Yes, even though we are in the throes of the Battle for Pennsylvania, life still goes on.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments in Philadelphia. Here are some of the important issues that the six justices will be asked to decide.

No, that was not a typo. It is already mid-April and we are still waiting for the Senate Republicans to get off their collective high horse and either decide for or against Rendell’s picks to fill the vacancies on Pennsylvania’s appellate courts. While the Senate Republicans continue their prolonged hissy fit, the unfortunate litigants arguing their cases before the Supreme Court face the very real possibility that the high court could render 3-3 decisions on the matters before them.

The state Supreme Court’s session in Philadelphia this week will include arguments on a city casino owner’s right to build on state-owned river lands, public access to autopsy records and a journalist’s right to protect a source over the confidentiality of a grand jury investigation.

During the April 14-17 session, justices will also hear arguments on automobile insurance claims, the forfeiture of property unrelated to a crime by a criminal defendant and the whether Philadelphia is liable under the tort claims act for mismanaging a deferred compensation plan for more than 12,000 city employees.

The session will be the second since former Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy’s resignation in which the court will hear arguments with less than a full compliment of justices. Gov. Edward G. Rendell’s nomination of former Commonwealth Court Judge James Gardner Colins as Cappy’s interim replacement is stalled in the state Senate.

*****************************************

In the ongoing fight over gaming in Philadelphia, state lawmakers and City Council filed petitions for review of former Mayor John F. Street’s decision to grant HSP Gaming to build its SugarHouse Casino on submerged land in the Delaware River.

Even though Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter countermanded Street’s decision when he took office in January, it remains the subject of litigation initiated by state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and members of City Council. HSP Gaming, is appealing Nutter’s decision in a separate case. ...

In Castellani and Corcoran v. Scranton Times, two Lackawanna County commissioners have asked the court to decide whether the interest in protecting the confidentiality of the grand jury process outweighs a journalist’s right to protect the identity of a source under Pennsylvania’s Shield Law. ...

In a pair of consolidated appeals, Penn Jersey Advance Inc. v. Grim and The Morning Call v. Grim, two Lehigh Valley newspapers argue that the Commonwealth Court erred in finding that a coroner is not required release autopsy reports to the public. ...

In Vanderhoff v. Harleysville Insurance Co., the court will consider whether an insurance company must prove prejudice when an insured reports the involvement of an unidentified vehicle in an accident to police, but does not immediately report it to his insurer. ...

In McShea v. the City of Philadelphia, the court will consider the Commonwealth Court’s reversal of a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge’s judgment entered against the city of Philadelphia in the management of the deferred compensation plan of over 12,000 Philadelphia city employees. ...

In Ex Rel John Singleton v. Johnson, the Supreme Court will hear the case of a Philadelphia burglary defendant who sought the return of jewelry he was wearing when arrested and that authorities couldn’t directly to any crime.