How Appealing



Sunday, February 6, 2011

In commentary published in today’s edition of The Des Moines Register: The newspaper contains an editorial entitled “Stand firm on civil rights, Iowa” that begins, “No one ever said fighting for equal rights was easy. And no one ever said it was quick, either. In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling that paved the way for gay marriage. It was a victory to be celebrated. But it wasn’t the end of a quest to obtain equality for all Iowans.”

The newspaper’s editor, Rick Green, has an op-ed entitled “Register will report, air both sides of this story.”

Columnist Kathie Obradovich has an op-ed entitled “Yes, judges: Try a dose of politics” that begins, “Former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Michael Streit can quote the alt-rock band Green Day with nearly the same degree of credibility that he holds forth on abstract points of jurisprudence. He’s a natural politician, and I mean that in the best possible way.”

An excerpt from Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s recent discussion with the newspaper’s editorial board appears under the headline “Branstad: I think the court made a mistake.”

An excerpt from Iowa state senate majority leader Mike Gronstal’s recent discussion with the newspaper’s editorial board appears under the headline “Gronstal: I won’t put your rights to a vote.”

Stephanie Bell has a very interesting op-ed entitled “I thought I understood Iowa.”

And Ingrid Olson has an op-ed that begins, “Growing up on a farm in rural Iowa, my dreams were those of other young girls . . . marrying the love of my life. Reva and I have been together for 13 years and married for a year and a half. We were among the plaintiff couples in the lawsuit that sought the right to marry.”

Posted at 11:06 PM by Howard Bashman



“Lawyer won admiration at Penn, Supreme Court”: Today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer contains an obituary that begins, “Ralph Spritzer, 93, emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a leading appellate lawyer who argued more than 60 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, died of leukemia Sunday, Jan. 16, at his home in Tempe, Ariz.”

Posted at 3:10 PM by Howard Bashman



“Next test of corporations’ liability? The Second Circuit has set the stage for a major dispute over corporations’ liability for wrongdoing to move on to the Supreme Court; The appeals court left intact a decision that they cannot be sued under a 1789 law.” Lyle Denniston has this post at “SCOTUSblog.”

Posted at 10:02 AM by Howard Bashman



“Funds from odd places: Plaintiff firms helped fund Alabama Supreme Court Republican candidates.” This article appears today in The Birmingham News.

Posted at 9:54 AM by Howard Bashman



“Questions surround judicial nomination of Arvo Mikkanen for Tulsa”: Today’s edition of The Tulsa World contains an article that begins, “The White House enlisted surrogates to validate its pick to fill a vacant judicial slot in Tulsa, but it remained unclear whether that would be enough to rescue one of the few American Indians selected for the federal bench in U.S. history.”

Posted at 9:52 AM by Howard Bashman



“Ga. Supreme Court Justice travels amid Egypt uprising”: This article appeared yesterday in The Union-Recorder of Milledgeville, Georgia.

Posted at 9:45 AM by Howard Bashman



“Constitutional showdown: A Florida judge distorted the law in striking down healthcare reform.” Law professor Akhil Reed Amar has this op-ed today in The Los Angeles Times.

Posted at 9:37 AM by Howard Bashman