Since businesses often land in court, a case involving a company in which a justice has financial ties could be trouble. If chosen for the high court, some potential nominees might have to step aside from certain cases or unload stocks to avoid ethical conflicts between their official duties and personal financial interests.

Among stocks held by people mentioned as President Barack Obama's possible picks to succeed retiring Justice David Souter:

_ Appellate Judges Diane Wood and Kim Wardlaw have reported they have stakes in Whole Foods Market Inc. The upscale grocer won permission from a federal appeals court in Washington in 2007 to buy rival organic grocer Wild Oats Markets despite the Federal Trade Commission's argument that the deal would stifle competition. To settle the commission's claims, Whole Foods agreed this year to sell several stores.

_ At least five Supreme Court prospects have disclosed stock in Zimmer Holdings Inc., a maker of artificial hips and knees that was investigated by federal prosecutors over allegations it paid doctors who used the products. Charges were dropped after Zimmer agreed to pay a fine and undergo monitoring.

Laura Althouse's attorney filed a motion Monday to withdraw the plea after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that undocumented workers who use phony IDs can't be considered identity thieves unless they knew they were using ID numbers from real people.

A judge granted Althouse's motion Tuesday, and her attorney says that effectively dismisses the charge. Althouse still faces sentencing May 13 on a charge of conspiracy to harbor undocumented immigrants for financial gain at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville.

U.S. attorney's spokesman Bob Teig declined to comment.

The Munich couple, whose first names were not released, challenged the law after they married. They argued they wanted to share a surname, while each maintaining professional names — Thalheim is a dentist and Kunz-Hallstein a lawyer.

They said the law violated their right to free choice and could be damaging their careers.

But the Karlsruhe-based Federal Constitutional Court rejected their claim, ruling the law exists to prevent clunky "name chains," while still allowing couples to decide for themselves which last name, or two-name combination, they wish to take on.

"This addresses the wish to create names that are viable in legal and business dealings, while at the same time do not lead to name chains in later generations," the court wrote.

Germany has strict laws governing not only which surnames can be used, but also which first names can be given to a child.

Vincent Cantu, who served eight years with the Pasadena Police Department, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court.

Cantu admitted robbing two La Habra banks last year and was suspected of robbing three others in 2005 and 2006. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to pursue the other alleged robberies.

The FBI called Cantu the "Polite Bandit" because he allegedly apologized to his victims. In one instance, prosecutors say, Cantu told a weeping bank teller that he is sorry but needed to take $10,000 for his son.

Cantu pleaded guilty to robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a sentenced up to life in prison.

The court ruled Monday that undocumented workers who use phony identification can't be considered identity thieves unless they knew they were using ID numbers from real people. Some officials at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, where hundreds of illegal immigrants were arrested in a raid last year, face identity theft counts.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade allowed former human resources employee Laura Althouse to drop the guilty plea to identity theft she made in October. She still faces sentencing May 13 on a charge of conspiracy to harbor undocumented immigrants for financial gain.

Former Agriprocessors vice president Sholom Rubashkin also faces identity theft-related charges and has pleaded not guilty. His attorney Guy Cook said he will file "very soon" a motion to dismiss some of the counts against his client based on the Supreme Court ruling.

The high court's decision limits federal authorities' use of a 2004 law designed to get tough on identity thieves.

Authorities charged 270 illegal immigrants with identity theft following the raid at the Postville plant on May 12, 2008. They all accepted plea deals in which they agreed not to fight deportation.

Saberi was jailed on April 18 on charges of spying for the United States, Iran's arch foe. The case could complicate Washington's efforts toward reconciliation with the Islamic Republic after three decades of mutual mistrust.

Her father said the 32-year-old was "very weak" after refusing food for two weeks in Tehran's Evin prison in protest at the verdict. Reza Saberi said his daughter fainted a few days ago and had been given intravenous fluid.

Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said he had no information about this. He denied that Saberi was on hunger strike and said she was in good health.

The U.S. administration of President Barak Obama, who has offered a new beginning of engagement with Iran if it "unclenches its fist," says the espionage charges against Saberi are baseless and has demanded her immediate release.