“In Clarence Thomas’s gun rights opinion, race plays a major role”: In today’s edition of The Washington Post, metro columnist Courtland Milloy has an essay that begins, “He hardly ever speaks during oral arguments, often appearing asleep on the bench. But in his written opinion Monday supporting the right to bear arms, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas roared to life.”

“Gun rights, campaign spending top high court term”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.

And in related news, The AP reports that “Kagan hearings near end with confirmation likely.”

“When is a drug too risky to stay on the market?” The Associated Press has this report.

“Kagan declines to take sides on ‘Twilight’ debate”: The AP has this report.

“Day 3: Nominee Kagan won’t criticize Roberts court.” The Associated Press has this report.

“State Supreme Court upholds gay marriage ban”: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has this news update.

And The Associated Press reports that “Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds gay marriage ban.”

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

“Big green litigation machine: He’s fun & frantic & beloved — and may be the most sued mascot in the majors.” The Phillie Phanatic is the subject of this cover story published today in The Philadelphia Daily News. A related item can be accessed here.

“Roberts led Supreme Court through assertive term”: Robert Barnes has this article today in The Washington Post.

“Kagan Follows Precedent by Offering Few Opinions”: This article appears today in The New York Times. Yesterday’s newspaper, meanwhile, contained an article headlined “Serenity of Harvard Club Unruffled by Court Hearing.”

The Washington Post reports today that “Kagan makes bipartisan appeal in Supreme Court confirmation hearings.” Dana Milbank’s “Washington Sketch” column is headlined “The dodgy Miss Kagan.” And Stephanie J. Jones has an op-ed entitled “Thurgood Marshall’s legacy deserves cheers, not sneers.”

James Oliphant of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Kagan’s accuracy questioned during confirmation hearing; Tense moments arise on the Supreme Court nominee’s first full day of testimony during inquiries on military recruiting at Harvard Law School; Gun rights and national security policy are also discussed.”

USA Today contains a front page article headlined “Kagan, senator spar on military; Views of Harvard policy produce heat at hearing.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that “Kagan Fends Off Republican Challenges.”

David Lightman and Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers report that “Kagan pushes back on GOP questioning.”

Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor reports that “At hearings, Elena Kagan defends approach to military recruiting; In her testimony before senators Tuesday, Elena Kagan suggested that her policy when she was dean at Harvard Law School did not impose a hardship on military recruiters there.”

The Associated Press has articles headlined “Kagan to hide sharp wit at confirmation hearing“; “Kagan hearings a short course in Legalese 101“; and “Republicans resurrect Marshall as target.”

And David Ingram of The National Law Journal reports that “On Day 2, Kagan Tries to Appease Republicans.”

“Kennedy Retains His Pivotal Role”: Jess Bravin has this article today in The Wall Street Journal, along with an article headlined “Stevens Evolved From Court Loner to Liberal Wing’s Leader.”

You can freely access the full text of the article about Justice John Paul Stevens via Google News.

“Justices Rule Against Group That Excludes Gay Students”: Adam Liptak has this article today in The New York Times. The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “The Court: Denying Government Support for Intolerance.”

In today’s edition of The Washington Post, Robert Barnes reports that “Justices say school can require student groups to accept all who are interested.”

The Washington Times reports that “Supreme Court rules against group that bans gays.”

Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has an article headlined “Court denies Christian group’s suit of Hastings.”

Tony Mauro and Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal report that “Supreme Court Upholds Law School’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor has an article headlined “Supreme Court: Law school not obliged to recognize Christian group; A California law school is under no constitutional obligation to grant the Christian Legal Society status as an official student group, the Supreme Court ruled Monday; The school had withheld such status because of the group’s exclusion of gays as members.”

“Justices Take Broad View of Business Method Patents”: John Schwartz has this article today in The New York Times.

Today’s edition of The Washington Post reports that “Supreme Court relaxes limits on innovations that can be patented.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that “Door Left Open to Business Patents.”

Financial Times reports that “Tech groups buoyed by patent ruling.”

The Boston Globe contains an article headlined “Relief as patent process left intact; High court ruling could have altered software firms’ rights.”

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Supreme Court ruling may strengthen innovation in U.S.”

Tony Mauro of The National Law Journal reports that “High Court All Over the Map in ‘Bilski.’”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor has an article headlined “Which innovations deserve patents? Supreme Court gives scant direction; In a decision Monday about patent protections, the Supreme Court failed to give specific guidance about which innovations qualify and which don’t.”

“US top court rejects Pfizer Nigeria lawsuit appeal; Lawsuit said Pfizer failed to obtain adequate consent”: James Vicini of Reuters has this report.

Bill Mears of CNN.com reports that “High court allows trial on drug safety to proceed.”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor reports that “Supreme Court allows drug test case against Pfizer to proceed; US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer allegedly conducted nonconsensual drug tests on 200 Nigerian children, some of whom died; The Supreme Court Tuesday allowed a civil lawsuit against Pfizer to go forward.”

“Arizona sanctions law to go to U.S. Supreme Court; Justices to review Ariz. law tied to hiring of illegal immigrants”: This article appears today in The Arizona Republic.

Howard Fischer of The Arizona Daily Star reports today that “Justices take AZ migrant-hiring law.”

Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “High court to take up Arizona immigration law.”

And The Christian Science Monitor reports that “Supreme Court Arizona ruling could shape immigration reform; The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to a 2007 Arizona law penalizing employers who hire undocumented migrants.”

“Appeals court rejects GE’s Superfund challenge”: The AP has this article reporting on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.

“On Day 2, Kagan deploys humor and the artful dodge”: The Associated Press has this report.

“Court to hear deepwater drilling ban appeal July 8”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear the government’s appeal of a ruling overturning the deepwater drilling ban in the Gulf of Mexico on July 8.”

“Court rules against Fort Campbell soldier who took rocket home”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A federal appeals court affirmed Tuesday the conviction of a U.S. Army soldier who was found with a high-explosive helicopter rocket in his home.”

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

“Judge rules not guilty in Wone case”: The Washington Post has this news update.

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Jeff Jeffrey and Mike Scarcella have a post titled “Not Guilty on All Counts in the Wone Trial.”

“Roberts Put His Stamp on Supreme Court in Latest Term”: Adam Liptak will have this news analysis in Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times.

Access online today’s Order List and per curiam opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court: You can access today’s Order List at this link. The Court summarily affirmed in one case, granted review in one case, and denied review in three cases.

In addition, the Court issued a per curiam opinion in Sears v. Upton, No. 09-8854.

At “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “‘Soft-money’ ban upheld; GOP challenge rejected.”

And The Associated Press has reports headlined “High court reaffirms ‘soft money’ ban“; “Court to decide limits on retaliation ban“; “Court orders new review of Siegelman, Scrushy case “; and “Court rejects Pfizer appeal of Nigerians’ lawsuits.”

“Why Brandeis Matters: The constitution and the crash.” Law professor Jeffrey Rosen will have this lengthy cover story in the July 22, 2010 issue of The New Republic.

“Justices Bid Farewells on Last Day”: Adam Liptak will have this article Tuesday in The New York Times.

“Jailed Roanoke neo-Nazi Bill White faces jury intimidation trial in Chicago”: The Roanoke Times has this news update.

And The Associated Press reports that “White supremacist can be charged for website post.”

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

“Jeffrey Toobin writing new Supreme Court book”: The Associated Press has this report.

“Supreme Court: Patent law must be flexible for high tech.” Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers has this report.

“Supreme Court Rules That Gun Rights Apply to Local Laws”: Adam Liptak of The New York Times has this news update.

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has a news update headlined “Supreme Court rules that all Americans have fundamental right to bear arms.”

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Supreme Court extends 2nd Amendment protection to state, local levels; The court’s 5-4 decision comes in a case involving Chicago’s ban on handguns.”

Nathan Koppel of The Wall Street Journal has a news update headlined “High Court Rules in Favor of Gun Rights.”

The Chicago Sun-Times has a news update headlined “Supreme Court casts doubt on Chicago gun ban, extends nationwide gun rights.”

The Chicago Tribune has news updates headlined “Daley: City will revise gun law after Supreme Court ruling” and “Man who challenged gun ban: ‘I am so happy, I am so happy.’”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor has an article headlined “Supreme Court: Second Amendment rights apply across US; The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms applies to every jurisdiction in the nation; It places in doubt the constitutionality of Chicago’s handgun ban.”

“Supreme Court rules against UC student group that refused to admit gays; Justices say UC Hastings College of Law did not violate the 1st Amendment rights of a Christian group; The school had denied the Christian Legal Society chapter official status after it refused to accept ‘all comers'”: Carol J. Williams of The Los Angeles Times has this news update.

And Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers reports that “Supreme Court sides with school over Christian group ban.”

“Leahy, Sessions, send competing messages on Kagan”: The Associated Press has this report.

And, in somewhat related coverage from The AP, “A bowtie goodbye for Justice John Paul Stevens.”

“Kagan to tell senators she’d be impartial on court”: The Associated Press has this report.

Via this link, C-SPAN will provide live coverage of the confirmation hearing, which will begin today at 12:30 p.m. eastern time.

“Elena Kagan and the Miracle at Harvard”: Kevin K. Washburn, law professor and dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law, has posted this essay online at SSRN.

Access online today’s rulings in argued cases and Order List of the U.S. Supreme Court: The Court has announced rulings in the remaining four argued cases.

1. Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. announced the judgment of the Court in McDonald v. Chicago, No. 08-1521. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

2. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg delivered the opinion of the Court in Christian Legal Soc. Chapter of Univ. of Cal., Hastings College of Law v. Martinez, No. 08-1371. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

3. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court in Bilski v. Kappos, No. 08-964. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

4. And Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Bd., No. 08-861. You can access the ruling at this link and the oral argument transcript at this link.

You can access today’s Order List at this link. The Court today granted review in six cases and has requested the views of the Solicitor General on one case.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press has reports headlined “Justices extend gun owner rights nationwide“; “Court: Christian group can’t bar gays, get funding“; “Court rules against inventors in patent case“; “Supreme Court strikes down part of anti-fraud law“; “High court turns down both sides in tobacco fight“; “Court will hear employer sanctions law challenge“; “Court lets Vatican-sex abuse lawsuit move forward“; “High court rejects Iraq case against Halliburton“; “High court won’t review San Fran health care plan“; and “Court won’t hear appeal of newsletter prosecution.”

“Court rejects ATP appeal by German Tennis group”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued last Friday.

And Reuters reports that “ATP tennis tour wins antitrust ruling.”

“Porn Site Cocodorm Loses Latest Round of Legal Battle With City of Miami”: The Miami New Times has this blog post about a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued last Friday.

“Stevens ascends to his final day on bench; Supreme Court’s retiring justice will leave after Kagan begins Senate hearings”: Joan Biskupic has this article today in USA Today.