“Big cases await U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010-2011 term”: Bill Mears of CNN.com has this report.

“President Obama Names Two to U.S. Circuit Courts”: The White House today issued a news release that begins, “Today, President Obama nominated Caitlin Halligan for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Jimmie V. Reyna to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.”

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” David Ingram and Mike Scarcella have a post titled “Obama Nominates N.Y. Lawyer to D.C. Circuit.”

“AP Source: Obama to tap NY lawyer for DC circuit.” The Associated Press has a report that begins, “President Barack Obama is nominating an attorney from New York County’s district attorney’s office to a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. A government official said Wednesday that Obama was nominating Caitlin Halligan, general counsel at the D.A.’s office, to the court.”

You can learn more about the rumored nominee here and here.

“Judges hear arguments in Conrad Black appeal”: The Associated Press has this report.

Bloomberg News reports that “Black’s Lawyers Tell Appeals Court to Throw Out Mail Fraud Conviction.”

And CTV News reports that “Judge skeptical of Black lawyer’s arguments.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has already posted the oral argument audio file online for download (7.83MB mp3 audio file).

“Senate Responds To Justices on Crush Videos”: Marcia Coyle has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

The Statesman-Journal of Salem, Oregon reports today that “Bill would ban animal-abuse videos; Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley’s legislation targets so-called animal ‘crush’ depictions.”

And earlier this week, Bill Mears of CNN.com reported that “Senators introduce law to ban ‘crush’ videos of animal cruelty.”

“Royalty formula for music-streaming sites is flawed, court rules; A federal appeals court sides with Yahoo and RealNetworks in a legal battle with songwriters; The ruling could affect many other websites that stream music”: The Los Angeles Times has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued yesterday.

In other coverage, Reuters reports that “Court orders music download license fee review.”

And Variety reports that “Appeals court tosses ASCAP fees; Yahoo and RealNetworks score a victory.”

“Could corporate-privacy case gut FOIA?” Tony Mauro has this news analysis online at the First Amendment Center.

“Jail Confession Is Retold in a Triple Murder Trial”: The New York Times contains this article today.

The Hartford Courant reports today that “Correction Officer Says Hayes Admitted Killing Hawke-Petit; Testimony In Case Ends; Final Arguments Expected Later This Week.”

And The New Haven Register reports that “Testimony ends in Hayes trial: Case expected to go to jury Monday.”

“Fair Courts in the Cross-Fire”: Today’s edition of The New York Times contains an editorial that begins, “Holding elections to fill important state judgeships is one of those ideas that may sound good in theory but works terribly in practice.”

“Central Florida group seeks ouster of 2 high-court judges; A group seeks the removal of two Florida Supreme Court judges over a federal healthcare law decision”: The News Service of Florida has this report.

“Appeal by reputed Klansman Seale still could be heard by high court”: Jerry Mitchell has this article today in The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi.

“Senators hear reasons to close loophole; High court’s ruling affected conviction of Enron leader”: This article appears today in The Houston Chronicle.

“Supreme Court to hear Anna Nicole Smith estate case”: Joan Biskupic has this article today in USA Today.

Mark Sherman of The Associated Press reports that “Pfizer stock sold, Roberts to hear company’s cases.”

And today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition” contained an audio segment entitled “Kagan Recused From Pending Supreme Court Cases” featuring Nina Totenberg.

“Black bids to nullify convictions”: Today’s edition of National Post contains an article that begins, “Conrad Black’s legal juggernaut continues today in a U.S. appeals court where a panel of judges will be asked to overturn his three mail and wire fraud convictions in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June to set aside the former media baron’s honest-services convictions.”

And The Palm Beach Daily News reports today that “Conrad Black to seek dismissal of conviction at U.S. Court of Appeals.”