Crossing my desk:

1. Latest issue of The Bencher, magazine of the American Inns of Court, a worthwhile nationwide organization whose local chapters bring together attorneys, law students, judges, and profs for dinner and discussion. This issue admirably presents different points of view on whether politicians' criticisms of the judges threaten our independent judiciary. The correct view -- that this complaint is silly whining by an extremely safe and powerful elite -- is adequately represented by Judge William Pryor.

I noticed, though, that one article featured two incendiary quotes, expressing anger at liberal judges in terms that could, to a hyper-sensitive mind, be construed as threats of violence. Others would see them as mere political effluvia. But here's the thing: no, I'm not one of the two people quoted -- but both of them are friends of mine. There have been some "queer fish" through my place, to be sure.

2. An abstract for a new article hailing Justice Stevens as a "human rights justice." Of particular interest:

The article reveals that as a codebreaker Stevens played a role in the downing of the Japanese general responsible for attacking Pearl Harbor, and that this sowed seeds of concern about another targeted state killing, capital punishment.

Yep, Admiral Yamamoto, great human rights violation victim, right up there (as 'twere) with Saddam Hussein. Evidently, in this author's circles, there's no further debate over just war or capital punishment: it's all just "targeted state killing," unless it's delegated to abortionists, in which case it's a fundamental right.