Summary of Supreme Court action Monday

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court denied appeals in nearly 2,000 cases Monday. Among those whose appeals were rejected:

—Former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio, who was contesting his conviction for insider trading.

—A former Florida high school student who was challenging a state law that requires students to say the Pledge of Allegiance unless they have their parents' written permission excusing them.

—The Roman Catholic diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., which wanted to prevent the release of documents generated by lawsuits against priests for alleged sexual abuse.

—An anti-abortion group that was trying to force Illinois to issue "Choose Life" license plates.

—A Louisiana death row inmate who argued that death sentences in the state are imposed arbitrarily.

—The St. James Anglican Church, an Episcopal congregation in southern California, that split off from the national church over the consecration of an openly gay Episcopal bishop. The California church sought control of the church building and its property.

— The Interior Department, which asked for high court review of a ruling about royalties on energy leases in the Gulf of Mexico that the Obama administration says will cost taxpayers at least $19 billion.

—A foot doctor who was challenging his conviction and death sentence in the killing of a disabled former nurse. Prosecutors said the woman was killed to prevent her from testifying against the doctor, Ronald Mikos, about allegations of Medicare fraud.

—Former DuPage County, Ill., prosecutor Thomas Knight, who sued the Chicago Tribune for libel over allegations he was involved in framing a suspect for the rape and murder of a child. Knight was acquitted of criminal charges, as was the rape and murder suspect.

—David Greenwell, a former sheriff's deputy in Bullitt, Ky., who complained that his First Amendment rights were violated when he announced plans to challenge Sheriff Paul Parsley in the next election and was promptly fired.