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The Jack of Kent blog maintains his vigil over the infuriating libel case the British Chiropractic Association has brought against science writer Simon Singh. Today he posted news of the BCA’s latest legal salvo, grandly titled “THIRD UPDATE ON BCA v SIMON SINGH” [scare caps in original].

In it, the BCA — after a pissy schoolyard intro — lists scholarly reference s to buttress their “we’re not bogus” stance. I’m sure they’ll be pored over thoroughly by the skeptical community, as Jack of Kent predicts… I look forward to that process. It promises to be an excellent scientific dogfight!

On June 4, Simon Singh announced that he will be appealing the pre-trial judgment in the libel case brought against him by those Sultans of Snakeoil, the British Chiropractic Association.

The Sense About Science web site has stepped up to serve as a main organizer of information about the case. It provides breaking news on the legal case and lets you know what you can do to support our man Simon (who is fighting the costly battle at his own expense). One of the things you can do right away is add your name to the list of supporters, which is now in the thousands. “Keep the Libel Laws Out of Science!” goes the slogan; you can do so by signing here!.

The New Humanist reports on Monday’s event in support of Simon Singh and his libel battle with the quacks of chiropractic. Singh did not announce whether he’d be appealing; his lawyers are still working out the best course of action.

But it sounds like it went extremely well. Comedian Dave Gorman writes about the evening in his blog post Chiro-Bullies.

One of my all-time favorite science and math writers, Simon Singh, was handed an unbelievably idiotic ruling in a libel case in the UK. The case was brought over Singh’s use of the term “bogus” in a piece about chiropractic, the idiotic pseudoscience of back-cracking as a cure-all. “Bogus”, a term favored by my weed-smokin’ cohort in high school — later popularized by Bill & Ted — seems to me a rather tame epithet to throw at chiroquackery. But the back-crackers themselves, and apparently the judge, felt otherwise.

According to Jack of Kent’s Blog, Singh is pondering whether or not to appeal, and will announce his decision Monday, May 18th at 6:30pm GMT, at “the Penderels Oak, the usual meeting place of London Skeptics in the Pub.” He will be joined by other speakers and supporters.

Wish I could be there. Readers of this site know that I’m a fan of both Singh and freethinking… I will watch from this side of the Atlantic with great interest!