How Appealing



Wednesday, November 10, 2010

“Iowa Vote Shows the Injustice of Electing Judges”: Adam Cohen has this essay online today at the web site of Time magazine.

Posted at 10:22 PM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court considers gender discrimination in citizenship cases”: Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has this news update.

And David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Supreme Court discusses gender discrimination in citizenship case; A deportee born in Mexico to an unwed American father says he should be deemed a U.S. citizen; But under U.S. law, unwed fathers have a harder time than unwed mothers in passing on their citizenship.”

Posted at 10:15 PM by Howard Bashman



“A New Round in a Long Coal Battle”: Today’s edition of The New York Times contains an article that begins, “When advocates for judicial reform point to examples of how money can influence courtroom decisions, they often cite as exhibit A the case of Hugh M. Caperton.”

And Thursday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal will contain an article headlined “Massey Plaintiff Refiles.” You can freely access the full text of the article via Google News.

The “Coal Tattoo” blog of The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette has posted the complaint initiating suit at this link.

Posted at 9:10 PM by Howard Bashman



“Sex toy drive-thru: Alabama shop to offer window service.” Today’s edition of The Huntsville Times contains an article that begins, “Pleasures, a ‘one-stop romance shop’ that challenged Alabama’s ban on sex toys, has a new, unique claim to fame: It will feature three sex toy drive-thru lanes at its new University Drive location.”

Posted at 8:57 PM by Howard Bashman



“Justices Weigh Railroad Tax That Aids Alabama Schools”: Mark Walsh has this post at the “School Law” blog of Education Week.

Posted at 6:12 PM by Howard Bashman



“Attorney general says 9/11 trial decision is near”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “Attorney General Eric Holder says the Obama administration is close to making a decision on where to hold a trial for professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.”

And at his “Under the Radar” blog at Politico.com, Josh Gerstein has a post titled “Holder: decision ‘close’ on 9/11 trial.”

Posted at 5:24 PM by Howard Bashman



“How obscene is video game violence? Common sense can keep gruesome offerings from kids; There is no need to reinterpret the First Amendment.” Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center, had this op-ed yesterday in USA Today.

Posted at 3:35 PM by Howard Bashman



Third Circuit orders supplemental briefing in case challenging a federal court’s ability to certify nationwide state law indirect purchaser antitrust class actions for purposes of settlement: You can access today’s quite fascinating order of the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit at this link.

The original three-judge panel’s now-vacated ruling in the case can be accessed here. My earlier coverage of this case, in which I serve as appellate counsel for the objector whose arguments prevailed before the original three-judge panel, can be accessed here.

Today’s Third Circuit order appears to invite amicus briefs from parties interested in the sort of antitrust and federalism issues that this case presents. Already, since the time that the Third Circuit granted rehearing en banc, three Class Counsel-friendly amicus briefs have been filed. Last week, I submitted for filing in the Third Circuit this response to those amicus briefs.

Posted at 2:51 PM by Howard Bashman



“Bush: ‘The Wolves of Washington’ and the Roberts/Miers/Alito Nominations.” CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford has this post at her “Crossroads” blog.

Posted at 12:06 PM by Howard Bashman



“Another hearing in Abu-Jamal saga”: In today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nathan Gorenstein and Joseph A. Slobodzian have an article that begins, “Mumia Abu-Jamal’s latest chance to get off death row now depends on whether three federal appellate judges believe they can win a legal argument with the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The Philadelphia Daily News reports today that “Court hears arguments for Abu-Jamal resentencing.”

And Reuters reports that “U.S. court hears arguments over fate of death row inmate.”

Update: You can access the audio of yesterday’s oral argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit via this link (61.1MB Windows Media audio file).

Posted at 9:12 AM by Howard Bashman



“Dismissal of Keller’s rebuke stands, court rules”: In yesterday’s edition of The Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Lindell had an article that begins, “A special court of review on Monday declined to reconsider a decision to void an ethics rebuke given to Sharon Keller for her role in a botched execution-day appeal, apparently ending the case against Texas’ top criminal judge.”

And The San Antonio Express-News reported yesterday that “Panel does not change decision in Keller case.”

The “Tex Parte” blog has posted Monday’s order denying rehearing at this link.

Meanwhile, in related news, Chuck Lindell of The Austin American-Statesman reported last Friday that “Taxpayers not liable for Keller’s legal fees, court says.”

Posted at 9:06 AM by Howard Bashman



“Wiggins takes lead in state Supreme Court race”: The Seattle Times today contains an article that begins, “Bolstered by King County votes, Bainbridge Island attorney Charlie Wiggins took his first lead Tuesday in the state Supreme Court race and appeared headed for victory over state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders.”

Posted at 8:57 AM by Howard Bashman