⏰NEW JOB ALERT: My Democracy Initiatives team is hiring a Program Associate! Come work with my crew @brennancenter.org--we're tackling some of the biggest law and policy issues of the day. This is a full-time role in NYC for non-lawyers. More details ⬇️ brennancenter.applytojob.com/apply/5MX0qv...

This is a must-read account of shadow docket deliberations. Note Roberts' push to halt an Obama-era policy b/c it would generate "substantial and irreversible reordering of the domestic power sector." Yet SCOTUS has greenlit far more disruptive Trump-era policies. /1 www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/u...

Pennsylvania’s high court took a major step toward ending the harshest punishments in the criminal justice system, issuing a landmark ruling that could limit the use of life-without-parole sentences. To learn more about the case, sign up for State Court Report’s free newsletter: bit.ly/45IXZ0M

Very big news: Minnesota prosecutors just charged a federal immigration agent with assault. It's not easy to bring state prosecutions against federal officers, but the law is clear that there's no absolute immunity from state prosecution. /1 statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

NEW: Retired Iowa Justice Brent Appel writes about the potential of state constitutions to offer more robust protections for the right to counsel -- including how courts' supervisory powers and oversight over legal ethics can offer solutions. A fascinating read. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Something I love about @statecourtreport.org's series on state constitutions is how unique each state's history really is. Rhode Island Justice Melissa Long's new essay is fascinating. Did you know RI was governed by its Royal Charter until the mid-19th century?! statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The season of frenzy about a new SCOTUS justice is starting. If Justice Alito or anyone else retires, it means President Trump could appoint a fourth justice—well on his way to a SCOTUS majority. It doesn’t have to be this way. This moment tells us the system needs reform. 1/

Did you know @brennancenter.org's Benchmark has collected public polling on the Supreme Court and Supreme Court reform from 2020 onwards? It's a super helpful resource -- and paints a striking picture of an institution facing dwindling public confidence. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Check out this excellent interview with NY Judge Wavny Toussaint from @statecourtreport.org’s Zoe Merriman.

NEW: A series of education funding cases spanning three decades was brought to an abrupt end this month by the North Carolina Supreme Court. Marcus Gadson analyzes the ruling and what it means for the future of education rights in the state. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Interested in a state supreme court clerkship? @statecourtreport.org has a database featuring clerkship opportunities from 25 states and more than 80 justices. We hope it's a good starting point for applicants! statecourtreport.org/state-judici...

I wrote about a landmark Pennsylvania Sup Ct ruling barring mandatory life in prison w/o parole for felony murder convictions. The court broke w/ state precedent to embrace an independent interpretation of the state constitution, rooted in PA’s Quaker history. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

PA's high court just embraced a pathbreaking approach to state constitutional sentencing protections: assessing the cruelty of of a sentence based on the characteristics of the offense, not the defendant, explains @aliciabannon.bsky.social.

In today’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election, just under $3.6 million has been spent on television ads, compared to record-setting numbers in the previous two elections. The Brennan Center is tracking campaign spending in judicial elections. Watch the ads here. bit.ly/3O00gRL

A big ruling from the Kentucky Supreme Court blocking impeachment proceedings against a state judge. Disagreement with a court ruling is not an impeachable offense and violates separation of powers under the state constitution, the court ruled. kentuckylantern.com/2026/04/06/k...

The Brennan Center’s Jesse Wegman explains why he’s starting a newsletter about the Supreme Court — what needs to change for the institution, why, and how to go about it. bit.ly/3NH1Vvs

What does it look like when the government violates court orders in 300 separate immigration habeas cases? @katherinepomps.bsky.social and @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org announce a new database which tracks government non-compliance with court orders around the country.

Check out RRLI Director Jessie Hill's recent State Court Report piece regarding the Moe v. Yost case, which challenges Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Polls show that public support for Supreme Court term limits is quite high, has bipartisan support, and is relatively stable. bit.ly/4s9k6YO

Looking for some OTHER supreme court arguments to pay attention to? Check out @statecourtreport.org's state oral arguments to watch for in April, including a Maine ranked choice voting case being argued today. By @skess108.bsky.social & @erings.bsky.social statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The SCOTUS oral argument on birthright citizenship is TODAY at 10 A.M. You can listen to the argument live at supremecourt.gov. 3 things to listen for 🧵🔽 @brennancenter.org

New draft article: “From Lockstep to Liberation: Activating Puerto Rico’s Dignitarian Unenumerated Rights Clause Through State Constitutional Lessons.” A thread on why Art. II, §19 matters now more than ever. 🧵 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

ONCE AGAIN sharing this important piece. The president does not run elections in America. That power belongs to Congress and the states. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Last week, the PA Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling barring mandatory life in prison without parole for felony murder convictions. Prof Martha Davis digs into the case and critiques a concurrence that argues courts shouldn't look to international law. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The Benchmark has a host of resources about the Supreme Court, including a tracker of challenges to administration policies on the “shadow docket”: bit.ly/4nXIr2p

New Jersey just joined nine other states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington—in banning local participation in ICE’s 287(g) program. It’s the fourth state to do so this year. boltsmag.org/new-jer...

@sharonbrett.bsky.social is a gem, her work is always top-notch, and her analysis of anything going on in Kansas law is second to none

Such a powerful set of observations by @jcschwartzprof.bsky.social, including that court opinions and public commentary re: suing government officials when they violate the Constitution often focus on the reasons not to sue, and not the benefits that civil rights litigation can bring.

NEW: the brilliant @sharonbrett.bsky.social looks at two Kansas cases that will determine whether the state constitution’s protections of bodily autonomy and dignity extend to transgender people. Read her analysis in @statecourtreport.org. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

BREAKING: The PA Supreme Court holds that mandatory life without parole sentences for all "felony murder" convictions -- a sentence more than 1,000 people in PA are serving -- violates the state constitution's "cruel" punishment ban. This is GROUNDBREAKING: www.pacourts.us/assets/opini...

Check this out!

I'm excited to share a new resource on SCOTUS from @brennancenter.org's Kohlberg Ctr. The Benchmark is a new hub dedicated to how SCOTUS is functioning as an institution & how it can be reformed. We'll have commentary, explainers, trackers, polling & more. /1 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

I was excited to appear on Hallie Jackson NOW in an important story about the courts' critical role in reining in abuses of executive power, SCOTUS's troubling expansion of the shadow docket, the rising threat environment against judges, and more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGXS...

The Montana Supreme Court just upheld laws meant to address the state’s housing crisis, after homeowners sued to block the legislation. @hls.harvard.edu's @maureenebrady.com wrote about the case.

Check out this great new essay about New Mexico's Constitution by @aclunm.bsky.social's María Martínez Sánchez. This is part of one of my favorite @statecourtreport.org series - we will eventually have essays for all 50 states! statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana... .

@aliciabannon.bsky.social explains how a recent Indiana case blocking the state's abortion ban as to certain religious plaintiffs fits into broader legal developments about the meaning of religious free exercise.

NEW: I wrote about the changing meaning of religious freedom in US law - and how that's playing out in an Indiana case where plaintiffs argue that an abortion ban interferes w/ their religious beliefs. It's a fascinating case & issue. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Happening today!!

Don't miss this virtual event on state supreme court clerkships, where you can hear directly from justices about what it's like to clerk and what they're looking for in applications. Thursday, March 19 at 3pm ET. Register below! www.brennancenter.org/events/what-...

Proud to join this brief with our friends @aclunm.bsky.social and @aclu.org's State Supreme Court Initiative

NEW: The Arizona Supreme Court is considering a case that could expand state constitutional protections for the right to earn a living. Check out this analysis from @ijsanders.bsky.social at @ij.org, which is representing the plaintiff in this case. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Are you a law student or recent graduate looking for clerkship opportunities? State Court Report is hosting a free virtual event on everything you need to know about clerking on a state supreme court. Judges from high courts across the country will share insights. RSVP today:

The Kentucky Supreme Court just dealt a major blow to charter schools, ruling that public funds can’t go to those types of schools. Subscribe to the free biweekly State Court Report to learn more: bit.ly/45IXZ0M

NEW: Texas amended its constitution in 2025 to establish parents' fundamental right to make decisions about a child’s upbringing. Texas justices recently suggested this could invalidate state child abuse laws. Here's what to know about the oral argument. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

This is a really interesting piece exploring how state constitutions - and the state action doctrine - can constrain local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. By @aclu.org's @segalmr.bsky.social & @hls.harvard.edu's Liana Wang. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

Are you a law student or recent graduate looking for clerkship opportunities? Join State Court Report for a free virtual event on Thursday, March 19, where four state supreme court justices will share what it’s really like to clerk on a state high court. RSVP today: bit.ly/4dfAEdI

NEW: The Trump admin is back on the SCOTUS shadow docket, seeking to end deportation protections for Haitian nationals. Since last year SCOTUS has sided w/ the Trump admin 80% of the time on the shadow docket. See our @brennancenter.org tracker to learn more. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Our friends at @statecourtreport.org generously ran a blog post I first did a few weeks back on "The 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 Declarations of 1776" & the April 10 conference that @ij.org & the Liberty & Law Center are sponsoring. "1776 was a big year." statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

We're at @sxswedu.com! Watch @brennancenter.org's @erings.bsky.social lead a panel about the ways state constitutions can protect and empower youth. With @aclu.org's @harperseldin.bsky.social, @lwvus.bsky.social's @thecelinafactor.bsky.social, and @youthvgov.bsky.social's Julia Olson.

My thoughts about a Texas decision that shields executive branch lawyers from state lawyer disciplinary proceedings. (Summary: The court got it wrong.) @brennancenter.org @statecourtreport.org #lawyers statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...