CAPITAL CULTURE: Unlike other justices, Sotomayor becomes a celebrity outside the courtroom. Apparently, no one told Sonia Sotomayor that Supreme Court justices are supposed to be circumspect, emerging from their marble palace mainly to dispense legal wisdom to law schools, judges' conferences and lawyers' meetings.

Runners-up to Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year. The runners-up to Merriam-Webster's 2009 Word of the Year (admonish), with definitions from the publisher's collegiate dictionary and, when applicable, the news event or story that generated the interest in the word:

Who's invited? Don't ask White House, which is mum on details of Obama's first state dinner. It's the hottest ticket in town. Just don't ask the White House who got them.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor goes down the middle at Yankee Stadium with ceremonial 1st pitch. Sonia Sotomayor was right down the middle with her ceremonial pitch at Yankee Stadium.

American Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor opened a New York Yankees baseball game Saturday with a ceremonial first pitch right up the middle.

Courts let 3 post-9/11 lawsuits try to hold Bush officials personally liable for terror policy. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft and one of his hardline lieutenants face the rare prospect of being held personally liable for alleged violations of individuals' rights in the aggressive aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

In rare decisions, judges allow suits to advance against former Bush administration officials. High-ranking government officials are usually protected from claims that they violated a person's civil rights. In lawsuits stemming from law enforcement and intelligence efforts after the Sept. 11 attacks, three federal courts have left open the possibility that former Attorney General John Ashcroft and a lieutenant may be held personally liable.

The US Supreme Court will rule next year on a new constitutional challenge over gun rights, reviving debate over one of America's most divisive issues, and examine a law banning "material support to terrorism" groups.

President Obama's nominees to fill federal court vacancies. A look at President Barack Obama's nominees to fill federal court vacancies:

SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: Sotomayor won't sell New York apartment in this economy. Not even Supreme Court justices are immune from the economy. Justice Sonia Sotomayor plans to keep her apartment in New York for the time being, even as she gets a place in Washington.

EDITOR'S NOTE ? An occasional look at how Washington works ? or doesn't.

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Obama slower than Bush to nominate judges who could change outcome of cases. Eight months into office, President Barack Obama is moving far more slowly than his predecessor to fill federal court vacancies, leaving liberals waiting for the judiciary to tilt to the left.

Justice Sotomayor dances, sings, throws _ and now sits _ as Supreme Court begins its new term. Justice David Souter never danced the salsa in public. Justice John Paul Stevens doesn't sing in karaoke bars. And Chief Justice John Roberts hasn't thrown out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium.

6 members of Supreme Court attend annual Red Mass traditionally held day before term begins. An American cardinal on Sunday issued a plea for the rights of the unborn at a church service that included Vice President Joe Biden, six members of the Supreme Court and hundreds of members of the legal community.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court will again consider gun rights and decide an important case that could loosen restrictions on corporation spending in political campaigns in its new term beginning on Monday.

Hot-button issues including gun rights and counter-terrorism will be on the docket when the US Supreme Court, including newest member Sonia Sotomayor, begins a new term on Monday.

The Supreme Court, which now includes its first Hispanic justice Sonia Sotomayor, begins a new term on Monday that will focus on hot-button issues including gun rights and counter-terrorism.

Supreme Court begins with argument over prisoner's old request for lawyer in sex abuse case. The Supreme Court began its new term Monday with Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the bench as the court tried to hash out how long a suspect's request for a lawyer should be considered valid by police and the courts.

Supreme Court opens with case on prisoner's request for a lawyer; Sotomayor jumps right in. The Supreme Court began its new term Monday by indicating a willingness to limit how long a suspect's request for a lawyer should remain valid, and new Justice Sonia Sotomayor wasted little time in letting her voice be heard by questioning the lawyers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. law that makes it a crime to sell videos of animals being tortured or killed may be too broad as it possibly covers documentary films and depictions of hunting or bullfights, Supreme Court justices said on Tuesday.