Fifth Circuit ruling underscores the perils of using a junked vehicle for artistic or political expression: An article headlined “The Sad Case of the Cactus Planter” appeared in the September 19, 2008 issue of The Austin Chronicle. The situation facing Ralph the Cactus Planter appears no happier today now that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has issued this ruling.

“Right to Free Speech Collides With Fight Against Terror”: Adam Liptak will have this article Thursday in The New York Times.

“Man who exposed himself may escape deportation”: Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has this news update.

And The Associated Press has a report headlined “Court: Indecent exposure not always depraved.”

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

“US court: Nude dancing not ground for deportation.” Reuters has this report about today’s Ninth Circuit ruling that is the subject of the post immediately below.

Three-judge Ninth Circuit panel divides over whether the offense of indecent exposure is categorically a crime of moral turpitude under California law: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit at this link.

Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote the majority opinion, in which Circuit Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr. joined, holding that the offense of indecent exposure is not categorically a crime of moral turpitude under California law. Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybee issued a lengthy dissenting opinion.

“Law School takes part in Court case; Supreme Court Litigation Clinic to represent petitioner in Abbott v. United States”: The Cavalier Daily, the student newspaper of the University of Virginia, has this front page article today.

“Ex-Supreme Court Justice O’Connor: Change way Mich. elects judges.” This article appears today in The Detroit News.

And The Detroit Free Press reports today that “O’Connor fears cash will flood judicial races.”

“Bygone days color justices’ arguments; Supreme Court members’ quips and questions recall a time before reality TV, YouTube and speed dating”: Joan Biskupic has this article today in the print edition of USA Today.

“W.Va. high court justices firm: No appeals court needed.” This article appears today in The Charleston Gazette.

And The Associated Press reports that “New appeals court unlikely for state.”

“Boy, 12, faces grown up murder charges”: Stephanie Chen has this report at CNN.com.

“Student support contract enforceable after divorce, says high court”: Today’s edition of The Salt Lake Tribune contains an article that begins, “Spouses who agree to take turns supporting each other through college could find themselves financially liable for breaking a contract if they divorce before both sides benefit.”

You can access yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Utah at this link.

“Lawyers petition court to hold Yoo accountable”: Today in The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has an article that begins, “As reports circulate that the Justice Department has softened its criticism of attorney John Yoo for memos approving the Bush administration’s treatment of terrorism suspects, several prominent lawyers are urging a federal appeals court in San Francisco to hold Yoo accountable.”