South Carolina law professor Seth Stoughton explains the legal standards governing the recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis, emphasizing the importance of a fact-based assessment. He highlights three key questions about officer conduct, perceived threat, and alternatives to deadly force.

@cornelllaw.bsky.social prof @dorfonlaw.bsky.social discusses Chief Justice Roberts’s Year End Report, particularly its subtle rejection of originalism and endorsement of evolving constitutional principles. Will the Court’s actions truly reflect that commitment?

@ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof Vik Amar analyzes California's ban on ICE officers wearing masks and a proposal to deny driver's licenses to such officers, concluding that both measures are unconstitutional.

In my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social, I explain that Trump's "warrior dividend" has no legal connection to tariff revenues and that his other plan to rebate tariff revenues is unlawful absent new legislation and, in any event, a bad idea for multiple reasons. 👇

Hofstra law prof James Sample argues that inconsistent and partisan interventions by #SCOTUS have enabled partisan gerrymandering, undermined judicial credibility, and created structural chaos in American electoral processes.

In my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social, I explain that the "presumption of good faith" SCOTUS (falsely) said the district court failed to afford the Texas legislature wouldn't even help Texas, which needs a presumption of bad faith to avoid the racial gerrymandering finding. 👇

Profs Lesley Wexler and @tonyghiotto.bsky.social (@law.illinois.edu) discuss the Pentagon's implementation of the transgender service ban, highlighting how discharge procedures uniquely burden transgender service members and may signal animus and raise equal protection concerns.

Halligan's blunder might doom her case against Comey because the statute of limitations has run. But in most cases, a grand jury's failure to indict doesn't preclude second and subsequent prosecutorial efforts. In my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social, I critique the conventional wisdom. 👇

UNLV Law prof @lcgriffin.bsky.social reviews Nobody’s Girl, Virginia Giuffre’s powerful memoir of surviving lifelong sexual abuse and seeking justice against Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and others. Prof. Griffin calls for reform and accountability to protect survivors and expose abusers.

Cornell Law prof @dorfonlaw.bsky.social juxtaposes the acquittal of "sandwich guy" Sean Dunn with the conviction of animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg.

UC Davis Law prof Vikram Amar argues that while the #SCOTUS majority should provide fuller explanations in emergency rulings, the liberal dissenters are strategically and analytically misguided in avoiding arguments about the constitutional merits.

Following a botched execution in Alabama, Amherst prof Austin Sarat critiques the use of nitrogen hypoxia in executions, highlighting its failure to provide a humane alternative and documenting its brutal effects.

Prof. Michael C. Dorf argues House Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva defies Powell v. McCormack, appears politically aimed at blocking her vote, likely on an Epstein-files discharge petition, and erodes democratic norms.

Promoting their respective new books, Justices Sotomayor & Barrett sat for interviews. As I explain on @justiaverdict.bsky.social, each offered pablum about SCOTUS. Barrett also sowed confusion about fundamental rights & displayed obliviousness to the Trump administration's threat to democracy.👇

I wrote on @justiaverdict.bsky.social about Robert Hoatson's excellent new book on his long work against abuse in the Catholic Church. verdict.justia.com/2025/07/29/a...

Prof. Meredith Miller explores the complex state-by-state landscape of non-compete agreements, following the failed federal effort to ban them. She argues that outright bans offer the clearest, fairest solution for both employers and employees.

@kathrynrobb.bsky.social argues that media fixation on the Epstein list obscures America's child sexual abuse epidemic. Instead, focus should be on concrete reforms: ending statutes of limitations, banning NDAs in abuse cases, and mandating institutional accountability to protect children.

Joseph Margulies explains why he eschews daily political outrage to seek more profound understanding. He argues for crafting a comprehensive narrative that explains our moment—accounting for economic transformation, demographic shifts, and the decline of white hegemony.

Prof. Vik Amar examines #SCOTUS expanded use of expedited procedures. He argues rushed "shadow docket" cases and preliminary injunction appeals compromise judicial reasoning and legitimacy, particularly given the Court's inconsistent approach to resolving merits on incomplete records

Fed Chair Jerome Powell faces pressure from President Trump to lower interest rates, but @dorfonlaw.bsky.social argues Powell's caution is warranted and suggests that market forces may ultimately constrain presidential overreach.

Four law professors debate whether secession could happen in modern America. While most agree geographic realities make state secession unlikely, author @rodgerdcitron.bsky.social explores how "soft secession" through sanctuary cities and nullification may already be occurring.

In my new column on @justiaverdict.bsky.social I say the SCOTUS ruling upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors avoided the harshest anti-trans rhetoric, but in treating the ban as a good-faith effort to protect health and ensure informed consent, the Court sanitized bigotry. 👇

Ronald Reagan proposed a missile defense system that came to be called Star Wars. It was expensive, impractical, and a violation of a treaty then in force. Trump has proposed Golden Dome--a Star Wars sequel so bad it should feature Jar Jar Binks. Details in my column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social 👇

Professors Vik Amar and Jason Mazzone examine Justice Kagan’s dissent in Trump v. Wilcox, challenging her critique of presidential overreach and arguing that constitutional disobedience by the President can be a legitimate means of bringing outdated precedent before the Court for reconsideration.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies challenges Stephen Miller's call to reopen Alcatraz, arguing that true justice requires recognizing the potential for redemption among incarcerated individuals—something Miller overlooks in favor of fear and exclusion.

Guest columnist Gary J. Simson argues that President Trump’s executive orders penalizing certain law firms mirror unconstitutional bills of attainder, warning they undermine core principles of justice and the rule of law. A Supreme Court reckoning may be necessary.

Professor @rodgerdcitron.bsky.social reflects on Justice David Souter’s legacy and suggests that Souter‘s intellectual rigor and nuanced opinions in cases like Twombly and Mead, though admirable, may have unintentionally limited their long-term impact on the law.

Cornell Law professor @dorfonlaw.bsky.social reflects on Justice David Souter’s legacy, arguing that Souter embodied a principled, traditional conservatism rooted in judicial restraint—offering a stark contrast to today’s ideologically driven Supreme Court appointments.

A very brief🧵: A recent NY Times article reports on a survey of 35 scholars (including me) asking about the worst excesses of the Trump administration thus far. I discuss the article in my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social. Here's my column. 👇

@lcgriffin.bsky.social dissects this week's #SCOTUS oral argument in OK Charter School Board and argues that approving publicly funded religious charter schools—like Oklahoma's St. Isidore—violates the Establishment Clause and threatens religious neutrality in public education.

Profs Vik Amar, Alan Brownstein, and Jason Mazzone analyze a TX judge's challenge to disciplinary rules after refusing to officiate same-sex marriages. They contend that religious beliefs cannot justify discrimination in the exercise of public authority.

Vik Amar argues that while the Trump administration has rightly been criticized for attacks on judicial independence, Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement stands on firmer constitutional ground.

As @rodgerdcitron.bsky.social explains, Judge Wilkinson’s opinion in the Abrego Garcia case highlights the judiciary’s pivotal role in resisting executive overreach during a potential constitutional transformation, reflecting Bruce Ackerman’s theory of dualist democracy.

My latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social argues that even if Trump's tariffs boost U.S. manufacturing (a very big "if"), they won't create many jobs. His effort to restore a 19th century economy leaves us woefully unprepared for the disruptive force of AI in the 21st century. 👇

Illinois Law professors Lesley Wexler and @tonyghiotto.bsky.social analyze the broader fallout of the transgender military ban, examining its chilling effect on mental health care across the armed forces and the legal precedents it sets for future challenges to executive authority over the military.

Thankful to @justiaverdict.bsky.social for supporting and publishing Part I of our deep dive of the litigation involving Trump’s bad of transgender service members verdict.justia.com/2025/04/07/t...

Amherst prof Austin Sarat argues that Edward Martin's nomination as U.S. Attorney for D.C. raises serious concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement due to his record of partisan prosecutions, and he calls on the Senate not to confirm Martin.

House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed eliminating one or more federal district courts to block rulings against the Trump administration. Is that constitutional? In my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social I discuss two 19th precedents and why they shouldn't be given weight today. 👇

Profs Vik Amar and Jason Mazzone critique 5th Circuit denial of rehearing en banc in a case on counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day and question the legal basis for an EO enforcing stricter deadlines. The authors argue for preserving state flexibility and urge #SCOTUS review.

In this second of a two-part series, Professor Neil Buchanan exposes how Republican leaders—despite public denials—are actively undermining Social Security through disinformation, administrative sabotage, and privatization efforts that threaten the economic security of millions of Americans.

Professor Neil Buchanan exposes the false claim that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and explains how the program is financially sustainable. He warns that political attacks and misinformation could undermine one of America's most successful social programs.

Cornell Law Professor @dorfonlaw.bsky.social explains how the Trump administration's apparent defiance of a federal court order on deportations seriously threatens judicial authority and constitutional democracy.

Prof Neil Buchanan argues that Chuck Schumer's decision to prevent a government shutdown was the least bad option because a shutdown would have strengthened Trump’s power

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies argues that Trump's plan to detain migrants at #Guantanamo was never viable, but that was never the point. Rather, his real goal was to reshape public perception, using Guantanamo as a symbol to dehumanize immigrants and redefine who belongs in America.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat examines how the Trump administration's defiance of a federal court order by secretly deporting Venezuelan immigrants challenges constitutional democracy and sets a dangerous precedent.

Illinois Law profs Lesley Wexler and Anthony Ghiotto examine the impact of the Prioritizing Military Excellence Order on #transgender service members, comparing it to past military policies and assessing its consequences for military readiness, legal integrity, and unit cohesion.

@boydlawunlv.bsky.social prof @lcgriffin.bsky.social discusses Judge Christopher Klein's decision in In re The Roman Catholic Bishop of Sacramento, in which he gives survivors of clergy sexual abuse the dignity of being heard over insurer objections.

Universities must do more to defend democracy—but faculty cannot wait for administrators to act. Amherst prof Austin Sarat argues that professors have a civic duty to speak out, organize, and lead in protecting democratic principles and academic freedom.

Professors Vikram David Amar and Jason Mazzone argue that both textual analysis of the 14th Amendment and historical precedents confirm that all individuals born on U.S. soil and subject to its laws are citizens, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

Hofstra Law prof James Sample comments on Trump's cryptocurrency scheme and the broader erosion of anti-corruption safeguards, including weakened bribery laws, de-prioritized enforcement of foreign influence regulations, and the dismissal of government watchdogs.