Mother of Missing Florida Toddler Makes Initial Court Appearance on Murder Charges: An article from the Fox News states that the mother of missing Florida toddler Caylee Anthony made her initial court appearance this morning on first-degree murder and other charges. The mother was indicted Tuesday afternoon on the charges by a grand jury after an exhaustive four-month-long investigation into her daughter's whereabouts. Caylee's body has never been found and she has been missing since mid-June. Anthony could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

Death Row Inmate Is Confessed Killer But Denies Murders: The AP has this story of death row inmate Alvin Kelly from East Texas, who doesn't deny he committed a murder but insists he had no involvement in the murder spree he is charged with – where three people, including a 22-month-old child, were gunned down 24 years ago in East Texas. The former Tyler truck repair shop owner was executed Tuesday evening in Huntsville. He was the 10th Texas prisoner executed this year. The AP has this report on Kelly's execution.

Why The Supreme Court Matters In The Presidential Election: A commentary by jurist guest columnist William G. Ross of Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, states that American voters should carefully consider the candidates' positions and likely impact on the federal courts as the outcome of the 2008 election could profoundly influence the decisions of those courts, and especially the US Supreme Court, for decades to come. Three “liberal” Justices are likely to resign because of retirement and health problems. The replacement of even one of these Justices with a more “conservative” Justice could decisively alter the Court’s decisions on a multitude of issues. Judicial issues are too important to ignore in a presidential campaign, he says. According to Ross, the behavior of individual justices is unpredictable and most voters should be able to make intelligent general assumptions about how McCain or Obama nominees would rule on a wide range of critically important subjects. Ross concludes, voters therefore should carefully consider how the election will affect judicial decisions.

Houston Jury Gives 99 Years In Grisly Murder: Brian Rogers from the Houston Chronicle reports that Timothy Shepherd was sentenced late Tuesday to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, the maximum punishment for the murder of former girlfriend Tynesha Stewart, whom he strangled and dismembered before burning her remains on two barbecue grills in March 2007. Prosecutor Marie Primm said she was satisfied with the verdict and noted that 99 years and a life sentence for murder are essentially the same. With either, Shepherd is eligible for parole in 30 years.