The Virginia Law Review has published a tribute to Fred Schauer. I am grateful to the editors for making this possible and for bringing together this set of reflections on Fred's life and work. virginialawreview.org/articles/in-...

I truly enjoy listening to Paul Clement argue. He's smart, but one of the key reasons is that he really works to help the panel. He is centered on getting a win for his clients, but he does so in an open way that is — or at least comes across as — genuinely trying to assist the judges in their task.

The intersection of our shared interests:

I'll truly miss the amazing people at Texas A&M Law. The faculty and students there are absolute stars doing incredible things. I'm especially proud of what Neil Siegel and I were able to accomplish launching the Center on the Structural Constitution....

Since it's Leiter-official, it feels like a good time to say I'm so excited to join the @cornelllaw.bsky.social faculty later this month! leiterreports.com/2026/05/01/l...

@sbagen.bsky.social delivers 2026 Wythe lecture on rebuilding the public health state at W&M law school

Calling all junior law faculty! Join us for the 2026 Junior Faculty Forum at Richmond Law on May 20-21 to present your scholarship, gain feedback, and network in a collegial setting. richmond.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Beginning in 2020, the Supreme Court sent two signals it was easing off its qualified immunity crusade: 1) its decision in Taylor v. Riojas, holding qi should be denied for obvious violations, even if no case on point; 2) slowing its shadow docket qi reversals. Does Zorn mark the end of #2?

Entering the chat to share that my article, Cooperative Oversight and the Separation of Powers, is forthcoming in the Emory Law Journal. Feedback welcome! Available for download @ssrn.bsky.social here: papers.ssrn.com/abstract=635...

The @tamu.bsky.social Center on the Structural Constitution is excited to host Prof. Thomas W. Merrill (@columbiauniversity.bsky.social) for the 2nd Annual Century Tree Lecture on March 19. This is the Center's highest honor for a senior scholar. Open to the Texas A&M Law community!

Have you read a law review article recently that you thought was particularly great and deserving of a wider readership? If so, leave a link to it in the replies, together with a quick take on what made it great. (If not, no need to say so.)

What do you wish you had known when you were turning 40? Asking for... a friend 🫠

More cases, fewer concurrences.* *Not a comment on any particular concurrence.

Looking forward to the Texas A&M Law Review symposium on federalism this Fri., Feb. 20! Featuring discussions of recent books by Neil Siegel, Alison LaCroix & @richardprimus.bsky.social with an awesome group of scholars. Plus a keynote talk by SCOTX Justice Evan Young.

Call for papers! www.law.uchicago.edu/form/uchicag...

Fellow Olympics addicts... Any advice for not overdoing it?

so dogstinguished

so dogstinguished

GOOB LUCK TO ALL TEH HOOMAN PAW PAWFESSORS SUBMITTING TO PAW REVIEW

NEW PAPER! Local Government Standing as State Standing My former @wm.edu student Katharine Cooney and I argue that standing law should see local govts as arms of the state, not just as private entities For @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social & Wisconsin Law Review's Public Law in the States series 🔗 👇

No bill text, but I make a case for reforming constitutional-tort claims for excessive force (& explain what that could look like) in Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, and Systemic Reform, 71 Duke L.J. 1701 (2022)--inc. claims against fed officials & entities. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

matthewsag.com/legal-schola... Legal Scholars Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence 2026 Call for Papers (details on the website, submit via the google form). Deadline for submission is February 15, 2026

This 4th Circuit case from 2019—and more importantly, the Supreme Court caselaw that led to it and the other cases like it—explains at least part of what we're seeing today with respect to ICE enforcement. The question is always, what's the remedy? scholar.google.com/scholar_case...

Proud of the small but important role my dad was chosen to play in this historic moment for Virginia 👨‍⚖️ wapo.st/3Zg7dQq (🎁🔗)

NEW PAPER! Local Government Standing as State Standing My former @wm.edu student Katharine Cooney and I argue that standing law should see local govts as arms of the state, not just as private entities For @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social & Wisconsin Law Review's Public Law in the States series 🔗 👇

See Katherine Mims Crocker, Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, and Systemic Reform, 71 Duke Law Journal 1701 (2022) (link in next post).

I admire these efforts to increase ICE officer accountability. But ending qualified immunity wont address a much bigger problem-there is essentially no right to sue federal officers for violating the Constitution. First codify Bivens. Then end QI.

That's my dad! 👏❤️ (Gift link in in next post.) @abigailspanberger.com

Got the baby. Next king cake's on me. #AALS2026

Pretty sure I'm one of the folks Mark's subtweeting. While I don’t feel compelled to respond, this actually provides a beautiful lesson for how academics and other serious observers might think about engaging with the Court and law. (thread)

It was an honor to receive the Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation Section — especially while seated next to Bill Eskridge and Mary Ann Bernard (Phil Frickey’s widow). Thanks @kevintobia.bsky.social for the kind words about my work.

Looks like it’s going to be warm for AALS this year. Tips from someone who lives here in New Orleans: Bring an umbrella, and if you plan on being outside at all, bring bug repellant.

When in Vermont...

Merry very white Christmas from Vermont! 🎄❄️⭐️❤️⛄️

Gentle reminder as we close out the fall semester that you should submit that abstract/idea/working paper for the 15th Annual Fed Courts Junior Scholars conference. More details at the link below. Reach out w/ questions, & *please share this widely.* We have an amazing lineup of senior scholars!

"Burkeanism and the Administrative State" I really enjoyed doing this podcast episode with Sarah Isgur, @williambaude.bsky.social, and @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social. It was framed around separation of powers debates, but the conversation ranged much more widely. thedispatch.com/podcast/advi...

Thanks for highly recommending Ex Parte Young Redux, my forthcoming @washulawreview.bsky.social article, @lsolum.bsky.social! It's available here, and comments are welcome ➡️ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Glad to get this draft article, Ex Parte Young Redux (forthcoming @washulawreview.bsky.social) on @ssrn.bsky.social! I argue that constitutional plaintiffs should be able to sue states themselves for declaratory & injunctive relief in some private-enforcent "bounty" contexts. Abstract here, 🔗 below!

You know you're the mom of a middle-schooler when you find these stickers surreptitiously placed on your car 🙄 #IYKYK

Mila Sohoni's invaluable contribution, In CASA You Missed It, to the Harvard Law Review & @tamu.bsky.social Center on the Structural Constitution symposium on "Judicial Review in Jeopardy?" was Download of the Week on @lsolum.bsky.social's Legal Theory Blog last week. Check it out! ⬇️

💯

📢 Fed Courts Scholars ➡️ Note the Jan. 10 priority deadline to submit abstracts for the 2026 Jr. Faculty Fed Courts Conference, which @kulawschool.bsky.social & @sharonbrett.bsky.social will host in April. This event is always a highlight of the year. Check this 🔗 for info! law.ku.edu/junior-facul...

Thank you to @lsolum.bsky.social for listing my forthcoming Harvard Law Review symposium foreword as "highly recommended" (with an exclamation point!) ⬇️ legaltheoryblog.com/2025/11/11/c...

Just posted on @ssrn.bsky.social: a draft of my Foreword ("To Keep Government Generally Within the Bounds of Law") for the Harvard Law Review & @tamu.bsky.social Center on the Structural Constitution Symposium "Judicial Review in Jeopardy?" Abstract here, link in next post. Feedback welcome.

I asked my mother-in-law to give my son half of a giant muffin, and she gave him THE TOP HALF 🤯

📢 And another essay from the @tamu.bsky.social and Harvard Law Review symposium is now on @ssrn.bsky.social! Check out Jim Pfander and Alex Reinert's contribution "Exploring The Limits of Qualified Immunity Under Harlow's Discretionary Function Test" ⬇️ papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

@lsolum.bsky.social's Download of the Week is Garrett West's essay "Abstract Review in Article III Courts" from the @tamu.bsky.social Center on the Structural Constitution's symposium with Harvard Law Review. Download it while it's 🔥!

TOMORROW! ⚖️🌮⬇️

📢 @tamu.bsky.social's Center on the Structural Constitution is honored to host @emilysbremer.bsky.social of @notredamelaw.bsky.social for the inaugural Reveille Lecture Wed Oct 29. Topic = Administrative Power After Humphrey's Executor. Open to the A&M Law community; 🌮 Torchy's Tacos lunch provided!