“Teachers say covering evolution can be a trial”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contains this article today.

“South Dakota to reconsider vote on abortion ban; The measure is a version of a 2006 one but has exceptions for rape and incest”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“‘I’ is for irony, cellmate”: Columnist Al Lewis of Dow Jones Newswires has an essay that begins, “It’s getting tougher to say who might end up in prison first, former Qwest Communications International Inc. CEO Joe Nacchio or the federal judge who slapped him with a six-year sentence on insider-trading charges.”

“A Line in the Sand for Same-Sex Marriage Foes”: The New York Times today contains an article that begins, “While the battle over same-sex marriage has been all but invisible in the presidential race this year, it is raging like a wind-whipped wildfire in California.”

“Where Does the Vice President Belong?” Today in The New York Times, Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds (author of the “InstaPundit” blog) has an op-ed that begins, “The presidential campaign has taken a detour into a dispute over the constitutional status of the vice presidency.”

“2nd Circuit Declines to Bar ‘Foreign-Cubed’ Securities Lawsuits”: law.com provides this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued last Thursday.

“In Drug Case, Justices to Weigh Right to Sue”: The Wall Street Journal today contains an article that begins, “For nearly a century, Americans have been able to sue drug companies for deaths or injuries caused by medicines. Now the pharmaceutical industry and other big businesses are hoping the Supreme Court will sharply curb that right.”

“Death-penalty process blasted; appeals follow”: Today in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bill Rankin has an article that begins, “When U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens recently criticized the way the Georgia Supreme Court reviews death-penalty cases, he appeared to be inviting legal challenges on the issue. Georgia promised to ensure fairness in the application of the death penalty when it reinstated capital punishment in 1973. But Stevens said one facet of Georgia’s review to achieve that goal has become cursory and could result in arbitrary or discriminatory sentences.”

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Lawsuit seeks to block tough La. lawyer ad rules” and “Hawaii has battle over constitutional redo.”

“New Media Visit Law School; Slate Reporter Discusses Evolving Supreme Court Media Coverage”: This article appeared online Friday at the web site of Virginia Law Weekly.

“Dems hope to make state pickups in Supreme Court races”: Today in The Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Lindell has an article that begins, “Seeking to crack the Republican lock on all nine Texas Supreme Court seats, two Democrats are making the entire court — which they accuse of bias in favor of business and insurance interests — the focus of their campaigns.”

And Lindell’s second article in today’s newspaper is headlined “Chief justice race pits incumbent against judge known for work as trial lawyer.”

“Florida’s Amendment 2 marriage vote: Are domestic partners at risk? A proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage has critics worried about its effect on domestic partnerships, but backers say that’s not a valid concern.” The Miami Herald contains this article today.

“Ginsburg: Mutual respect unites nine; Supreme Court Justice shares stories from the bench.” This article appeared Friday in The Daily Princetonian. You can view a related photo by clicking here.

“Chevron faces suit over Nigerian violence”: Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Nichols’ mother paints positive image; Conflicting portraits: Psychologist says confessed killer ‘delusional;’ mother calls him ‘gentleman.'” This article appears today in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Court issues stay, lets Davis make his case”: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today contains an article that begins, “The federal appeals court in Atlanta on Friday halted Troy Anthony Davis’ execution, the third time his life has been spared shortly before he was to be put to death.”

The New York Times reports today that “Execution of Georgia Man in Killing of Officer Is Stayed a Third Time.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Execution delayed for convict in ’89 Ga. killing.”

“Guantanamo tribunals overseer under investigation; Thomas Hartmann, an Air Force brigadier general, is accused of improperly influencing prosecutions”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Screen set up at trial nixes assault conviction”: The Associated Press provides a report that begins, “A sexual assault conviction was overturned by the Nebraska Supreme Court because of a screen that had been set up in the trial courtroom to prevent the defendant’s 11-year-old accuser from having to see him when she testified.”

And The Omaha World-Herald provides a news update headlined “Nebraska high court reverses sexual-assault conviction.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Nebraska at this link.

“Judicial Pay Raise Reargument Focuses on Plaintiffs’ Standing”: law.com provides a report that begins, “Plaintiffs’ standing was a central issue Wednesday in the reargument in the 3rd Circuit of a suit challenging the process by which the controversial 2005 pay raise for Pennsylvania judges and lawmakers was passed.”

“Joyce’s mother dies; trial delayed”: The Erie (Pa.) Times-News provides an update that begins, “The mother of former state Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce died earlier today, leading to a delay in Joyce’s federal trial. The trial will not resume on Monday, as had been scheduled, according to the chambers of Senior U.S. District Court Judge Maurice B. Cohill Jr.”

“Out-Of-State Judges May Fill Void Nottingham Left”: cbs4denver.com provides a report that begins, “The U.S. District Court for Colorado is considering asking for help from out-of-state federal judges as a result of the resignation of Chief Judge Edward Nottingham. The court administrator said Thursday the 200 active cases Nottingham had on his docket could be delayed as the result of his resignation. The court was short of judges before Nottingham’s resignation and his stepping down seemingly makes it more likely that cases will be delayed even more.”

“Utah’s top federal jurist violated judicial rules with Obama donations”: This article appears today in The Salt Lake Tribune.

And later today, the newspaper published an update headlined “Chief Utah federal judge apologizes for rule-violating Obama donation.”

“Election Could Have Seismic Effect on Federal Courts”: Pamela A. MacLean has this article in The National Law Journal.

And in the November 5, 2008 issue of The New Republic, Law Professor Jeffrey Rosen will have an essay entitled “McJustice: Liberals’ long-feared judicial apocalypse is nigh.”

“Reagan Appointee and (Recent) McCain Adviser Charles Fried Supports Obama”: Cass. R. Sunstein has this post today at The New Republic’s blog “The Plank.”

In the November 2008 issue of ABA Journal magazine: Terry Carter will have a lengthy article headlined “The Pre-emption Prescription: The FDA is claiming total responsibility for drug and medical device safety; Some think it’s a bad idea.”

David G. Savage will have an article headlined “Taking Trials to Court.”

John Gibeaut will have an article headlined “Fines, Fox, FCC … and other F-Words: 30 years after ‘7 Words,’ the court hears fleeting expletives.”

And an interview with Jeffrey Toobin is headlined “The Next Confirmation Battle.”

“Judge Halverson’s husband pleads guilty to beating her”: The Las Vegas Review-Journal provides this news update.

The Las Vegas Sun provides a news update headlined “Husband of embattled judge pleads guilty.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Husband of suspended Nevada judge takes plea deal.”

“Florida Supreme Court rejects ‘false light’ lawsuit”: The St. Petersburg Times today contains an article that begins, “In a victory for Florida newspapers and freedom of speech, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit that penalized a newspaper for publishing a story that was true.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Free speech gets room to breathe.”

The Pensacola News Journal reports today that “Supreme Court rejects ‘false light’ lawsuit; 1998 story at crux of $18 million case.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “A win for the truth.”

law.com reports that “Fla. Supreme Court Rejects False Light as a Legal Cause of Action.”

And The Tallahassee Democrat contains an editorial entitled “Free-press victory: Court is correct in rejecting ‘false light.’”

As I first reported in this post from yesterday, the cases in which the Supreme Court of Florida yesterday issued decisions on this subject are Anderson v. Gannett Co. and Jews for Jesus, Inc. v. Rapp.

“Lawyer goes easy on former fiancee of ex-judge on trial”: In today’s edition of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Paula Reed Ward has an article that begins, “After spending considerable time and enthusiasm in their opening statement blaming the entire criminal case of former Superior Court Judge Michael T. Joyce on his ex-fiancee, defense attorneys did not take nearly as aggressive an approach during the woman’s cross-examination yesterday.”

Today in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jason Cato reports that “Ex-fiancee claims defendant not hurt.”

And The Erie (Pa.) Times-News reports that “Joyce’s exes take stand; Former fiancee, wife testify about activities after accident.”

“Court says customs agents may read letters”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “Customs agents who open packages at airports searching for contraband can look at any letters they come across for obvious signs of criminality – for example, an adult’s sexually suggestive note to a young girl, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s en banc Ninth Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“Coin toss could decide who takes state case to high court”: The Providence (R.I.) Journal today contains an article that begins, “A leading constitutional scholar said yesterday that only ‘childish and selfish’ reasons would prevent former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson from being chosen to argue for the state in an Indian land case set to go before the nation’s high court Nov. 3.”

“Justice Thomas Extols the Need to Listen; In a visit to Atlanta, high court’s quiet justice emphasizes briefs over oral arguments as keys to victory”: This article will appear Friday in the Fulton County Daily Report.

“Calif. High Court Takes Meal Break Case”: law.com provides this report.

The Associated Press is reporting: Now available online are articles headlined “Former generals support accused combatant’s case” and “Federal judge weighs key issue in detainee cases.”

“Pro Bono for Fun and Profit”: Have media outlets and other commentators accurately portrayed the remarks of Second Circuit Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs on the subject of pro bono work?

Now you can see for yourself, as the Federalist Society has posted online (here [html] and here [PDF]) the text of Chief Judge Jacobs’s address to the Rochester, New York, Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society on October 6, 2008.

Apparently Chief Judge Jacobs anticipated that his remarks might prove controversial, as the final sentence of the first paragraph of his speech states, “In honor of this occasion, I am going to make some remarks that are perhaps more than usually provocative.”

“Defense questions motives of Joyce’s ex-fiancee”: The Erie (Pa.) Times-News provides an update that begins, “The defense in the trial of former state Superior Court Michael T. Joyce tried to undermine the testimony of a key government witness today by claiming bitterness motivated her to provide information against him.”