“Lawmaker asks would-be SC judges about ‘Supreme Being,’ gay marriage, equal pay for women”: The State of Columbia, South Carolina has this report.

“Tories to table life in prison without parole, shifting legal landscape”: Sean Fine of The Toronto Globe and Mail has this report.

“Marriage of Convenience”: Emily Bazelon will have this essay in the February 1, 2015 issue of The New York Times Magazine.

In the February 2015 issue of ABA Journal magazine: Steven Seidenberg has an article headlined “Business-method and software patents may go through the looking glass after Alice decision.”

David L. Hudson Jr. has an article headlined “3rd Circuit ruling upholds a lawyer’s right to post glowing judicial comments about his work.”

And Leslie A. Gordon has articles headlined “Legal minds differ on whether The Bluebook is subject to copyright protection” and “New project rewrites SCOTUS opinions from a feminist perspective.”

Senior D.C. Circuit Judge Laurence H. Silberman lauds the proposal to reduce the word limit for principal appellate briefs from 14,000 words to 12,500 words: Judge Silberman is among the most enthusiastic supporters of the word limit reduction, as you can see from his recently posted comment, which you can access directly by clicking here.

Coincidentally, the current Chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules — which has proposed the word limit change — is Eighth Circuit Judge Steven M. Colloton, a former Silberman clerk.

The period for offering public comments on the pending proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure expires exactly three weeks from today, on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. You can comment online via this link.

“Georgia Executes Warren Lee Hill for Murder”: Alan Blinder of The New York Times has this news update.

“Does the Same-Sex Marriage Cert Grant Imperil the Affordable Care Act?” Michael Dorf had this post yesterday at his blog, “Dorf on Law.”

“Appeals court weighs suit in US Marshals shooting”: The Associated Press has this report.

“Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore says he will continue to recognize ban on same-sex marriage”: AL.com has this report. You can view today’s letter from Alabama’s Chief Justice to Alabama’s Governor at this link.

Brian Lyman of The Montgomery Advertiser has a news update headlined “Roy Moore denounces same-sex marriage ruling.”

Reuters reports that “Alabama Supreme Court chief justice encourages defiance on gay marriage ruling.”

And at his “Law News” blog, Lyle Denniston has a post titled “State judge sees ‘tyranny’ in same-sex marriage rulings.”

“Supreme Court refuses to halt execution of Ga. man”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “The Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution of a Georgia man whose lawyers say he is ineligible to be executed because he is intellectually disabled.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Court allows Georgia execution.”

You can view today’s order of the U.S. Supreme Court at this link.

“Republican state officials cast doubts on anti-Obamacare lawsuit”: Greg Sargent has this post today at the “Plum Line” blog of The Washington Post.

“Radley Balko and the inexperience of the Justices when it comes to criminal law”: Senior U.S. District Judge Richard G. Kopf has this post today at his “Hercules and the Umpire” blog.

“Constitution Check: Is the Supreme Court going to rule out lethal-drug executions?” Lyle Denniston has this post today at the “Constitution Daily” blog of the National Constitution Center.

“Obama Administration Uses Scalia’s 2012 Obamacare Dissent Against Him”: Sahil Kapur of TPM DC has this report.

“Why Do Judges and Politicians Flip-Flop? To investigate, Cass Sunstein and I conducted a series of surveys.” Law professor Eric Posner has this essay online at Slate.

“Forget TV, let’s put the Supreme Court on YouTube”: Jeff John Roberts has this post at Gigaom.

“What Obama Can Do if SCOTUS Cripples Obamacare: Experts say the White House couldn’t easily restore subsidies in every state.” Sam Baker of National Journal has this report.

“TSA Whistle-blower’s Supreme Court Win Bittersweet After Nine-Year Exile”: Matt Stroud of Bloomberg News has this report.

“The Supreme Court Meets the Real World”: This “Room for Debate” discussion appears online at The New York Times.

“Prophet Image at U.S. Supreme Court Shows Taboos Aren’t Eternal”: Caroline Alexander and Salma El Wardany of Bloomberg News has this report.

“After forging her path from N.C. to Brooklyn, Lynch is poised to become attorney general”: This front page article appears in today’s edition of The Washington Post.

“U.S. top court sends patent cases back to appeals court”: Lawrence Hurley of Reuters has this report, along with an article headlined “U.S. Supreme Court rejects BP executive’s appeal.”

And The Associated Press has a report headlined “Justices: No lawsuit against disgraced ex-Detroit judge.”

“Supreme Court Rules Against Retirees in Union Health Benefits Case”: Adam Liptak has this article in today’s edition of The New York Times.

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court knocks down promised health benefits for union retirees.”

Richard Wolf of USA Today reports that “Supreme Court says retiree health benefits can expire.”

Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal reports that “Supreme Court Rules Against Union Retirees in Benefits Case; Justices Give Manufacturer Another Chance to Terminate Lifetime Health Benefits for Retirees.”

Lawrence Hurley of Reuters reports that “U.S. top court rules for employer in retiree benefits fight.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Court rules for company seeking to trim retiree health costs.”

“Lethal Injection Case in Question as State Seeks New Drug”: Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News has this report.