“The United States is unlikely to be the most crime-ridden country in the world, but for the last fifty years, its policies have been driven by a perception that social disorder lurks around every corner.”

I change my mind about AI

“Tsai writes about constitutional law with a focus on the conditions and structures in society that produce inequality…. the path of legal reform through the courts is narrow and daunting.”

“The contents of the document were explosive. Below the heading, ‘Result,’ someone had scrawled figures for how many African Americans and women should be placed on master jury lists if one wanted to underrepresent their numbers on juries.” amzn.to/45LFzNg

Back at it to discuss birthright citizenship and nationwide injunctions

“Unfortunately, this ruling raises more questions than it answers.”

Pleased to join Kristen Welker and former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg on #MeetThePress to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling ending universal injunctions in the birthright citizenship cases.

My brief thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions (and birthright citizenship). More to come. www.bu.edu/articles/202...

“Tsai argues that a public defender movement ought to be revived; racial justice acts need public support; and a lot of work can be done to end the death penalty.” @futurehindsight.bsky.social

Stephen Bright in his office at the Southern Center for Human Rights, taken sometime in the 1980’s. He kept photos of his clients to remind him of what they were like before they encountered the criminal justice system. @demandtimpossible.bsky.social

On @meetthepress.com I spoke about the strong tradition in this country that “boots on the ground are a threat to liberty”

Can you still call Trump “a populist autocrat” on television these days?

Always love visiting my favorite bookstore

“A truly compelling account of how Stephen Bright, one of the nation’s greatest lawyers, devoted his life to demanding justice from the criminal justice system throughout the South…. His career, as told by Tsai, demonstrates how much good a lawyer committed to public justice can do.”

Many thanks to @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social for nominating @demandtimpossible.bsky.social as one of 2024’s top reads. @georgetownlaw.bsky.social bit.ly/4jENbHk

Cole writes: “A truly compelling account of how Stephen Bright, one of the nation's greatest lawyers, devoted his life to demanding justice from the criminal justice system throughout the South.”

I look forward to reading this! <3

🙏🏼

Great to see “After McCleskey” as lead article in Issue 5. bit.ly/3vWb22d

Abstract and TOC

As the Supreme Court became increasingly conservative and interested in reconsidering Warren Court precedents, Bright had to act as a legal pragmatist—committed to humanistic principles but flexible about the means to sustain and enforce them.

Bright’s plea for due process on behalf of McWilliams

Listen to a clip from the audiobook “Demand The Impossible.” Stephen Bright prepares to argue McWilliams v. Dunn before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Steve Bright is a giant, not only because of his own tireless struggle against the powerful on behalf of the powerless, but because of the legions of young lawyers he has taught and inspired. Prof. Tsai is exactly the person to bring his story to life.

A reader writes: “Professor Tsai captivatingly captures the brilliant legal career of Stephen Bright, a warrior for justice to the least advantaged among us …

First review of #DemandTheImpossible. Glad to see it in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social!

Hugo hated capital punishment. He allowed supporters of John Brown to circulate this image, originally called “Ecce Lex” (Behold the Law), in protest at Brown’s execution in Charles Town.

First review of #DemandTheImpossible. Glad to see it in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social!

"As Robert L. Tsai argues persuasively in 'Demand the Impossible,' capital punishment is an affront to equality in every way." Roger Citron reviews Robert L. Tsai's "Demand the Impossible: One Lawyer's Pursuit of Equal Justice for All." lareviewofbooks.org/article/lega...

“Beautifully written.” —Erwin Chemerinsky “Inspiring.” —Bryan Stevenson “Riveting.” —Carol Steiker “Deeply moving.” —Heather Ann Thompson

I’m looking forward to giving this lecture at the University of Sheffield on Monday, Apr. 28. Please join us if you are in the area! bit.ly/4jFpU8o

Bryan Stevenson got his start at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. I was able to interview him for my book about representing the poor and despised. Learn about those early days before he founded EJI. amzn.to/45LFzNg

Bryan Stevenson at Monticello:

I wrote this in 2019, before the U.S. started sending people to a gulag in Central America. #PracticalEquality

Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation (2019)

“Hashing out questions of equality, he concludes, can be so fraught, so confusing, that the wisest course is sometimes to circumvent them. Inequality can be resisted, and equality pursued, by other, less tangled means.”

“The gap between intuition and argument—between outrage and the best response to that outrage—is the subject of Robert Tsai’s Practical Equality.” —Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker

Just a photo of me with my 2024 spring child

I bought Gideon’s Trumpet two years ago today after your twitter account was recommended! And preordered Demand the Impossible as soon as I could and have sent copies to friends and family. Thanks for being a catalyst for learning and growth.

Before Gideon Day is over I wanted to showcase what local reform efforts can accomplish—even in a Red State like Georgia #DemandTheImpossible bit.ly/3I9fhto

Happy Gideon v. Wainwright Day. Learn about the adventures of one man who devoted his life to advancing the right of counsel for the poor and despised. amzn.to/45LFzNg

Happy one year birthday to Demand the Impossible. And thanks to all for helping me bring to life the work and ideas of Stephen Bright and the Southern Center for Human Rights. @wwnorton.bsky.social @demandtimpossible.bsky.social bit.ly/46imBhI

“Tsai writes about constitutional law with a focus on the conditions and structures in society that produce inequality. In Bright, the relentless litigator, Tsai found a lawyer who engaged daily in the struggle for equality and often, against formidable odds, triumphed” @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social

Your book is a potent critique of capital punishment. I really appreciate your commitment to equal justice under the law, Rob. From the review, “It’s an inspiring story, one that will draw young lawyers into the fold and may rekindle the idealism of older ones.” Let’s hope so.

“As Robert L. Tsai argues persuasively…capital punishment is an affront to equality in every way.” bit.ly/434MRgl

I'm grateful for this review of #DemandTheImpossible by @rodgerdcitron.bsky.social for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social! @wwnorton.bsky.social bit.ly/434MRgl

With Steve Bright in NYC

Locking in for the rest of sabbatical

Happy 6th birthday to #PracticalEquality. 🎂 @wwnorton.bsky.social

Written during Trump’s first term. For readers concerned about equality in an even more divided nation. @wwnorton.bsky.social bit.ly/3QNfybq