“Obama judicial nominee Morgan Christen confirmed, at last; After a 202-day delay, the Senate confirms Alaska Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals”: Carol J. Williams has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Appeals court throws out child porn conviction”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued yesterday.

My earlier coverage appears at this link.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Morgan Christen to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: You can access the official roll call vote tally at this link. The vote to confirm was 95-to-3. Currently, Christen serves as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Alaska and was the second woman to serve on that court.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press reports that “US Senate confirms judicial nominee.”

“States seek to delay action on immigration laws”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “After the U.S. Supreme Court agreed this week to rule on Arizona’s controversial law targeting illegal immigrants, some states with similar statutes want to delay legal challenges against their own laws pending the high court’s decision.”

“Second Circuit Weighs Closed Courtrooms”: At WSJ.com’s “Law Blog,” Chad Bray has this post about a case that was reargued en banc (or as the court that hosted the argument is still wont to call it on occasion, “in banc”) yesterday before the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

“Oregon Recognizes Contributions of Senior, Recalled Judges”: The Public Information Office of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has issued this news release today.

“Corporate Personhood Debate, Tortured Reasoning In Tow, Heads Back To Supreme Court.” Mike Sacks of The Huffington Post has this report.

“Appeals Court Judges Grill Arpaio’s Lawyer on Alleged First Amendment Violations”: Peter Jamison has this blog post at SF Weekly. According to the post, “Kozinski also delivered a tongue-lashing to GilBride [Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s lawyer] for her lack of preparation for the [en banc] hearing, as the lawyer let slip at one point that she had not brought briefs in the case to court with her and was apparently unaware that one of the current issues in the case is whether Arpaio was engaged in a conspiracy against Lacey, Larkin, and the New Times.”

And Kate Moser of The Recorder reports that “Newspaper Wins Judges’ Sympathies in Arpaio Suit.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has posted online at this link the audio of yesterday’s oral argument before an 11-judge en banc panel in the case captioned Lacey v. Arpaio.

“Animal rights activists challenge 2006 federal law”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A group of animal rights activists sued the U.S. government Thursday to challenge the constitutionality of a rarely used law they say treats them like terrorists if they cause a loss in profits for businesses that use or sell animal products.”

“Not your Gingrich’s Supreme Court: The Supreme Court rediscovers federalism just in time for 2012 election.” Law professor Barry Friedman and Dahlia Lithwick have this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

“Justice Clarence Thomas ’74 Visits the Law School; Meets with Student Groups, Teaches Class”: Yale Law School issued this news release yesterday.

“Federal magistrate has a shot at appeals court position, sources say”: Today’s edition of The Tulsa World contains an article that begins, “A beleaguered process that repeatedly has failed to put Oklahomans in key federal positions reportedly has produced a potential nominee to fill a year-old vacancy on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

A victory for the “blame it on the dead guy” defense, on appeal in a child pornography case no less: A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued this decision yesterday.

Circuit Judge E. Grady Jolly‘s dissenting opinion begins, “The record does not reflect whether the jury box had more than twelve chairs, but we do know–and we know for sure–that two more jurors are trying to crowd into the box. I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion, which is little more than a presentation of the defendant’s case and the substitution of the views of judges for the views of jurors.”

“Number of death sentences hits a 35-year low”: Joan Biskupic of USA Today has this report.

Today in The Wall Street Journal, Ashby Jones has an article headlined “New Death Sentences Fall to Lowest Level in 35 Years.”

Bill Mears of CNN.com reports that “Executions, death sentences continue steady declines in 2011.”

Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has an article headlined “Report: US death sentences reach 35-year low.”

Terry Baynes of Reuters reports that “Study finds death penalty use in decline.”

And today’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition” contained an audio segment entitled “Death Sentences Drop To Historic Lows In 2011.”

“Ohio justice urges repeal of death penalty”: In today’s edition of The Toledo Blade, Jim Provance has an article that begins, “Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer said Wednesday he believes it’s only a matter of time before the death-penalty law he helped write 30 years ago will end. He urged the House Criminal Justice Committee to make that date sooner rather than later.”

And The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today that “Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer urges lawmakers to repeal death penalty in Ohio.”

“Relentless anti-abortion crusader takes her fight to Supreme Court; Grandmother, 63, has been arrested, jailed many times for protesting at clinics”: Postmedia News of Canada has this report.

“Texas Counties in Voting Chaos Over Redistricting Case”: The New York Times contains this article today.

“DFW sidewalks at center of legal dispute over disabled access”: This article appears today in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“Rock Bottom”: At the “Opinionator” blog of The New York Times, Linda Greenhouse has a post that begins, “Now that another highly qualified judicial nominee has been left as road kill, the question is how much lower can the confirmation process sink.”

“Bonds’ sentencing brings BALCO saga near a close”: The Associated Press has this report.

“Top judge relaxes rules on Twitter in court; Journalists will no longer have to ask for permission to tweet in court under new rules issued by Britain’s most senior judge, paving the way for more live coverage of trials”: The Telegraph (UK) has this news update.

The Guardian (UK) has news updates headlined “Judge tells court reporters: ‘Twitter as much as you wish’; Guidance from lord chief justice means journalists no longer have to make application to tweet, text or email from courts” and “Judges will decide who can tweet from court; Despite uncertainty over who’s a legal commentator or journalist and who isn’t, Lord Judge’s guidance shouldn’t lead to problems.”

The Daily Mail (UK) has a news update headlined “‘Twitter all you like!’ Top judge gives reporters the right to tweet or email from courtrooms in historic decision.”

And BBC News has reports headlined “Tweeting from court is given the go-ahead by top judge; Journalists and legal commentators in England and Wales no longer have to ask permission to tweet, text or email from court” and “Scottish courts tweeting ban continues; Journalists covering court cases in Scotland will not be allowed to openly use live text-based communication.”

Careful readers of the headlines contained in this post will note that the last name of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is, conveniently, Judge. You can access the “Live text based communication guidance” that Lord Judge issued today by clicking here.

“Analysis: Supreme Court immigration case a federal-state test.” James Vicini of Reuters has this report.

“NYC conviction in Azerbaijan oil bribe case upheld”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued today.

“Foxwoods files appeal to Pa. high court to save casino project”: The Philadelphia Inquirer contains this article today.

“Newest Virginia justice says reading takes up most of her time”: This article appears today in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Political trouble ahead for the Supreme Court”: Lyle Denniston had this post yesterday at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

“Genachowski’s top aide leaving FCC”: Politico.com has this report about Edward Lazarus.

“Supreme Court Lines up Potentially ‘Explosive’ Election Year Docket”: This segment (transcript with link to video) featuring Marcia Coyle and Jeff Schesol appeared on this evening’s broadcast of The PBS NewsHour.

“Elena Kagan recusal judged on the blogs”: This article appears at Politico.com.

“Reality check: States tough on abortion face legal costs.” Reuters has this report.

“Supreme Court justice to visit”: The Pacific Daily News of Guam has an update that begins, “U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor plans to make a trip to the Marianas next month. One of the main reasons she’s visiting from Jan. 25 to 30 is to attend Guam’s and the Northern Mariana Islands’ 2012 District Conferences.”

“Chef Supreme: New cookbook honors late husband of Justice Ginsburg.” Bill Mears of CNN.com has this report.

“U.S. Supreme Court won’t review statutory rape case”: Today’s edition of The Newark (Ohio) Advocate contains an article that begins, “The U.S. Supreme Court won’t review an Ohio Supreme Court decision that eliminated statutory rape charges for children younger than 13.”

“Utah teen may face criminal charges in abortion beating case; Utah Supreme Court says state’s abortion statute doesn’t include ‘procedures’ like a beating-for-hire”: The Salt Lake Tribune has this news update.

And The Deseret News has an update headlined “Utah Supreme Court: Teenager who paid for assault in hope of abortion liable.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Supreme Court of Utah at this link.

“Supreme Court an ‘enormous issue’ for 2012”: Josh Gerstein has this article online at Politico.com.