“How a Court Secretly Evolved, Extending U.S. Spies’ Reach”: In Wednesday’s edition of The New York Times, Charlie Savage and Laura Poitras will have an article that begins, “Ten months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the nation’s surveillance court delivered a ruling that intelligence officials consider a milestone in the secret history of American spying and privacy law.”

“‘Procedures Involving Gravely Immoral Practices’: What the religious right really thinks of birth control.” Emily Bazelon has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

In retrospect, perhaps the appellate court didn’t take long enough to decide the case: On February 28, 2014, I had a post linking to an article published in The Philadelphia Inquirer that day headlined “Sprague motion: Lower court tardy, so yank case.”

Today, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania issued this decision in the case, which coincidentally goes against the parties who were arguing that the appellate court was taking too long to decide the appeal.

“Court: Unplayed Blagojevich tapes to stay sealed.” The Associated Press has this report.

“He’s alive!” Senior U.S. District Judge Richard G. Kopf had this health-related post last Friday at his “Hercules and the Umpire” blog.

“Has Supreme Court lost its zeal to curb consumer class actions?” Alison Frankel’s “On the Case” from Thomson Reuters News & Insight has this report today.

“Justice Sotomayor shares some of life’s lessons with UW students; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to a packed crowd of 1,200, mostly students, at the UW campus Monday”: The Seattle Times has this report.

“San Jose wants to overturn baseball’s antitrust exemption”: Sasha Volokh has this post today at “The Volokh Conspiracy.”

“Will Alabama grant same-sex couple’s request for divorce?” Brian Lawson of The Huntsville Times has an article that begins, “A same-sex couple who married in Iowa in 2012 has filed for divorce in Alabama, creating a potentially complex court challenge in a state that does not recognize same-sex marriage.”

“Alaska Supreme Court in crossfire over how how judges are nominated”: Alaska Dispatch has this report.

“Supreme Court eyeing Takeda whistleblower drug suit”: CNBC has this report.

“Media groups ask Supreme Court to open hearings to cameras”: Bob Egelko of The San Francisco Chronicle has this report.

“Trial begins on Bible-themed monument in Bloomfield”: Today’s edition of The Albuquerque Journal contains a front page article that begins, “A federal judge this week will consider whether a 3,000-pound monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments on the front lawn of Bloomfield City Hall violates the religious freedoms of two of the city’s residents.”

“Constitution Check: How free are students to comment on public policy issues?” Lyle Denniston has this post today at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

“Supreme Court Sides With Landowner in Rails-to-Trails Case”: Jess Bravin has this article today in The Wall Street Journal.

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post reports that “Court sides with landowner over abandoned railroad right of way.”

And David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court deals setback to rails-to-trails movement; The justices rule 8-1 in favor of landowner Marvin Brandt of Wyoming, saying he is not required to grant a right of way through his property.”

“U.S. top court case highlights unsettled science in contraception”: Sharon Begley of Reuters has a report that begins, “As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a religious dispute over the Obamacare contraception mandate, advocates on both sides are trying to set the court straight on the science.”

“Kentucky Supreme Court justice in line for Court of Appeals job”:
The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky has an article that begins, “Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Lisabeth Hughes Abramson of Louisville is being vetted by the FBI for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals’ 6th Circuit.”

“Appeals court to consider both challenges to Va. ban on same-sex marriage”: This article appears today in The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Supreme Court won’t hear appeal of dispute over Episcopal Church’s property in Va.” The Washington Post has this report.

“Supreme Court’s refusal to hear ‘I (heart) Boobies!’ case not surprising, expert says”: The Express-Times of Easton, Pennsylvania has this report.

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor reports that “Student free speech prevails, as Supreme Court refuses ‘boobies’ bracelet case.”