Death-Penalty Issue Surfaces In Chief Justice Race: According to a story by AP writer Katie Oyan, the politically charged issue of the death penalty has surfaced in the nonpartisan race for chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court, with one candidate acknowledging he would have to remove himself from certain cases due to his opposition to capital punishment. Helena attorney Ron Waterman has no qualms about sharing his anti-death penalty views. Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath, however, said it would be inappropriate for a potential justice to take sides on issues that could come before the court. Waterman has said that he would disqualify himself from hearing death penalty cases if he is elected.

S.F. Gang Injunction Zone Controversial: A story by Chronicle staff writer Demian Bulwa reports that 29 of the 32 men named in City Attorney Dennis Herrera's "safety zone" civil injunction are complaining. The 29 men claim they can't be seen with other suspected Norteño gang members in the zone, even if they are cousins or brothers. Nor can they wear red, the color claimed by Norteños, or hang out on the street after 10 p.m. The civil action against the Norteños was by far the broadest, extending over 60 square blocks in the Mission District. Herrera faced criticism from defense attorneys, including Public Defender Jeff Adachi, and gang outreach groups. They said the city attorney took advantage of some features of civil court - such as the lack of a right to an attorney at no cost - and gave police too much power. Chronicle writer Bulwa co-wrote this story last June about the then-proposed expansion of the 60 block injunction.

Murder Suspect Will Defend Himself At Death Penalty Trial: Stefano Esposito from the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the man accused of killing pharmaceutical rep Nailah Franklin last year will be allowed to represent himself at trial in a case in which prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty. Cook County Judge Thomas V. Gainer Jr. granted Reginald Potts' request Friday, but only after repeatedly warning Potts he was making a big mistake. Nailah Franklin, 28, disappeared in September 2007. Her partly decomposed body was found 10 days later in a wooded area of Calumet City. The State is seeking the death penalty because the murder was "cold and calculated" and occurred while Potts was committing other felonies against Franklin.