“California’s Xavier Becerra confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary”: Eli Stokols of The Los Angeles Times has this report.

And Tal Kopan and Alexei Koseff of The San Francisco Chronicle have an article headlined “Xavier Becerra confirmed to Biden’s Cabinet. Who will be next California attorney general?“

“A Day in a Scorched-Earth Senate: Democrats want to ‘fix’ the chamber by ending the filibuster; That would break it.” Columnist Kimberley A. Strassel will have this op-ed in Friday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, in today’s edition of The Washington Post, columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. has an op-ed titled “Goodbye and good riddance to the filibuster” and columnist Karen Tumulty has an op-ed titled “Want to fix the filibuster? All it takes is guts.”

“Same-sex spouse fights government denial of death benefits in test for Biden administration”: Ann E. Marimow of The Washington Post has this report.

According to the article, the case is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“Congress Sowed the Seeds of Jan. 6 in 1887; The Electoral Vote Count Act lets Congress think it can choose the President, but it’s unconstitutional”: Former Fourth Circuit Judge J. Michael Luttig and David B. Rivkin Jr. will have this op-ed in Friday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal.

“Removal and Remand: Investigating the Data on Removal to Federal Court.” Taylor Dalton has this post at The Juris Lab.

“She lost by 401 votes in 2020. Now former NC chief justice is planning a US Senate run.” Brian Murphy of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina has this report.

“Jeffery Rosen: Remembering the Notorious RBG.” Temple Emanu-El NYC this evening hosted this event (access the YouTube video via this link), which also featured Dahlia Lithwick.

“Juries are supposed to be unanimous. But I was convicted under an unconstitutional law. I was convicted by a monument to racism. Today, that monument can and should be taken down by the same person who sentenced me.” Terrence Hayes has this essay online at USA Today.

“Meet the candidates: Race for Pa. Supreme Court kicks off with virtual forum.” Katie Meyer of WHYY has this report.

And Jesse Bernstein of Philadelphia’s Jewish Exponent reports that “Judge Maria McLaughlin Runs for Pa. Supreme Court.”

“Appeals court revives criminal case against Michael Flynn’s ex-business partner”: Rachel Weiner and Ann E. Marimow of The Washington Post have this report.

Matthew Barakat of The Associated Press reports that “Appeal court reinstates conviction of Flynn business partner.”

Josh Gerstein of Politico reports that “Court reinstates guilty verdicts against Flynn partner over Turkey lobbying; Judge erred by tossing out jury’s conclusion that Trump transition adviser Bijan Rafiekian evaded lobbying laws, appeals court rules.”

And Erika Williams of Courthouse News Service reports that “Guilty Verdict Against Ex-Flynn Partner Reinstated; The Fourth Circuit made mincemeat of Bijan Kian’s acquittal after-the-fact, saying the trial court was also wrong to conditionally grant a new trial.”

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

“It’s nearly impossible to hold federal officers accountable. The Supreme Court can change that.” Anya Bidwell, Patrick Jaicomo, and Alexa Gervasi have this essay online at The Washington Post.

“A Supreme Court case could devastate unions’ ability to organize. And that’s just the start.” Law professor Aaron Tang has this essay online at The Washington Post.

“Ninth Circuit Rejects Football Coach’s Suit Over Midfield Prayer”: Patrick Dorrian and Brian Flood of Bloomberg Law have this report (subscription required for full access) on a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued today.

Neither federal law nor Iowa law required vacating $200,000 punitive damages award simply because the jury awarded zero in compensatory damages: You can access yesterday’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit at this link.

“Street Preacher Kicked Out of Festival Takes Free Speech Case to 8th Circuit”: Rox Laird of Courthouse News Service had this report back in December 2020.

Today, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued this decision affirming the district court’s order denying a preliminary injunction.

“Ex-escort who allegedly obtained pandemic-relief loan while awaiting prison now back in custody”: Jason Meisner of The Chicago Tribune had this report back in November 2020.

Yesterday, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a decision affirming this criminal defendant’s conviction and sentence.

“Biden on Pace to Flip Positions at Supreme Court More Than Trump”: Kimberly Strawbridge Robinson of Bloomberg Law has this report.

Paul D. Clement for Pretzel Crisps, your Honors: Bernie Pazanowski and Perry Cooper of Bloomberg Law have a report headlined “4th Cir. Clears Two Paths for Repeat Trademark Ruling Reviews” about a ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued yesterday.

“Maine likes not-too-religious schools”: Columnist George F. Will has this op-ed in today’s edition of The Washington Post.

“The new top editor of Georgetown’s flagship law journal is ‘undocumented and unafraid'”: Ann E. Marimow of The Washington Post has this report.

“Supreme Court to hear challenge to California law that allows union organizers on farms”: David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has this report.

“Breyer mum as some liberals urge him to quit Supreme Court”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.

“The real question on Justice Kavanaugh’s background check”: Asha Rangappa has this essay online at CNN.

And online at The Nation, Elie Mystal has an essay titled “It’s Time to Investigate the FBI — for Its Deep-Fake Kavanaugh Investigation; While most Democrats seem resigned to Kavanaugh’s presence on the Supreme Court, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is pushing to keep the case against him alive.”