1. LAW:
Supreme Court hears Navy sonar case

The Supreme Court waded today into a long-running dispute between environmentalists and the Navy over the effects of sonar exercises on whales. During oral arguments in Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, the justices peppered both sides with questions about whether the Navy can be barred from conducting sonar-training exercises that may pose a threat to marine mammals off the coast of Southern California. Go to story #1

2. LAW:
Justices weigh standing of groups challenging federal agency rules

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on whether a group of environmental organizations has established standing to contest a series of Forest Service regulations. The case, Summers v. Earth Island Institute, turns on whether the U.S. Forest Service violated the requirements of the Forest Service Decision Making and Appeals Reform Act when it enacted regulations that severely limited the rights of notice, appeals and public comment on certain categorically excluded projects. Go to story #2