Litigation

Senate Judiciary Committee Clears Bill Authorizing Cameras in Federal Courtrooms
From the National Law Journal: "The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation authorizing the chief judges of federal district and appellate courts to permit cameras in courtrooms...

Senate OKs Surveillance Overhaul Bill
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that broadens the federal government's wiretap and surveillance powers, and effectively gives some telecommunications companies legal immunity for cooperating in government investigations related to terrorism...

Becalmed
Keith Perine in the Congressional Quarterly spied the stall in the Senate version of the Patent Reform Act. The Senate is not expected to take up a measure to overhaul patent laws until April at the earliest, as agreement on the complex legislation remains elusive...

Ind. Courts - "It's time to open up our Hoosier courts to cameras: Technology has changed the meaning of having a public trial"
An excellent editorial today in the Fort Wayne News Sentinel:The Indiana Supreme Court should just decide one way or the other whether to allow cameras in the courtroom instead of continuing to tease Hoosiers with the issue...

Will the Supremes Say Cheese
While it snows here, in DC the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act. We are psyched that Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is such an expert on cameras in the courtroom...

Senate judiciary panel advances bill curbing state secrets privilege
[JURIST] The US Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the State Secrets Protection Act [S 2533 materials; CRS summary], sending the legislation to the Senate floor for consideration...

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
TEA-21 - Plus Law 105-178

Federal Transportation Equity Act of 2005
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

Phone Bill Reduction
Qwest agrees to $16 million settlement in overcharging lawsuit.

Darvocet
FDA Expert Panel Votes for Ban

Insignia
26-Inch Flat-Panel LCD TVs Recalled

Gulf War Syndrome
Panel Confirms it's Real, and Identifies Causes

Pull Vicodin, Percocet
Expert Panel Advises FDA

Hartford Class Action Settlement of $72.5M Approved
$72.5M Hartford Settlement Approved