“Harvard could find an ally in the DOJ under Biden”: Deirdre Fernandes of The Boston Globe has an article that begins, “As the Harvard University case on use of race in college admissions approaches the US Supreme Court, a onetime foe of the school is likely to become an ally.”

“Judicial Notice: February 6, 2021; Notable legal news from the week that was.” David Lat has this post at his “Original Jurisdiction” Substack site.

“The Supreme Court’s new, deeply fractured decision on churches and the pandemic, explained; Amy Coney Barrett just handed down her first Supreme Court opinion, and it’s surprisingly revealing”: Ian Millhiser of Vox has this report.

“You probably haven’t heard of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. That’s going to change.” Columnist Ruth Marcus has this essay online at The Washington Post.

Therein, Marcus writes, “The 50-year-old federal district court judge is a leading contender to take the appeals court seat being vacated by attorney general-designate Merrick Garland. That could be just the first promotion, though.”

“The Knives Come Out for Josh Hawley: The elite conservative world saw the Missouri senator as America’s next great statesman; Instead, he’s revealed uncomfortable truths about the movement.” Emma Green of The Atlantic has this report, in which Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. is mentioned four times.

“How One Supreme Court Decision Increased Discrimination Against LGBTQ Couples: People may like to believe that the Court can accommodate conservative religious groups without causing much harm, but that does not seem to be the case.” Law professor Netta Barak-Corren has this essay online at The Atlantic.

Barak-Corren recently posted at SSRN a related article titled “Religious Exemptions Increase Discrimination Towards Same-Sex Couples: Evidence from Masterpiece Cakeshop.”

“Kagan Warns the Supreme Court’s New COVID Decision May Kill People”: Mark Joseph Stern has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

“Texas Satanist Sues for Religious Opt Out From Abortion Rule”: Mary Anne Pazanowski of Bloomberg Law has this report (subscription required for full access).

Courthouse News Service has posted online at this link the complaint initiating suit filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Exceptions may apply to Los Angeles District Attorney’s opposition to capital punishment: In today’s edition of The Los Angeles Times, James Queally has an article headlined “Gascón makes exception to death penalty ban for ‘boy next door’ killer.”

“The death penalty is in the death throes”: Columnist David Von Drehle has this essay online at The Washington Post.

“Sidney Powell team doubles down on debunked election claims in attempt to avoid sanctions”: Dave Boucher has this front page article in today’s edition of The Detroit Free Press.

“Supreme Court Partly Backs Religious Challenge to California Virus Restrictions; The ruling followed a similar one in a case from New York and provided more evidence of a change in the court’s direction after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg”: Adam Liptak of The New York Times has this report.

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court rules California churches may open despite the pandemic.”

Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal reports that “Supreme Court Hands California Churches Partial Relief From Covid-19 Restrictions; Churches argued they should be classified alongside businesses where capacity is capped at 25%.”

John Fritze of USA Today reports that “Supreme Court blocks enforcement of some California COVID-19 rules for churches.”

In today’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko has a front page article headlined “U.S. Supreme Court lifts California’s ban on indoor church services, keeps 25% capacity limit.”

Dale Kasler of The Sacramento Bee reports that “U.S. Supreme Court rules against Newsom on indoor church services in California COVID-19 case.”

Jessica Gresko of The Associated Press has a report headlined “Justices: California can’t enforce indoor church service ban.”

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Supreme Court Lets California Churches Hold Indoor Services.”

Ariane de Vogue of CNN reports that “Supreme Court gives partial win to California churches fighting Covid restrictions.”

Brie Stimson of Fox News reports that “Supreme Court ruling in California case allows indoor religious services to resume — with some limits; The decision is a partial win for groups fighting the state’s coronavirus restrictions.”

Josh Gerstein of Politico reports that “Supreme Court lifts California worship bans prompted by coronavirus; The ruling issued just before 11 p.m. ET Friday produced four separate statements by the justices.”

Jordan Williams of The Hill reports that “Supreme Court lifts some restrictions on California church services.”

And at “The Volokh Conspiracy,” Josh Blackman has a post titled “SCOTUS Decides South Bay v. Newsom II, Enjoins Complete Prohibition on Indoor Worship Services; The Court is badly fractured, as Justice Barrett writes her first separate writing.”

You can access last night’s order of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the opinions concurring therein and dissenting therefrom, at this link.