“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.

“Son of former O.C. assistant sheriff released from prison; Gregory Haidl, convicted in a notorious sexual assault, must register as a sex offender and serve high-control parole”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

And last Thursday’s edition of The Orange County Register reported that “Greg Haidl will go free this weekend; Man prosecutors called ‘maestro’ of videotaped sexual assault on pool table will be released from state prison on parole.”

“Judge tells court she’s okay with suspension; Governor has called on Coffey to resign”: The Concord (N.H.) Monitor today contains an article that begins, “Superior Court Judge Patricia Coffey told the state Supreme Court yesterday she is now willing to accept a disciplinary panel’s recommended three-month suspension without pay, if necessary, for helping hide her husband’s assets from creditors. That suspension is harsher than the public censure Coffey and her attorney advocated last month but far short of Gov. John Lynch’s more recent call for Coffey’s resignation. Coffey communicated her new position to the state Supreme Court yesterday, in anticipation of the court’s Feb. 6 hearing on her case.”

“The Balloter’s New Burden”: Columnist Kenneth Jost has this essay in the current issue of CQ Weekly.

“Abortion debate refuses to die, 20 years after historic court ruling”: The Canadian Press provides this report.

“Bar Exam Controversy: Toal says fairness drove decision; Chief justice says effort to do the right thing led to passing 20 who had flunked.” This article appears today in The State of Columbia, South Carolina.

“Save the whales from the Navy: A Navy end-run around a ruling to limit its sonar test is an attack on the Constitution.” The Los Angeles Times contains this editorial today.

“So Is Waterboarding Torture? Mukasey May Never Say.” This article appears today in The New York Times.

“Mukasey may try to derail early releases; Judges in Oregon have already shortened prison time for several crack cocaine offenders; Controversial new sentencing guidelines are to take effect in March”: The Los Angeles Times contains this article today.

“Bill’s Provision May Help Terror Victims Gain Redress”: This article appears today in The Washington Post.

“The FISA Follies, Redux”: The New York Times contains this editorial today.

“Supreme Opportunity: Another wacky Ninth Circuit opinion.” This editorial appears today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Henry made chief judge of 10th Circuit at OU”: The Norman (Okla.) Transcript contains this article today.

The Tulsa World reports today that “Robert Henry ready for court; The Oklahoma native is now officially the chief justice of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

And The Journal Record reports that “Henry honored as new chief judge.”

“Parents of woman shot at Trolley renew court appeal; They want to be declared ‘victims’ of man who sold gun”: This article appears today in The Deseret Morning News.

And today in The Salt Lake Tribune, Pamela Manson has an article headlined “Victim’s parents press for gun evidence.”

“Beware of Waiver on Appeal, Even if You Represent the Party That Won Below”: The new installment of my “On Appeal” column for law.com can be accessed here.

“Chief justice notes progress; State courts make headway on pay, new technology”: The Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon contains this article today.

“Jewish rite case needs more info, ruling says; The high court says a parents’ battle over circumcising their son lacks the boy’s state of mind”: This article appears today in The Oregonian, along with an article headlined “Son caught between parents is vulnerable; Kids could face depression or have lifelong issues with relationships, some say.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Oregon at this link.

“The Court’s Personal Path to Roe v. Wade”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) featuring Jeffrey Toobin appeared on today’s broadcast of NPR’s “The Bryant Park Project.”

“Supreme Court: Taking Care of Business; How the high court caters to corporations and ignores commoners.” Stephanie Mencimer has this essay online today at the web site of Mother Jones magazine.

“West Virginia Supreme Court to rehear case of energy firm”: This article appears today in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

In bookstores on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, “The Appeal” by John Grisham: You can read an excerpt at this link.

You can access some early reviews here, here, and here. It’s just another example of art imitates life.

“Judge hearing Wal-Mart bias case is named to state appeals court”: Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has a news update that begins, “Martin Jenkins, the federal judge presiding over a major sex-discrimination case against Wal-Mart, was nominated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to a state appeals court today. Jenkins, 54, of Oakland, was a judge in Alameda County for eight years before President Bill Clinton named him to the federal bench in San Francisco in 1997. Schwarzenegger nominated him today to a seat on the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, a vacancy created when Justice Joanne Parrilli retired in July. Jenkins revealed in August that he had asked the governor for the job. His appointment requires confirmation by the state Commission on Judicial Appointments. It’s unusual, though not unprecedented, for a judge to give up a lifetime appointment on a federal court for a seat on a state court, where justices must seek retention from the voters every 12 years. On the state Supreme Court, Justice Carlos Moreno is a former federal judge, and former Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas also left the federal bench for the state’s high court.”

“Police investigate Tenn. Supreme Court burglary”: This article appears today in The Jackson Sun.

“Man who isn’t dad still has to pay; Appeal is denied despite DNA test”: The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger today contains an article that begins, “A Hunterdon County divorcé who claimed he discovered he was not the father of a 10-year-old girl was denied his appeal to lower his child support payments, according to an opinion handed down this week by the state Appellate Division.”

You can access Wednesday’s unpublished ruling of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, at this link.

On Tuesday, January 29, 2008, the paperback edition of Jan Crawford Greenburg’s book — “Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court” — will go on sale: In paperback, the book will feature a new chapter. Details here. Just the other day, a non-lawyer friend was telling me how very much she enjoyed reading Jan’s book.

On March 3, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will begin implementing electronic case filing: You can access the court’s announcement at this link.