“Supreme Court delays decision on taking up gay marriage cases”: David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has this news update.

And Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has a news update headlined “No word from court on same-sex marriage.”

“Supreme Court to Look at a Gene Issue”: Adam Liptak will have this article Saturday in The New York Times.

And at Wired.com’s “Threat Level” blog, David Kravets has a post titled “Supreme Court to Decide if Human Genes Are Patentable.”

“In child sex-trafficking case, court says no knowledge of age needed”: Reuters has this report on a ruling that a partially divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued today.

“US appeals court stays affirmative action ruling”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “The ruling that ended Michigan’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions was put on hold Friday until the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear an appeal by the state’s attorney general.”

And in other coverage, The Michigan Daily reports that “Schuette appeals Proposal 2 decision to U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Justice Hathaway, husband deny bank fraud allegations”: The Detroit News has this update.

And The Detroit Free Press has a news update headlined “Justice Diane Hathaway, husband deny committing real estate fraud.”

You can view the answer filed today to the federal government’s forfeiture complaint at this link.

“J&J Wins Reversal of $1.1 Million Levaquin Punitive Award”: Bloomberg News has this report on a ruling that a partially divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued today.

“Obama Recess Appointments Face First Appeals Court Test”: Bloomberg News has this report.

And The Associated Press reports that “Court hears challenge to Obama appointments.”

You can access the audio of today’s oral argument before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit via this link (6.5 MB mp3 audio file).

“No action on same-sex marriage”: Lyle Denniston has this post today at “SCOTUSblog.”

You can access today’s Order List of the U.S. Supreme Court at this link.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press has a report headlined “Court: Can generic makers be sued for drug flaws?”

Bloomberg News reports that “Gay-Marriage Action Deferred by U.S. Supreme Court“; “Gene Patents Draw High Court Review in Biotechnology Test“: and “Generic-Drug Makers Get Top Court Review on Patient Suits.”

Terry Baynes of Reuters reports that “High court makes no announcement on gay marriage.” Jonathan Stempel of Reuters reports that “Top Court to decide if human genes patentable.” And Terry Baynes and Jonathan Stempel together report that “Supreme Court to review lawsuits over flaws in generic drugs.”

At WSJ.com’s “Law Blog,” Jess Bravin has a post titled “Supreme Court Does Not Act on Gay-Marriage Cases.”

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” Marcia Coyle has a post titled “Justices Still Silent on Whether They Will Take Up Gay Marriage.”

“Court upholds sentence of ex-CIA station chief”: The Associated Press has this report on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued today.

Update: In other coverage, Bloomberg News reports that “Ex-CIA Agent Loses Bid to Cut Sentence in Sex, Drugs Case.”

“Judge who named Starr to probe Clinton to retire”: David Ingram of Reuters has a report that begins, “The conservative U.S. federal judge who helped to appoint Kenneth Starr as an independent counsel to investigate President Bill Clinton, prompting first lady Hillary Clinton to complain of a ‘vast right-wing conspiracy,’ is planning a partial retirement in February.”

C-SPAN has posted online video of Wednesday’s Brookings Institution discussion on “Constitutionalism and its Significance for China” featuring Justice Stephen G. Breyer: You can view the video via this link.

“Senate Votes to Curb Indefinite Detention”: Charlie Savage of The New York Times has a news update that begins, “The Senate voted late on Thursday to prohibit the government from imprisoning American citizens and green card holders apprehended in the United States in indefinite detention without trial.”

“Judge pays 2008 traffic fine; arrest warrant voided”: Today in The Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Lindell and Tony Plohetski have an article that begins, “Lawrence Meyers, a judge on the state’s highest criminal court, paid off a 2008 speeding ticket Thursday morning, bringing his long-running legal challenge to a swift close and prompting Austin Municipal Court to cancel a warrant for his arrest.”

“D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sentelle to Take Senior Status”: Todd Ruger has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

“Michigan bottle return law upended; Fed court says rule to limit deposits violates interstate commerce”: The Detroit News contains this article today reporting on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued yesterday afternoon.

The decision notes that one of the three judges on the panel — a senior U.S. District Judge sitting by designation — “may file a separate opinion at a later date.”

Update: The separate opinion has arrived.

“Charles V. Bush, first black Supreme Court page, dies at 72”: This obituary appears today in The Washington Post.

“Gaming Gay Marriage: Which case should the Supreme Court take?” Emily Bazelon has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

“Oregon Supreme Court ruling described as ‘landmark’ decision on eyewitness testimony”: The Oregonian today contains this article reporting on a ruling that the Supreme Court of Oregon issued yesterday.

“Texas Voter ID Suit May Await Related High Court Ruling”: Bloomberg News has this report.

“Affirmative action and the law: Does the Constitution bar voters from doing away with racial preferences? We don’t think so.” This editorial appears today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Gay marriage before Supreme Court? Cases weighed.” Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.

In today’s edition of The Los Angeles Times, Maura Dolan and Jessica Garrison have an article headlined “Prop. 8 supporters, opponents await Supreme Court decision; Foes of gay marriage hope U.S. justices will block legalization, while backers are divided on the best route to same-sex unions.”

Today’s edition of The Sacramento Bee contains a front page article headlined “Preparations under way for possible gay marriages in California.”

In today’s edition of USA Today, Richard Wolf has an article headlined “Supreme Court on verge of taking up same-sex marriage; The justices’ private conference Friday is likely to determine whether gay marriage is added to voting rights and affirmative action in a triumvirate of controversial cases this term.”

Terry Baynes of Reuters reports that “Supreme Court to consider whether to review gay marriage cases.”

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Marriage Cases Thrust Supreme Court Into Gay-Rights Fight.”

Ariane de Vogue of ABC News reports that “Gay Marriage Comes to Supreme Court.”

Bill Mears of CNN.com reports that “U.S. Supreme Court looks at whether to take up same-sex marriage.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Same-sex marriage IV: The Court’s options.”

“Obama Recess Appointments Face First Appeals Court Test”: Bloomberg News has this report.