“Former Clerks Are Sitting Pretty”: Today in The Daily Journal of California, Lawrence Hurley has an article that begins, “At a time when law school graduates are increasingly struggling to get hired or facing lower pay, one elite group is sitting pretty: former U.S. Supreme Court clerks.”

“Courthouse gunman upset over Social Security benefits case; Officer dies in federal courthouse shooting; suspect dies in shootout”: The Las Vegas Sun has this news update.

The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Shootout at Las Vegas courthouse kills 2; A deputy U.S. marshal is wounded and a court security officer dies, along with the gunman, identified as Johnny Lee Wicks, a 66-year-old retiree disgruntled over cuts in his Social Security benefits.”

And The New York Times has a news update headlined “Two Killed in Las Vegas Courthouse.”

“Case over Iowa prosecutors’ conduct is settled”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A multimillion-dollar settlement has ended a wrongful prosecution case from Iowa that was being considered by the Supreme Court.”

“Chief Justice’s Annual Report: A Missed Opportunity?” Tony Mauro has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

I collected additional coverage of the report in this post from New Year’s Day.

“Scalia: Varied job experience needed on high court.” The Associated Press has this report.

“Group Gives Up Death Penalty Work in Frustration”: In Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times, Adam Liptak will have this new installment of his “Sidebar” column.

“Threats against federal judges, prosecutors are up”: The Associated Press has this report.

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Mike Scarcella has a post titled “DOJ: Better Effort Needed to Protect Judges, Prosecutors.”

You can access the redacted report that the Evaluation and Inspections Division of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General posted online today by clicking here.

“Appeals court upholds Moussaoui’s conviction, life prison term”: Jerry Markon of The Washington Post has a news update that begins, “A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction and life prison term of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.”

The Associated Press reports that “US court rejects Zacarias Moussaoui’s appeal.”

Bill Mears of CNN.com reports that “Terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui’s appeal of life sentence denied.”

Reuters reports that “September 11 conspirator loses U.S. court appeal.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “9/11 conviction stands.”

You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit at this link.

“Court officer, suspect killed in courthouse shooting”: The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a news update that begins, “A court officer and a suspect died in a shooting this morning at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South. A second officer also was shot and transported to University Medial Center. His condition is listed as serious, according hospital spokesman Rick Plummer.”

The Associated Press reports that “Guard, gunman dead in Vegas federal building shots.”

And CNN.com reports that “Guard killed, marshal injured in Las Vegas courthouse shooting.”

“Pfizer Must Face Menopause-Drug Award, Court Finds”: Jef Feeley of Bloomberg News has this report on last Thursday’s ruling of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. My earlier coverage appears at this link.

“Death Row Cases Decline In 2009”: Today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition” contained this audio segment.

“Yes, It Was Torture, and Illegal”: This editorial criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court‘s denial of review in a Guantanamo-related case appears today in The New York Times.

“No ifs, ands or butts: Since actors are allowed to use fake cigarettes in Colorado theater shows, their right of expression isn’t being denied.” The Denver Post contains this editorial today.

“BC’s Rehnquist dons robes of scout team”: This article appears today in The Boston Globe.

“Clear evidence”: Today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer contains an editorial that begins, “The case for reforming the way Pennsylvania selects its judges keeps getting stronger. As evidence, take the lavishly funded race in November for a single Supreme Court seat, and the still-unraveling judicial scandal in Luzerne County.”

“Billboard-ban lawsuit centers on free speech; Sign company accuses L.A. Council of violating the 1st Amendment by creating a system that grants exceptions unevenly — letting some companies post new billboards and supergraphics and barring others”: This article about a case pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Number Nine: Sonia Sotomayor’s high-profile debut.” Lauren Collins has this lengthy profile of the U.S. Supreme Court‘s newest Justice in the January 11, 2010 issue of The New Yorker.