Fed. judge in Va. rejects sniper Muhammad's appeal: That's the headline of an AP story on both the WaPo and SFChron sites, but the story doesn't seem to have any text as of this writing. Next stop, the Fourth Circuit. Update: The AP story has text now.

Sentence in SF Dog Mauling Case: Attorney Marjorie Knoller has received a 15- to- life sentence for negligently allowing two dangerous Presa Canario fighting dogs to attack and maul to death 33 year old Dianne Whipple seven years ago. A story by SF Chronicle writer Bob Egelko reports that at sentencing, Judge Charlotte Woolard found that Knoller did practially nothing while her dogs fatally mauled Ms Whipple in the apartment hallway they shared, then later blamed the victim for her own death. Knoller had been warned several times that the dogs were dangerous and should be restrained. She was keeping the dogs for criminals serving time in California's Pelican Bay Prison.

Santa Clara County Passes Underage Drinking Law: AP reports that parents and other people who host parties in parts of Santa Clara County where anyone under the age of 21 is drinking alcohol may be facing fines under new rules passed by county supervisors. By a 3-2 vote, Santa Clara County supervisors approved the law that holds parents, tenants, party hosts or party organizers responsible for parties that involve underage drinking. Hosts of such parties could face fines of up to $1,000 if they do not heed an initial warning.

Berkeley Throws the Book at Tree-Sitters: Activists who spent 21 months sitting in trees to prevent their removal to build an athletic training facility at U.C. Berkeley are facing civil fines and attorney's fees which could total $10,000 according to this Los Angeles Times story. The University is seeking maximum penalties to deter future protests, which is interesting because some Berkeley law professors do not believe that penalties deter criminal behavior. The defendants are also facing criminal prosecution which could result in jail time. "Shame on you Berkeley", said Tony Serra, the notorious, Bay Area defense lawyer representing the tree-sitters. We were surprised to learn he is still an attorney, but his bar record indicates he has managed to avoid actual disbarment so far.

Mom Spared Death For Fire That Killed Daughter: According to an article from the Associated Press, a Texas woman who set her three young daughters on fire, killing one of them, has been sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole in a plea deal that spared her the possibility of the death penalty. Alysha V. Green pleaded guilty Monday to capital murder and two counts of injury to a child. She admitted setting the fire because she was angry at her husband, the girls' father. Green coaxed her daughters, then 3, 5, and 7 years old, into a closet by saying they were playing a game, poured gasoline on them and threw a burning shirt on them, according to documents filed in the case. Three-year-old Ariania was burned over 90 percent of her body and died a few days after the fire at their home in Haltom City a year ago.