“Politics, Indian Law, and the Constitution”: Law professor Matthew L.M. Fletcher has posted this interesting article online at SSRN (via “Turtle Talk” blog).

“Judge Teresa Chafin, sister of Sen. Ben Chafin, elected to Virginia Supreme Court”: Amy Friedenberger of The Roanoke (Va.) Times has this report.

Patrick Wilson of The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that “General Assembly elects Judge Teresa Chafin to Va. Supreme Court after brother backs her bid.”

And Marie Albiges of The Daily Press of Newport News, Virginia reports that “General Assembly picks senator’s sister to be newest Virginia Supreme Court Justice.”

“Bonus Episode: Pregnancy Is Different.” The Ginsburg Tapes podcast with Lauren Moxley has posted online this bonus episode today.

Programming note: This afternoon, I will be meeting with co-counsel about a new appellate matter. As a result, additional posts will appear here this evening.

As always while I am away from the blog, appellate-related retweets will appear more frequently on this blog’s Twitter feed.

“In Harvard affirmative action case, judge appears skeptical”: In today’s edition of The Boston Globe, Deirdre Fernandes has a front page article that begins, “US District Judge Allison Burroughs appeared skeptical Wednesday that plaintiffs had offered enough proof that Harvard College intentionally discriminated against Asian-American applicants, given that no rejected students testified during a three-week trial.”

And Camille G. Caldera and Sahar M. Mohammadzadeh of The Harvard Crimson report that “Harvard and SFFA Spar Over Discrimination Claims in Post-Trial Hearing.”

“Bill Would Make Online Access to Federal Court Records Free”: Kayla Goggin of Courthouse News Service has a report that begins, “House lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would remove online paywalls and make federal court records free to the public.”

“When Judges Defy the Supreme Court: The chief justice faces a time of great testing, both of himself and of the institution he heads, as the lower courts move rapidly even to his right.” Linda Greenhouse has this essay online at The New York Times.

“SJC rules potential jurors don’t have to put aside all beliefs but must be able to judge impartially”: Martin Finucane of The Boston Globe has this report.

Shira Schoenberg of The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts has an article headlined “Massachusetts SJC: Jurors can bring personal beliefs into the courtroom.”

Cody Shepard of The Enterprise of Brockton, Massachusetts reports that “Brockton defendant argues racial bias; SJC upholds drug conviction.”

Jerome Campbell of WBUR News of Boston reports that “Mass.’ Highest Court Says Jurors Should Not Be Dismissed For Their Personal Beliefs.”

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

“Republicans Look to Speed Up Confirmation of Nominees; Senate rule change would limit power of minority party, angering Democrats”: Andrew Duehren of The Wall Street Journal has an article that begins, “Senate Republicans are moving to accelerate the process for confirming many judicial and executive nominees, setting up another showdown with Democrats over the influence of the minority party in the chamber’s procedures.”

“Harvard, Nonprofit Alleging Discrimination Face Off for Final Time in Boston Courtroom; Judge noted weaknesses on both sides, probed difference between implicit bias and intentional discrimination”: Hilary Krieger of The Wall Street Journal has this report.

And Joan Biskupic of CNN reports that “Judge hears final arguments in Harvard case that could decide future of affirmative action.”

“Oh, good, now we’re weaponizing retired Supreme Court justices; It would be nice if former justices thought before wading into cases where it could easily be perceived that their title was being used as ammunition”: Columnist Marni Soupcoff has this essay online at The National Post of Toronto.

“Supreme Court to rule on case of teacher who secretly filmed students’ cleavage; Reasonable expectation of privacy at centre of Thursday morning judgment”: Catharine Tunney of CBC News has this report.

The Supreme Court of Canada has posted online this summary of the case.

“John Roberts plays a waiting game on ‘Roe v. Wade'”: Columnist Harry Litman has this essay online at The Washington Post.

“Missouri’s high court tosses case alleging abortion law violated Satanic Temple member’s rights”: Jack Suntrup of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has this report.

Summer Ballentine of The Associated Press reports that “Satanic Temple member loses fight on Missouri abortion law.”

Rachel Lippmann of St. Louis Public Radio reports that “Missouri Supreme Court Throws Out Challenge To State’s Abortion Law.”

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

“People Laughed When This Philly Lawyer Sued Led Zeppelin. Nobody’s Laughing Now. Francis Malofiy may be the most hated man in the Philadelphia legal community. He may also be on the cusp of getting the last laugh on rock’s golden gods.” Jonathan Valania of Philadelphia magazine has this report.

“The Dan Markel Case: Now A Top Podcast; If you’ve been following the investigation into this leading law professor’s murder, you will want to tune in.” David Lat has this post at “Above the Law.”

I first noted the podcast in this post from yesterday evening. I have now listened to the first two episodes of the podcast and can definitely recommend it as very interesting (albeit also painful for those of us who knew Dan Markel in real life).

“After licence plate denied, Sask. man opts for giant ‘ASSMAN’ decal; After SGI denied his latest request for an ‘ASSMAN’ vanity licence plate, the Melville man had an oversized decal designed to replicate the plate in question”: Alex MacPherson of The Saskatoon StarPhoenix has this report.

Conservative Seventh Circuit panel rejects First Amendment challenge to Chicago’s abortion clinic protester “bubble zone” ordinance: You can access today’s ruling, written by Circuit Judge Diane S. Sykes, and joined in by Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett and a federal district judge sitting by designation, at this link.

The unanimous panel ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court‘s 2000 ruling in Hill v. Colorado directly governed the outcome, notwithstanding that more recent Supreme Court rulings cast doubt on Hill‘s continuing validity.

“In Washington State, Sheriffs Refuse to Enforce New Gun-Control Law; Attorney general issues warning as rural officials oppose measure passed by voters”: Zusha Elinson of The Wall Street Journal has this report.

“Minnesota Supreme Court rejects Richfield’s effort to fire cop; Police chiefs’ association says state’s highest court ‘missed an opportunity’ to improve police professionalism”: Jennifer Bjorhus of The Minneapolis Star Tribune has this report.

And Bob Collins of Minnesota Public Radio News reports that “MN Supreme Court overturns firing of cop who slapped Somali teen.”

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

“Constitutional Conundrums, Resolved: Part 2.” Mark Pulliam has this post at his blog, “Misrule of Law.”

“Loughry sentenced to 24 months in federal prison”: The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette-Mail has an article that begins, “Former West Virginia Supreme Court justice Allen Loughry was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and fined $10,000 on Wednesday in a federal courtroom in Charleston.”

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg Isn’t Looking to Retire Yet, But Is Another Supreme Court Justice Ready to Go?” Jeffrey Toobin has this post online at The New Yorker.

Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination requires overturning defendant’s federal misprision of a felony conviction, Eighth Circuit holds: You can access today’s per curiam ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit at this link.

“The Substance of the Supreme Court’s procedure”: Leah Litman has this post at the “Take Care” blog.

“A Right to Abort a Full-Term ‘Fetus’?” Law professor Sherry F. Colb has this essay online at Justia’s Verdict.

And at “Dorf on Law,” Colb has a related post titled “Does It Really Matter Why I Do What I Do?“

“Telling People to Kill Themselves: The Michelle Carter case and the complex relationship between causation and mental health.” Irina Manta has this post at “The Volokh Conspiracy.”

“Ginsburg illness casts spotlight on long-term court absences”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.

“High Court Halftime: The U.S. Supreme Court’s October Term 2018 at Midpoint.” Washington Legal Foundation hosted this event yesterday. You can view the video on YouTube via this link.

It’s not everyday that a federal criminal prosecution is argued in a state court of last resort: On Monday, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin heard oral argument in United States v. Franklin, an appellate matter arising from a federal criminal prosecution. You can view the oral argument online via this link.

In coverage of the oral argument, Joe Kelly of Courthouse News Service reports that “Wisconsin Justices Dive Into Nitty-Gritty of Burglary Charges for 7th Circuit.” In other words, the case came before Wisconsin’s highest court on certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

“Susan Collins defends her Brett Kavanaugh vote after he dissents in abortion access case”: Ariane de Vogue and Ted Barrett of CNN have this report.

“Houston federal judge bars female prosecutor from trial, sparking stand-off with U.S. attorney’s office”: Gabrielle Banks and Lise Olsen of The Houston Chronicle have this article, which has a Fifth Circuit connection.

This blog’s earlier coverage of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling in a related matter involving the same federal district judge can be accessed here.

“Religious liberty for some: Why did the Supreme Court deny a Muslim’s plea for an imam at his execution? Domineque Ray’s lawyers had argued that Alabama’s execution policy favoured Christian inmates.” Steven Mazie has this post at the “Democracy in America” blog of The Economist.

“At Harvard, Harvey Weinstein is now a cause for concern”: Stephanie Ebbert of The Boston Globe has this report.

And Shera S. Avi-Yonah and Aidan F. Ryan of The Harvard Crimson report that “Students Call on Harvard Administrators to Remove Winthrop Dean Sullivan From His Post.”

“What Does the Supreme Court Ruling On Louisiana Mean For Roe v Wade?” Boston’s WGBH News has posted this video segment on YouTube.