“Federal court denies Troy Davis appeal; Judge Moore’s reasoning in case upheld”: Today’s edition of The Savannah Morning News contains an article that begins, “A federal appeals court Friday rejected Troy Anthony Davis’ attempt to appeal a ruling denying him a challenge in the 1989 murder of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark Allen MacPhail. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr.’s reasoning that any appeal of his order must go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, rather than the circuit court.”
You can access yesterday’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit at this link.
“Log Cabin asks Supreme Court to reinstate ban on ‘don’t ask'”: Josh Gerstein has this post at his “Under the Radar” blog at Politico.com.
The Associated Press reports that “Supreme Court asked to review gay military ban.”
And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Military gay ban newly tested.”
“Removal of Iowa judges may inspire similar efforts”: The Associated Press has this report.
“In Cheshire Triple-Murder Case, Jury to Weigh Sentence”: This article appears today in The New York Times. The newspaper also has an update headlined “Jurors Deliberate Death Penalty in Connecticut.”
And today’s edition of The New Haven Register contains an article headlined “A final plea for Hayes’ life: Defense: ‘He’s not a rabid dog to be put down.’”
“Justice Stevens and the Ground Zero Mosque”: Tony Mauro has this post at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”
“Appeals court overturns release of Gitmo detainee”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.
At “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Mike Scarcella has a post titled “Appeals Court Sides with DOJ, Vacates Release of Gitmo Prisoner.”
And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Caution urged in detainee cases.”
“Elections, court ruling leave small window for repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: Amanda Bronstad of The National Law Journal has this report.
“Consumers’ right to file class actions is in danger; If AT&T has its way before the Supreme Court, any business that issues a contract to customers would be able to prevent them from joining class-action lawsuits, taking away arguably the most powerful legal tool available to the little guy”: Columnist David Lazarus has this op-ed today in The Los Angeles Times.
“Roderick Ireland, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court chief justice nominee, praises hometown Springfield at introduction”: This article appears today in The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Today’s edition of The Boston Globe contains a front page article headlined “SJC justice Ireland is Patrick’s pick for chief; Would be 1st black to lead the court.”
The Boston Herald reports that “Gov. Deval Patrick confident in Supreme Judicial Court chief pick.”
And The New York Times contains an article headlined “Nomination for Massachusetts Chief Justice.”
“Rutgers Law School asks Supreme Court to rule Iraq invasion unconstitutional on behalf of veteran”: The Associated Press has this report.
And yesterday, Rutgers University issued a news release headlined “U.S. Supreme Court Asked by Rutgers-Newark Law School Clinic to Hear Case Challenging Constitutionality of Iraq War.”
“Rejection of Iowa judges over gay marriage raises fears of political influence; California Supreme Court chief justice voices concerns about partisan pressures on jurists and backs a single, 15-year term without being put to a vote”: Maura Dolan has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.
Today’s edition of The Washington Post contains an editorial entitled “Firing judges.”
And USA Today contains an editorial entitled “From Iowa, a chilling message for judges.”
“Sonia Sotomayor’s Last Laugh”: Linda Greenhouse has this post at the “Opinionator” blog of The New York Times.
“Election Likely to Affect EPA Litigation, Judicial Nominations”: Lawrence Hurley of Greenwire has this report.
“Wiggins cuts Sanders’ lead in WA high court race”: The Associated Press has this report.
“Patrick nominates first African-American chief justice of SJC”: The Boston Globe has a news update that begins, “Governor Deval Patrick announced this morning that he is nominating veteran associate justice Roderick L. Ireland as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, an appointment that would make Ireland the first black person ever to lead the venerable court.”
“Ten Commandments issue — again”: Lyle Denniston has this post at “SCOTUSblog.”
“Justice Stevens voices support for NYC mosque”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.
“Oklahoma City resident plans to challenge measure on international, Sharia law, agency says”: This article appears today in The Oklahoman.
And The Tulsa World reports today that “Lawsuit expected Thursday challenging Shariah law vote.”
“Arizona’s tuition tax credit debated at U.S. Supreme Court; Justices ask: Are donations made in lieu of taxes government money?” The Arizona Republic contains this article today.
And Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal reports that “Arguments on preemption and religion offer red meat to the justices.”
“Mason grad’s Fantasy Supreme Court league more than a game; Online program excites Supreme Court enthusiasts, educates students”: This article appeared recently in The Fairfax County Times.
“Justice Breyer visits Springside School”: The Chestnut Hill (Pa.) Local has this report.
“Judge rejects mistrial in Hayes case; Penalty deliberations slated to start Friday”: This article appears today in The New Haven Register.
Today’s edition of The Hartford Courant contains an article headlined “Defense Details Mitigating Factors In Attempt To Keep Steven Hayes Off Death Row.” In addition, columnist Helen Ubinas has an op-ed entitled “With Its Endless Horrors, Hayes Trial Has Changed Us.”
And The Associated Press reports that “Closing arguments set in Conn. home invasion trial.”
In today’s edition of The Des Moines Register: The newspaper contains articles headlined “Removal of justices complicates court’s calendar“; “Strong rural ‘no’ vote noted in justices’ ouster“; and “Democratic leader in Iowa Senate vows he’ll block vote on gay marriage.”
The newspaper also contains an editorial entitled “Everyone lost in judicial retention election” and an op-ed by Marc Hansen entitled “No middle ground on removing justices.”
“‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal a likely election casualty”: Nancy A. Youssef and David Lightman of McClatchy Newspapers have this report.
“Starbucks defeats woman’s tea burn lawsuit”: Reuters has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued on Tuesday. The ruling consists of both a published and an unpublished opinion.
“Guantanamo military procedures at a standstill; The recent plea deal by former child soldier Omar Khadr is a reminder that many vexing questions about the prison remain unanswered; The result is paralysis”: Carol J. Williams has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.
And The Washington Post has a news update headlined “In new memoir, Bush makes clear he approved use of waterboarding.”
“Justices Revisit Use of Tax Credits for Religious Schools”: Adam Liptak will have this article Thursday in The New York Times.
Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has a news update headlined “Justices debate whether tax law that benefits private schools violates clause.”
David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Solicitor general surprises justices in religious schools case; The Obama administration says taxpayers have no right to sue if a state uses tax funds for parochial school tuitions; One advocate for separation of church and state calls the stance ‘inexplicable.’”
Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal has a news update headlined “Justices Appear Divided on Arizona Tax-Break Program.”
Joan Biskupic of USA Today has a news update headlined “High Court weighs fairness of tax credits for religious school students.”
Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor has an article headlined “Religious schools, government money? Supreme Court hears Arizona case; The Supreme Court must decide if an Arizona program that gives tax credits for private school donations favors religion, or if participants in the program are just exercising personal choice.”
And online at Slate, Dahlia Lithwick has a Supreme Court dispatch headlined “Standing Down: The Supreme Court wonders whether your non-money can fund non-religion.”
“Mazda Seat Belt Case May Divide U.S. Supreme Court Over Minimum Standards”: Angela Greiling Keane and Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News have this report.
“Ouster of Iowa Judges Sends Signal to Bench”: A.G. Sulzberger will have this article Thursday in The New York Times.
And The Washington Post has a news update headlined “Gay marriage fight targeted Iowa judges, politicizing rulings on issue.”
“Washington Supreme Court: Sanders leads state; Wiggins carries King County.” The Seattle Times has this news update.
And The Associated Press reports that “Wash. Supreme Court race remains close.”
“3 Iowa justices ousted, rulings likely slowed”: The Associated Press has this report.
Zombies on appeal: The 90-minute debut episode of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” concludes with a memorable scene that appears to have been filmed on the street outside of the Eleventh Circuit‘s Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta. Additional information about this historic building can be accessed here. And you can view a photo from the episode in which the courthouse is visible in this blog post from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The zombies in the background of that photo are snacking on a horse. (A similar photo with the courthouse backdrop can be accessed here).
A complete recap of the episode (sans courthouse references) can be found in this blog post from The Houston Chronicle.
“Supreme Court Weighs Arizona Tuition Tax Credits”: Mark Walsh has this post at the “School Law” blog of Education Week.
“Election Shakes Up Senate Judiciary Committee”: David Ingram has this post at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”
My son likes Sam Alito’s sense of humor: Things you learn upon giving your 15-year-old son a copy of yesterday’s oral argument transcript in Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Ass’n, No. 08-1448. Thanks also to Justice Elena Kagan’s mention of Mortal Kombat, which provided a means for getting my son interested in reading his first U.S. Supreme Court oral argument transcript.
