“Romney slams Gingrich on ‘activist judges’ stance”: The Boston Globe has this news update.

“Battling Anew Over the Place of Religion in Public Schools”: Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times will contain an article that begins, “It has been nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court ruled that officially sponsored prayer in public schools violated the separation of church and state.”

“Copyright Troll’s Domain Name Auctioned to Pay Legal Fees”: David Kravets has this post at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog.

“Lawyer McKenna sues R.I. chief justice, officials over probe of his finances”: The Providence Journal has this news update.

And WPRI 12 reports that “Outspoken attorney sues Supreme Court; Former AG candidate says First Amendment violated.”

You can view a copy of the complaint initiating suit at this link.

“Proposed Guantanamo rule change sparks backlash”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “The new commander of the Guantanamo Bay prison is seeking to impose significant changes to communications allowed between lawyers and prisoners facing war-crimes charges at the U.S. base in Cuba, The Associated Press has learned.”

“Holder’s Legacy”: Online today at The New Yorker, Jeffrey Toobin has a blog post that begins, “Two years ago, the Supreme Court decided a case that may, it now appears, save Barack Obama’s chances at reelection–and, more importantly, preserve a precious corner of American democracy.”

“Viewing justices, First Amendment through rhetorical lens”: Ronald K.L. Collins has this essay online at the First Amendment Center.

In the January 2012 issue of The ABA Journal magazine: Mark Walsh has an article headlined “A Fox Rerun: Justices Get a New Look at the Old Problem of Dirty Words.”

Anna Stolley Persky has an article headlined “An Arresting Development: Courts Split Over DNA Testing for Those Merely Charged with a Crime.”

And Kevin Davis has an article headlined “Journalism & Justice: Did Innocence Project Student Reporters Get Too Close to Lawyers?”

“The Solicitor General of the United States: Tenth Justice or Zealous Advocate?” Adam D. Chandler has this comment in the December 2011 issue of The Yale Law Journal.

“Third Circuit’s En Banc Opinion in De Beers Class Action Is No Gem, More Rough Than Diamond”: Law professor Kevin C. Walsh has this post at his blog, “walshslaw.”

“More proof that Canada’s judges need closer scrutiny”: Jacob Ziegel has this essay today in The National Post.

“Reynolds selects case to take to high court; At issue: people who smoked before warning-labels law”: Today’s edition of The Winston-Salem Journal contains an article that begins, “Reynolds American Inc. appears to have chosen at least one Engle legal case to take before the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Glass’s Road to Redemption”: In today’s edition of The New York Times, columnist Joe Nocera has an op-ed that begins, “Early next week, a lawyer will file a brief with the California State Supreme Court, arguing that his client has the good moral character to be admitted to the California Bar. His client is Stephen Glass.”

“Analysis: Health care’s Medicaid expansion.” Lyle Denniston has this post today at “SCOTUSblog.”

“California executions remain in everlasting limbo”: Howard Mintz has this article today in The San Jose Mercury News.

“Houston man whose case advanced gay rights dies”: This obituary appears today in The Houston Chronicle.

“GOP campaign showcases role of federal judiciary”: Joan Biskupic has this article today in USA Today.

“Sandra Day O’Connor promotes civics education; Retired U.S. Supreme Court justice helped initiate an online program called iCivics because not enough Americans know how government works”: This article appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Rare but Grudging Judicial About-Face in Bias Case”: Adam Liptak will have this new installment of his “Sidebar” column in Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times.

My most recent earlier coverage of the ruling in question can be accessed here.

“Could Prop. 13 fall? A lawsuit argues that Prop. 13 was improperly approved; If it succeeded, it would wipe out a system that has governed California for more than 30 years.” Columnist Jim Newton has this op-ed today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Saskatoon man’s LEGO Supreme Court takes off online”: Postmedia News of Canada has this report.

You can view images of the LEGO replica here and here.

“Stephen Glass’ lies in focus as he seeks law license”: Bob Egelko has this front page article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Lawyer relishes tough and unpopular cases before Supreme Court; Paul D. Clement is taking on the Obama administration in politically charged disputes over healthcare, immigration and redistricting”: David G. Savage has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Abortion opponents heartened by Pennsylvania high court ruling”: This article appeared yesterday in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

My earlier coverage of the Pa. Supreme Court’s ruling appears at this link.

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Supreme Court”: UPI has this report.

“California chief justice urges reevaluating death penalty; Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, one of the high court’s more conservative members, says the death penalty is no longer working for the state”: In today’s edition of The Los Angeles Times, Maura Dolan has an article that begins, “Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who heads the state’s judicial branch and its highest court, said in an interview that the death penalty is no longer effective in California and suggested she would welcome a public debate on its merits and costs.”

“New Pro Bono Case on Whether First Amendment Libel Rules Are Limited to Institutional Media Defendants”: Eugene Volokh has this post at “The Volokh Conspiracy.”

My earlier coverage of this case appears here and here.

“John Lawrence, Plaintiff in Gay Rights Case, Dies at 68”: Adam Liptak has written this obituary published today in The New York Times.

“Chief counsel McDonald appointed to Md. high court; Governor fills 9 other judicial vacancies”: This article appears today in The Baltimore Sun.

And yesterday, Maryland’s Governor issued a news release headlined “Governor O’Malley Appoints Judges to the Court of Appeals, Court of Special Appeals, Circuit Courts.” The outfit worn by the judges serving on Maryland’s highest court is particularly appropriate to this time of year.

“Court blocks Florida inmates from having pen pal ads”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued today.

“Barry Bonds Appeals Obstruction of Justice Conviction in Steroids Probe”: Bloomberg News has this report.

“Pa. court: Not telling parents isn’t basis for judges to deny permission for girls’ abortions.” The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A county judge should not have decided a girl could not have an abortion simply because the teen did not tell her mother she was pregnant, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday as it clarified how minors can obtain the procedures.”

Today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania consists of a majority opinion and an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.

“Appeals court tosses Obama birthplace challenge”: The Associated Press has this report on a lengthy ruling that a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued in typescript today.

The perils of courtside seats at an NBA game: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in an unpublished per curiam opinion issued today, has reversed the dismissal of assault and battery claims against NBA superstar Kobe Bryant arising from contact between Bryant and a man seated front-row courtside during a game.

Sadly, the spectator has since died, and the lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the death was due to the injuries sustained at the game.

On a happier note, my son and I had the pleasure of sitting front-row courtside at a Philadelphia 76ers game last season. It was an amazing experience, and no injuries — fatal or otherwise — were sustained.

Update: In other coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Appeals court in Ohio rules in fan-Bryant lawsuit.”

“Pa. court: Defendants must prove mental disability.” The Associated Press has a report that begins, “The state Supreme Court said on Wednesday juries will have to rule in most instances when a defendant in a death penalty case wants to argue that he or she is mentally disabled and therefore ineligible for execution.”

Yesterday’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania consists of a majority opinion and an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.