“Salazar to size up judge; Complaints spur look at Nottingham conduct”: The Denver Post today contains an article that begins, “U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar said Thursday that he is concerned about reports that U.S. District Chief Judge Edward Nottingham Jr. engaged in immoral conduct and wants to investigate further to determine whether sanctions are necessary.”

And The Rocky Mountain News reports today that “Salazar compares Nottingham’s conduct with Spitzer’s.”

Fifth Circuit reinstates municipal ordinance intended to prohibit smoking in public places in Austin, Texas: You can access today’s ruling at this link.

Partially divided three-judge First Circuit panel reverses class certifications in MDL consumer action alleging a conspiracy by automobile manufacturers to illegally block lower-priced imports from Canada: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit at this link.

A man is accused of grabbing his own crotch, and a D.C. Circuit appeal ensues: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit at this link.

Today at the “Althouse” blog: A post from Ann stating, “I was tempted to write a post about the existential angst of Howard Bashman.” Alas, her discussion of that subject apparently must await another day.

“Ex-Governor of Alabama Is Ordered Released”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “Donald Siegelman, former governor of Alabama, was ordered released from prison on Thursday by a federal appeals court, pending his appeal of a bribery conviction that Democrats say resulted from a politically driven prosecution.”

The Birmingham News reports today that “Court orders Siegelman free on bond, won’t let Scrushy out on appeal; Scrushy, once labeled flight risk, remains locked up.”

And The Montgomery Advertiser reports that “Siegelman granted release from prison.”

Last month, the CBS News program “60 Minutes” had this video segment about the prosecution. A transcript of the segment can be accessed here.

“Tapes’ Destruction Hovers Over Detainee Cases”: Today’s edition of The New York Times contains a front page article that begins, “When officers from the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed hundreds of hours of videotapes documenting harsh interrogations in 2005, they may have believed they were freeing the government and themselves from potentially serious legal trouble. But nearly four months after the disclosure that the tapes were destroyed, the list of legal entanglements for the C.I.A., the Defense Department and other agencies is only growing longer. In addition to criminal and Congressional investigations of the tapes’ destruction, the government is fighting off challenges in several major terrorism cases and a raft of prisoners’ legal claims that it may have destroyed evidence.”

“Life term or new penalty hearing ordered for Mumia Abu-Jamal”: This article appears today in The Philadelphia Inquirer, along with articles headlined “Maureen Faulkner reacts to Abu-Jamal decision” and “Abu-Jamal’s defenders irate; detractors see mixed bag.”

And today’s edition of The Philadelphia Daily News reports that “Abu-Jamal’s conviction upheld, death sentence questioned.” In addition, columnist Jill Porter has an op-ed entitled “Just let Abu-Jamal rot in jail and get it over with.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s Third Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“Cyclist a hindrance, agent says”: In today’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle, Lance Williams has an article that begins, “The federal agent who led the investigation of the BALCO steroids ring said Thursday that his probe stalled for a time because an elite cyclist didn’t tell the truth about the chemist who created the drugs at the heart of the scandal.”

And in yesterday’s newspaper, Williams had an article headlined “Cyclist appeared to be shaving face, drug tester tells jury.” That’s apparently newsworthy because the cyclist in question is female.

“Mukasey backs Bush efforts on wiretapping”: Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

And today in The New York Sun, Josh Gerstein reports that “Mukasey Makes Emotional Plea for Surveillance Powers.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Mukasey’s Emotion.”

“Lockerbie Lawyer Optimistic on Libya Claims Accord”: Bloomberg News provides this report.

And The Associated Press reports that “US Weighing Libyan Compensation Offer.”

“The House of Representatives’ Contempt Citation Against White House Officials: Why the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Should Opt for En Banc Review.” Carl Tobias has this essay online today at FindLaw.