Bilski & the Definition of Things That “Are Free for All to Use”

The Supreme Court today issued its long-anticipated opinion in the Bilski patent case, regarding a rejected application for patent protection over a method for hedging against the risk of price changes in the energy market. Hot off the presses: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdf.
And at first glance, this complex mix of opinions seems rather inconclusive. Basically, [...]

Can Judicial Openness Initiatives Disqualify Judges from Access Cases?

The Supreme Court has refused to indulge a stay sought by the Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation which would have kept 12,000 pages of court records and depositions in a long-running CT clergy abuse case from public view.
The judgment sought to be stayed, Rosado v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., raises some fascinating access issues, [...]