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.

On @justiaverdict.bsky.social, I write about Philip Shenon’s new book, Jesus Wept. In my piece, Jesus Wept: We Should Weep Too, I explain that the book shows that the popes often ignored abuse and protected abusers of children. shorturl.at/yOLkl

It's hard to focus on anything other than the authoritarian threat to constitutional democracy. But not impossible. Below is my new column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social on constitutional law casebooks. Down the thread, I link my blog post with comments on a new paper by Avihay Dorfman & Alon Harel.

USF Law visiting professor Michele Neitz explores the risks and benefits of the democratization of AI technology development.

Hope in dark times? Neil Buchanan explains why the Musk-Trump administration's grip on power may be more fragile than it appears, drawing lessons from civil rights victories and exposing the cracks in their political coalition.

@cornelluniversity.bsky.social prof Joe Margulies explores the complex role of remorse in how society judges and responds to those who have committed serious transgressions.

@ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof Vikram David Amar explains why a quid pro quo in the NYC Mayor Eric Adams affair would violate the Constitution.

In my latest column for @justiaverdict.bsky.social, I examine the decisions by federal prosecutors to resign rather than file Trump's corrupt motion to dismiss charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams through the prism of a dangerously expansive version of the unitary executive theory.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s ongoing de facto moratorium on executions and the broader implications for the future of the #deathpenalty in both Ohio and the United States.

Despite dark times in American democracy, history shows paths back to light - from post-Civil War recovery to Spain's post-Franco transformation. Prof. Neil Buchanan offers a thoughtful look at why hope, however faint, remains alive.

In light of the flurry of court activity over challenges to Trump admin actions, @ucdavislaw.bsky.social prof Vik Amar offers a primer for non-lawyers (and non-litigators) on the nature and process of “preliminary” injunctive relief in federal court

@cornelllaw.bsky.social prof @dorfonlaw.bsky.social discusses Trump's removal of security details from political adversaries like Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and Anthony Fauci, arguing that this behavior is more like that of a dictator or crime boss than a U.S. president.

@ucdavislaw.bsky.social professor Vik Amar highlights the potential for #SCOTUS case FCC v. Consumers’ Research to revive the nondelegation doctrine by addressing important constitutional issues regarding the reclamation of delegated legislative power

University of Toronto visiting law professor and economist Neil H. Buchanan observes that Trump voters are motivated by ideological convictions that lead them to support him despite his abandonment of many campaign promises.