Let's Make a Deal: Officials in Washington and in Moscow are discussing a deal to exchange 10 of the alleged Russian spies arrested in June in the United States for prisoners held in Russia. Stories here, here and here. The swap deal would be the first since the end of the Cold War. In other big deal news, the Cuban government is planning to free 52 political prisoners in a move that could help thaw relations with the United States, The Washington Post reports.
Drilling Appeal: The Justice Department's challenge of a judge's decision blocking a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico comes before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit today, The National Law Journal reports. Many judges on the bench have ties to the oil industry, including investment and former representation in private practice. The New York Times reports today that Transocean, the owner of the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf in April, was known around the world for testing local laws and regulations.
Wiretap Suit Billing: Lawyers representing the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation in a suit over illegal wiretapping are seeking more than $2.6 million in legal fees, The Recorder reports. Lead counsel Jon Eisenberg requested that Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California award him over $1.2 million for 2,497 hours at $506 per.
Sticker Shock: The American Civil Liberties Union is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a First Amendment case involving two Denver residents who were removed from a town hall meeting held by President George W. Bush because of the bumper stickers on their car. The National Law Journal reports the two residents arrived in a vehicle sporting a sticker that read "No More Blood For Oil."
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