“Apple, Samsung’s next big showdown could reshape patent law”: Howard Mintz will have this article Wednesday in The San Jose Mercury News.

“Newest D.C. Circuit Judge Gears Up for Arguments”: Zoe Tillman has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

“Calif v. Idaho Turf War Over Judge Seat Still On”: Today at her “Trial Insider” blog, Pamela A. MacLean has a post that begins, “It was too early to declare a truce in the nine-year California vs. Idaho war to fill the vacancy for Judge Stephen Trott’s seat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

“Students win breast-cancer bracelet case”: In today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, John P. Martin has an article that begins, “Is the U.S. Supreme Court ready for boobie bracelets?”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s en banc Third Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“In Supreme Court, Republicans Defend Opening Prayers”: Todd Ruger has this post today at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

And Roll Call has a report headlined “Congressional Prayer Under Threat?”

“US Supreme Court receives response to Va. AG’s petition to stay anti-sodomy law ruling”: The Associated Press has this report.

“Constitution Check: Is the Chief Justice’s power to pick judges of the secret wiretap court a bad idea?” Lyle Denniston has this post today at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

“Ex-NYS Senate leader Bruno loses bid to throw out fraud case”: Reuters has this report on a summary order that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued today.

“NY appeals court reinstates poker conviction”: The Associated Press has this report.

And The New York Post has a related news update, although the headline is currently so inaccurate that I cannot bring myself to quote it.

You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit at this link.

A who’s who of the nation’s most talent appellate practitioners appeared on behalf of the defendant/appellee and his amicus supporters, but the Second Circuit nevertheless sided with the federal government. According to today’s ruling, “the question of whether skill or chance predominates in poker is inapposite to this appeal.”

Update: In other coverage, Nate Raymond of Reuters reports that “U.S. appeals court reinstates poker conviction.”

“Work of Scalia, Ginsburg inspiration for new opera”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.