“From Walking The Beat To Taking A Seat; One Man’s Unlikely Journey From Philadelphia Cop To Pa. Supreme Court Justice”: Today’s edition of The Philadelphia Bulletin contains an article that begins, “Seamus McCaffery’s path to his position as a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice has been anything but ordinary, spanning careers, continents, and the Pennsylvania legal system.”

“Dozens of Gitmo detainees finally get day in court”: Pete Yost of The Associated Press has this report.

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the court …” Michael Kirkland of UPI has this report.

“Taken In Vain: New London’s Folly; With Pfizer Leaving, City Has Nothing But Weedy Acres To Show For Grandiose Development Scheme That Uprooted Homeowners And Razed A Neighborhood.” Jeff Benedict has this op-ed today in The Hartford Courant.

“Firefighters move for promotions; Federal court to settle damages in case that reached Supreme Court”: The Yale Daily News has this report.

“Mezuzah case will go to court”: The Chicago Tribune contains this article today.

My earlier coverage of Friday’s en banc Seventh Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“A challenging time to be R.I.’s new chief justice”: This article appears today in The Providence Journal.

“Pentagon bars release of photos allegedly showing detainee abuse”: Bill Mears of CNN.com has a report that begins, “The Pentagon is blocking public release of photos apparently depicting abuse of suspected terrorists and foreign troops in U.S. custody, and urging the Supreme Court to dismiss a lower court ruling ordering the photos to be publicly disclosed, according to court documents.”

The Associated Press reports that “Gates blocks release of detainee abuse photos.”

Politico.com reports that “Gates blocks release of abuse pictures.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Gates bars abuse photos’ release” that provides access to the Solicitor General’s filing.

“Canadian Supreme Court Case on Guantanamo Detainee”: The Supreme Court of Canada allows TV in its courtroom. As a result, and thanks to C-SPAN, by clicking here you can view this past Friday’s oral argument in the case of Omar Khadr.

According to C-SPAN’s description of the broadcast, “Omar Khadr, the only Canadian held at Guantanamo Bay, was charged in 2002 with killing an American soldier in Afghanistan when he was 15. Mr. Khadr’s lawyers argued before the Canadian Supreme Court that his constitutional rights as a Canadian citizen were violated.”

You can access my earlier coverage of the oral argument at this link.

“Obama Backers Fear Opportunities to Reshape Judiciary Are Slipping Away”: Charlie Savage has this article today in The New York Times.

And on Friday at the “Sweet Home Potomac” blog of The Birmingham News, Mary Orndorff had a post titled “U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions may take aim at judicial pick.”

“Accused 9/11 Mastermind to Face Civilian Trial in N.Y.” Charlie Savage has this article today in The New York Times. Today’s newspaper also contains articles headlined “9/11 Trial Poses Unparalleled Legal Obstacles“; “How New York May Tighten Security Vise“; and “Trial Venue Leaves 9/11 Families Angry or Satisfied,” along with an editorial entitled “A Return to American Justice.” And Sunday’s newspaper will contain an article headlined “Portrait of 9/11 ‘Jackal’ Emerges as He Awaits Trial.”

Today’s edition of The Washington Post contains articles headlined “Alleged Sept. 11 planner will be tried in New York; A shift to civilian court; Four co-conspirators also will be transferred“; “For Holder, much wrestling over decision“; and “A staggering ego, at the center of difficult issues,” along with an editorial entitled “Terrorism on trial: There are good reasons to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed in New York” and an op-ed by CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen entitled “A terrorism trial’s myths.”

In The Los Angeles Times, Josh Meyer and David G. Savage have an article headlined “Strong reaction to announcement of 9/11 trial in New York court; Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr.’s decision raises legal, political and ethical questions — and criticism from some key Republicans.” Today’s newspaper also contains an article headlined “Illinois prison eyed for Guantanamo detainees; The nearly empty rural facility is being considered, an Obama administration official says; But obstacles remain, including a law that bars the detainees from the U.S. unless they’re on trial” and an editorial entitled “Plan for Mohammed’s trial upholds U.S. values; The decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other accused 9/11 conspirators in the civilian judicial system shows a commitment to the rule of law.” In addition, Sunday’s newspaper will contain an article headlined “Remaining detainees leave Guantanamo’s closure up in air; Trying five 9/11 suspects in the U.S. leaves the fate of more than 200 others unclear. Some may have to be held long-term — but where?”

The Wall Street Journal contains articles headlined “Alleged 9/11 Plotters Face Trial; Civilian Court in Lower Manhattan Will Hear Terror Cases in Big Test of Justice System“; “New York, Court Brace for Logistical Hurdles“; and “Mukasey Fears Attacks on New York During Trial of 9/11 Defendants,” along with an editorial entitled “KSM Hits Manhattan–Again: Eric Holder’s decision to move a trial on war crimes to American soil is morally confused, dangerous and political to a fault.”

Carol Rosenberg of The Miami Herald reports that “NYC trial won’t close Guantanamo war court; The Obama administration will pursue military trials for some and civilian trials for others accused in the 9/11 attacks.”

And McClatchy Newspapers report that “New York trials for 9/11 suspects raise new safety concerns” and “Republican lawmakers decry Obama decision on terror trials.”

“President’s Top Lawyer Is Leaving White House”: This article appears today in The New York Times, along with an article headlined “Obama Chooses an Inner-Circle Man.”

The Washington Post reports today that “Obama taps new counsel; Republicans criticize pick; Bauer also president’s personal attorney.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that “Craig to Leave White House Counsel Job.”

And McClatchy Newspapers report that “In White House shakeup, counsel Greg Craig resigns.”

“Court Silences CIA Operative Despite Yellowcake Scandal”: David Kravets has this post at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog.

“Federal judge criticized for handling of claimants’ assets; Manuel L. Real was entrusted with $33.8 million meant for victims of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos; A federal appeals court calls his accounting ‘curious'”: Carol J. Williams has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

And The Associated Press reports that “Judge rebuked by panel over Ferdinand Marcos money.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s Ninth Circuit order appears at this link.

“Federal judge sues impeachment panel”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A Louisiana federal judge sued a House impeachment task force Friday, contending the panel is making the case for his ouster by using testimony he gave under a promise of immunity.”

This development follows the news that Bruce Alpert reported yesterday in The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, in an article headlined “Porteous impeachment request to be subject of hearings,” that “A House Judiciary Committee task force has scheduled its first hearings next week on a request from federal court officials that Federal District Judge Thomas Porteous be impeached.”

I have posted online U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.‘s complaint initiating suit against the U.S. Congress, the brief in support of his motion for a temporary restraining order, and the U.S. Congress’s brief in opposition to the motion for a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit and these briefs were all filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

“New Justice Sotomayor Emerges as Frequent — and Tough — Questioner”: Tony Mauro of The National Law Journal has this report.

“Appeals court criticizes Judge Real over accounting of $33.8-million trust”: Carol J. Williams of The Los Angeles Times has a news update that begins, “A federal appeals court today criticized U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real for his handling of $33.8 million entrusted to him for victims of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, calling his accounting ‘curious’ and ‘filled with cryptic notations’ that failed to show what happened to the money.”

You can access today’s order of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which appears to have been written by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, at this link.

“Ex-judge who bought home with stripper gets probation in bank fraud”: The Naples Daily News has an update that begins, “A former appellate judge who ruled on Collier and Lee county cases for more a decade was sentenced Friday to probation for bank fraud involving a Hawaiian home he fraudulently purchased with a New York stripper.”

The St. Petersburg Times has a news update headlined “No jail time for former appeals Judge Thomas E. Stringer Sr. in bank fraud.”

The Tampa Tribune has a news update headlined “No prison time for ex-judge Stringer.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Judge linked to stripper gets 1 year probation.”

“Schwarzenegger promises to comply with court order to reduce inmate population in two years”: Howard Mintz has this article today in The San Jose Mercury News.

Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko reports that “State submits plan to reduce prison population.”

Denny Walsh of The Sacramento Bee reports that “State offers new prison plan.”

And The Los Angeles Times reports that “Governor submits plan to cut prison population; But he also disavows the proposed solutions as being illegal.”

“Judicial panel recommends dismissal of Gableman complaint”: Today’s edition of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contains an article that begins, “A three-judge panel said Thursday the state Supreme Court should dismiss a complaint against Justice Michael Gableman that alleges he lied in a campaign ad last year.” The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “A lie is a lie is a lie: And, according to a three-judge panel, it doesn’t matter in state Supreme Court races; The high court should not follow this recommendation to dismiss.”

Today’s edition of The Badger Herald, the student newspaper of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, contains an article headlined “Panel: Gableman ad spots misleading, but not illegal; Panel of judges says Wis. Supreme Court should drop charge.”

And The Wisconsin State Journal reports that “Panel recommends dismissal of Gableman ethics complaint.”

“After Supreme Court clerkship, Klingele back teaching at UW Law School”: UW-Madison News provides this report.

“Retired R.I. chief justice Williams describes role in family of his former driver”: This article appears today in The Providence Journal.

And Saturday’s edition of that newspaper will contain an article headlined “Husband takes exception to on-air comments by Williams.”

“Ohio will switch to single-drug lethal injection system for executions”: The Columbus Dispatch has this news update.

And The Associated Press reports that “Ohio to switch to 1 drug for lethal injection.”

In posts of interest at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.” Jeff Jeffrey has a post titled “Alito Praises Fidelity to the Law, But Cameras? Maybe Not.” (An updated post at “The BLT” states that human error was to blame for the camera ban.)

And Marcia Coyle has a post titled “Caperton Coda.” My coverage from earlier today appears here.

“Could Supreme Court TV Make America Smarter?” CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen has this post today at the “Politics & Power” blog of Vanity Fair.

“Court revives Chicago ‘mezuzah’ case; Ruling vindicates Obama favorite Judge Diane Wood”: Abdon M. Pallasch of The Chicago Sun-Times has this news update.

My earlier coverage of today’s en banc Seventh Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“Courts can’t order Khadr’s return, lawyer argues; After seven years of publicity and litigation, the Khadr case reaches the Supreme Court by way of a Federal Court of Canada order compelling Ottawa to seek his return”: Kirk Makin of The Toronto Globe and Mail has this news update.

And The Associated Press reports that “Canada Supreme Court hears Gitmo case.”

In today’s mail: The Autumn 2009 issue of The Green Bag, featuring, among other things, “There’s a Pennoyer in My Foyer: Civil Procedure According to Dr. Seuss,” by law professor Elizabeth Chamblee Burch.

“Bush Concerned Successor Might Revoke Telco Spy Immunity”: David Kravets has this post at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog, along with a related post titled “Help Threat Level Examine Federal Spy Documents.”

“At the center of this case is a little rectangular box, about six inches tall, one inch wide, and one inch deep, which houses a small scroll of parchment inscribed with passages from the Torah, the holiest of texts in Judaism.” So explains today’s en banc ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a case addressing whether a Chicago condominium’s rule, which prohibited the affixing of a mezuzah to the outside doorframes of condominium units, violated the Fair Housing Act.

In July 2008, the majority on a divided three-judge Seventh Circuit panel held that there was no Fair Housing Act violation. After the Seventh Circuit granted rehearing en banc, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs’ appeal.

Today, a unanimous en banc Seventh Circuit largely agrees with the plaintiffs and the federal government as amicus curiae, holding that three of the plaintiffs’ four federal claims, and the plaintiffs’ state law claims, survive summary judgment. My earlier coverage of the original three-judge panel’s ruling can be accessed here.

“Justices say Maynard’s e-mails shouldn’t have been public”: The West Virginia Record has a report that begins, “Private communications of government employees don’t belong to the public, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decided on Nov. 12. Four Justices agreed that state law doesn’t require disclosure of electronic mail between former Justice Spike Maynard and Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.”

And The Associated Press reports that “W.Va. Supreme Court opts for e-mail privacy.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia at this link.

“‘Atomic Dog’ singer wins claim to phrase”: Last Saturday’s edition of The Tennessean contained an article that begins, “The phrase ‘bow wow wow, yippie yo, yippie yea’ belongs exclusively to funk legend George Clinton, a panel of federal judges ruled this week.”

My earlier coverage of last week’s Sixth Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“Key 9/11 Suspect to Be Tried in New York”: Charlie Savage of The New York Times has a news update that begins, “Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four other men accused in the plot will be prosecuted in federal court in New York City, a federal law enforcement official said early on Friday.”

The Washington Post has a news update headlined “Official: Accused 9/11 mastermind, others to be tried in N.Y.”

And The Wall Street Journal has a news update headlined “Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to Be Sent to New York for Trial.”

“Court overturns ruling against Massey”: Today’s edition of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette contains an article that begins, “The West Virginia Supreme Court yesterday overturned a $50 million judgment against Massey Energy for a third time. The 4-1 decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court had ordered the court to rehear the case without the judge who allegedly benefitted from campaign contributions made by Massey CEO Don Blankenship.”

The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette reports today that “W.Va. high court overturns Harman verdict.”

The Associated Press reports that “For 3rd time, W.Va. Supreme Court favors Massey.”

Reuters reports that “Massey wins favorable ruling from W. Virginia court.”

Bloomberg News reports that “Massey Energy Gets $50 Million Jury Verdict Overturned Again.”

And The West Virginia Record reports that “Massey victorious as controversial $50M case comes to end in W.Va.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia at this link.

“Pfizer to Leave City That Won Major Land-Use Case”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

My most recent earlier coverage can be accessed here.