See also punctuatedlaw.myshopify.com/products/hoo...

Run the Jewel.

This really is the culmination of the unitary executive theory — the entire cabinet must profess servile fealty to the personality of one man & forswear any notion that their office entails responsibilities to the American people or concern for the public good beyond servicing his whims

Yeah, the article makes Gorsuch’s comment about a “wise move” sound like he’s complimenting Tom’s tactical brilliance. But attorneys know that the real meaning is more like “Your first argument was so weak that we’ve already eviscerated it; you’d be smart to move on and not look back.”

When people ask what I teach students in my #legalwriting classes, I should just show them this screenshot and say, “The exact opposite of this.”

I have seen DOJ do some strange redactions before, but this is up there:

Happy New Hardcore History Episode Day to all who celebrate.

Not for the first time, the signature block for Self-Proclaimed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan spelled it “Virgina.”

I'm going to be fascinated to see what kind of half-baked metrics and proxies firms start using to "draft" talent, like the NFL's obsession with QB hand size or NBA wingspans.

Law firms: “Law schools need to do a better job of teaching our students how to be lawyers.” Also law firms: “Hey 1Ls, blow off your class reading and #legalwriting assignments from October to February so that you can come to our recruitment dinners and do interviews and complete applications!”

I mean, we really don’t have to wait until 2028 for this kind of accountability. These are lawyers with bar cards. State-bar disciplinary boards have a role in deterring this nonsense. The fact that they haven’t done so (except for Eastman and Rudy) is a massive failure of the legal profession.

BREAKING: 38 state legislatures have just submitted a revised Constitution” “nunc pro tunc” correcting a “scrivener’s error” to remove the words “against the United States”.

When judges find police/prosecutorial misconduct, it's fascinating when they name the LEO/prosecutor in their opinion; often it's just "the arresting officer" or "the ADA." (Free Student Note idea!). Xinis makes clear it was "Immigration Judge Phillip Taylor" who signed this unusual order.

WOW; a DEEPLY corrupt move by the immigration courts; clear collaboration with Trump admin officials to produce a specific result with zero notice to the party and ALSO in a situation where the judge facially lacks jurisdiction; the judge had denied a motion to reopen and the case is on appeal.

How many times is our government going to break the law and lie in public to railroad this one guy? Nobody who had any part of this should know a moment’s peace.

You can fix an order that says you’re deported to “El Salsador” nunc pro tunc. Not, “hey here’s a backdated deportation order.”

That is … not what nunc pro tunc is

This is an egregious, bad-faith example of a crucial practice tip for #legalwriting students: Lawyers often operate based on assumptions, vague memories, or things they heard second or third-hand. Don’t just blindly trust what someone says happened—even if the source is well-intentioned. 1/

Let’s. Go. Duke!

DOJ: "Oh, whatever. We'll just get a new indictment with different, indisputably appropriately appointed prosecutors." FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN NORFOLK:

He, of course, meant to say “Capital”—not “Capitol”

As someone who teaches a law school seminar course on Stoicism, I’m heartbroken to see Marcus Aurelius getting so little love.

Me: “It’s best to avoid underlining, centering, or using all caps in your headings.” Students: “Why?” Me: #legalwriting www.reddit.com/r/CrappyDesi...

Law firms: “1Ls need to get more practical-skills training so they can hit the ground running in our offices.” Also law firms: [Ramp up recruiting during 1L fall and spring semesters, hampering students’ ability to actually acquire said practical skills.]

This is good 1L exam advice from Prof. Kerr. But I feel the need to provide an addendum: While this A+ answer is undoubtedly an A+ answer for a timed in-class exam in a doctrinal class, it would *not* receive a high grade in my legal writing class. Timed in-class exam answers are their own thing! 1/

Especially for the 1Ls out there, preparing for their 1st set of law school exams, I wrote this post back in 2007 about how to get a good grade on a law school issue spotter. The post, "Bad Answers, Good Answers, and Terrific Answers," is available here: volokh.com/posts/116838...

I'm so heartened to hear that Raffi took time to share his wisdom. No doubt these lucky students learned a lot--both in terms of nuts-and-bolts lawyering skills and professionalism and decency. Our students need more, good adjuncts like him. A quick 🧵 with some tips for lawyers who want to.

The number of ways that playing cards in a deck can be ordered is 52!, which is 8x10^67 (an 8 w/ 67 zeros after). So any time you shuffle a deck of cards, it's a near mathematical certainty that that specific arrangement has never existed and will never exist again in the history of the universe.

Pete Seeger would have loved this.

Maybe we could’ve held off on those Hot Takes on Judge Brown’s #legalwriting style for 24 hours?

I have never seen an opinion like Judge Smith’s dissent in the Texas redistricting case in public before. H/t to the election law blog electionlawblog.org/wp-content/u...

From the great Matthew Butterick's newsletter. Fonts: wehtt.am/fonts/ Newsletter: mbxs.matthewbutterick.com #Fonts #LegalWriting

👀

My Christmas wish is that we get the @badlawyerpod.bsky.social take on this nonsense--even if just a hot toppy.

Jim's account implies that members of the Board of Visitors/Youngkin Administration effectively colluded w/ DOJ (including 2 UVA alums) to oust him after DOJ brought its investigation. Is it possible DOJ *initiated* its investigation w/ this goal--perhaps in consultation w/ those same parties?

Related to this, I have a pending FOIA request with UVA for the retainer agreement and billing records/invoices from McGuireWoods regarding UVA’s interactions with DOJ. It was filed on *July 2* and I still haven’t received a substantive reply. (The deadline is a maximum of 12 working days.)

I have no insider info, but Jim's account plus the recent agreement that DOJ signed w/ UVA suggests, to me, the following theory: - Key folks at Board of Visitors and/or DOJ (at least two of whom UVA alums) wanted Jim out immediately in Summer '25. 1/

Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ. It's a surreal--and troubling--read. drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...

A helpful quote by CNN’s Abby Phillip on @podsaveamerica.crooked.com. She’s talking about the value of news analysis vs. reporting, but it’s a key concept for law students thinking about their role as lawyers: “[P]eople are hungry for help understanding. Information is everywhere; it’s ubiquitous.”

What would a Halloween #legalwriting class be without a law-related costume?

I would have written an article about phone books if it meant getting to write with Zach Clopton . . . But luckily for me we wrote about Local Rules instead. So excited our article is now out with the Virginia Law Review . . . 💙🧡

“Talent is a pursued interest. In other words, anything you’re willing to practice, you can do.” - the great Bob Ross, who would have turned 83 today. #RIP 🎨

Am I reading this correctly: the firms that opposed Trump's intimidation tactics have suffered no consequences, whereas the firms that struck deals gave away $900 million while jeopardizing any work with clients who have interests at odds with the government? There's a lesson in there somewhere.

There are NO KINGS in America—our Constitution is very clear that no president can serve more than 2 terms. This is the LAW, not a suggestion and no wannabe dictator can change that.

Fair LIBOR Standards Act

UVA Interim President Paul Mahoney announces that DOJ has agreed to drop its civil rights investigation against the University. The “agreement” has no financial penalty and basically requires UVA to say “we agree to follow the law.” (full agreement here federalinfo.virginia.edu/sites/federa...)

A decade into this, and my jaw still dropped.

That’s seven. @reuters.com www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...