“Standing for Change in the Courts? Good Luck.” That was the headline of Al Kamen’s “In the Loop” column published yesterday in The Washington Post.

“Stevens addresses lethal injections”: The Chattanooga Times Free Press today contains an article that begins, “Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens drew a round of applause Friday night in Chattanooga when he suggested that the recently-euthanized Kentucky Derby horse Eight Bells had probably experienced a more humane death than those who die on death row.”

“Following year of division, Supreme Court avoids 5-4 splits”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press provides this report.

“3 suspended for not standing for Pledge of Allegiance”: The Minneapolis Star Tribune today contains an article that begins, “Three small-town eighth-graders in Minnesota were suspended by their principal for not standing Thursday morning for the Pledge of Allegiance, violating a district policy that the principal now says may soon be reworded to protect free speech rights.”

And The Forum of Fargo, North Dakota reported on Friday that “3 D-G-F students sit, get punished.”

“Mississippi’s Tort Reform Triumph”: Stephen Moore has this op-ed today in The Wall Street Journal.

“Tennessee’s Trial Run”: The Wall Street Journal today contains an editorial that begins, “Making things happen can be difficult in government, so Tennessee lawmakers have a plum assignment in the coming weeks. As the clock runs down on the state’s method of judicial selection, the best thing they can do is nothing at all.”

“Conservatives Supporting Shield Law for the Press”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

And in related coverage, ABC News reports that “Reporter Faces Financial Ruin for Not Naming Sources; Former USA Today Reporter Appeals Contempt Order for Not Revealing Her Anonymous Sources, Faces Fines of up to $5,000 a Day.”

“Judge disqualifies general from war-court case”: Carol Rosenberg has this article today in The Miami Herald.

And The New York Times reports today that “Judge Drops General From Trial of Detainee.”

“Reporter Explores America’s Unique Take on Justice”: This audio segment (RealPlayer required) consisting of an interview with Adam Liptak of The New York Times appeared on Thursday’s broadcast of National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross” (via “LawBeat“).

“9th Circuit Blasts U.S. Prosecutor for Withholding Documents”: Pamela A. MacLean of The National Law Journal provides this report.

My earlier coverage of Tuesday’s Ninth Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“The 2008 Bench Press: The most important decision a president ever makes? It’s choosing a Supreme Court nominee. Voters, take note.” Columnist Anna Quindlen has this essay in the May 12, 2008 issue of Newsweek.

“Persuasion: Justice Antonin Scalia is persuadable. Or he finally thinks you are.” Dahlia Lithwick has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.