Ohio Supreme Court writing opinions quicker”: The Cleveland Plain Dealer provides this news update.

“Releasing Crack Convicts Early: The first batch of convicted crack cocaine dealers will getting out this year, and Virginia will feel the brunt.” Emma Schwartz will have this article in the February 4, 2008 issue of U.S. News & World Report.

“Appointing appellate judges is no panacea”: Columnist Sid Salter has this op-ed today in The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi.

“The Millionaires’ Amendment”: The Washington Times today contains an editorial that begins, “The Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments surrounding the so-called Millionaires’ Amendment attached to the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign-finance restrictions gives reason for hope.”

Does the Montana Supreme Court take too long to decide cases? The Billings Gazette today contains articles headlined “Supreme Court cases pile up“; “Local attorneys would like to speed up appeals“: and “Study will look at performance measures.”

“Ruling near on Abu-Jamal jury; A U.S. court is weighing race and other issues in death sentence”: Today in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Emilie Lounsberry has an article that begins, “In the nearly 26 years since his conviction for the murder of Officer Daniel Faulkner, the international tempest over Mumia Abu-Jamal has fixed primarily on this question: Did he do it, or was he framed by Philadelphia police? Yet inside the chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Abu-Jamal’s innocence or guilt is not the issue. Since May, three judges have been weighing whether to reinstate his death sentence, overturned in 2001. If they do, his last hope will be the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears fewer than 2 percent of all petitions filed each year.”

“Courts to sort Jehovah’s Witness blood battle when kids involved”: The Canadian Press provides this report.

“Expensive judicial race worries pundits; contest tops $1 million”: This article appears today in The Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat.

“District ready to unveil school assignment plans; Final decision expected by mid-May”: The Louisville Courier-Journal today contains an article that begins, “Civil-rights leaders want to make sure schools stay racially integrated. Parents want to keep school choice. And students want to stay where they are. The stakes will be high tomorrow when officials with Jefferson County Public Schools make public their highly anticipated student-assignment proposals in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling rejecting the district’s desegregation policy.”

“Massey-Maynard photos highlight judicial recusal rule”: The Associated Press provides this report.

“Death in Georgia: The high price of trying to save an infamous killer’s life.” Jeffrey Toobin will have this Annals of Law article in the February 4, 2008 issue of The New Yorker.