The Irreparable Harm Of A Pointless Decision
The Fourth Circuit, in AFSCME v. Social Security Administration, held that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated new irreparable harm and therefore refused to extend the preliminary injunction that barred the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Social Security records. The Supreme Court subsequently stayed the Fourth Circuit’s decision, leaving the TRO unenforced. Subsequent SSA disclosures revealed repeated violations of the original order, including unauthorized data sharing, cloud‑based transfers, and a voter‑data agreement with a political group. The case highlights the difficulty of reversing mass data exposure once it occurs.
Did TACO Tuesday Turn Into Victory Or Surrender Wednesday?
President Trump announced a two‑week cease‑fire with Iran, ending Operation Epic Fury after ten hours and 26 minutes of intensified rhetoric. The truce restores limited oil, fertilizer and helium shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, calming markets that feared a...
What Role Should AI Play In Judging?
Federal judges are increasingly turning to generative AI for routine tasks, with a Northwestern study finding over 60% have used tools such as ChatGPT and 22% do so daily or weekly. The technology is being employed to draft timelines, suggest...
When Crank Theories Are Taken Seriously
In the Supreme Court case Trump v. Barbara, the administration’s birthright citizenship claim is likely to be rejected, but the litigation has already yielded a strategic win. The Court’s recent 6‑to‑3 decision limited the reach of nationwide injunctions, forcing lower...
Flynn-Flam
The U.S. Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, agreed to a $1.25 million settlement with former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to obstruction and later received a presidential pardon. The payment resolves Flynn’s civil...
Tuesday Talk*: What Becomes Of The Nine?
The Justice Department announced it will drop the lawsuits it filed against nine major law firms that had been pressured by President Trump to cease representing his political opponents. The move signals the administration’s acknowledgment that the executive orders targeting...
What Else Is Missing? Who Can Say?
The Department of Justice announced that the only withheld materials from the Epstein investigation were privileged or duplicate copies, leaving three FBI interview summaries—known as 302s—missing from the public release. An index showed four interviews with a 2019 accuser who...
52 Orders And Counting
District of New Jersey Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ordered the Justice Department to produce a comprehensive list of every court order it violated since Dec. 5, a request that was unthinkable a year ago. The government’s own filing identified 52 distinct...
AI On Lawyers And AI
Law firms are rapidly integrating AI chatbots into legal workflows, but the technology brings significant pitfalls. AI-generated drafts can hallucinate, producing fabricated citations that have already led to attorney sanctions. Recent rulings, such as USA v. Heppner, show courts treating...
Tuesday Talk*: Who’s Behind Those Meta Ray Bans?
Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses, equipped with a hidden camera, have sparked a viral TikTok sensation after a Manhattan restaurant patron was recorded without consent. The clip amassed over two million views, turning an ordinary dining experience into an unintended internet...
Seaton: In Praise of Lawyer Cat
During a 2021 Texas civil forfeiture Zoom hearing, an attorney appeared on screen as a cat due to a video filter mishap, prompting Judge Roy Ferguson to intervene and help resolve the technical issue. The incident, now known as "Lawyer...
19 Years And Counting
Simple Justice, a legal blog launched on February 13, 2007, celebrates 19 years of continuous publishing. The post reflects on the decline of the once‑vibrant legal blogosphere and the shift toward isolated commentary. It notes that current discourse is dominated...
Alldredge: Cash Bail, Judges And The Dreaded Humphrey Memo
Retired California Superior Court judge Brett Alldredge argues that cash bail remains entrenched despite the 2021 California Supreme Court decision in *In Re Humphrey* deeming monetary bail unconstitutional. He highlights ongoing reliance on default bail schedules across the state, noting...
Tuesday Talk*: Will “Victim-Centric” Depoliticize Criminal Law?
Former judge Paul Cassell argues that shifting criminal law toward a victim‑centric model could curb the growing politicization of prosecutions. He contends that ordinary citizens—victims and families—should have greater input, reducing reliance on politically exposed prosecutors. Critics warn that empowering...
Regulating Big Weed
Legalization has driven daily marijuana use from about 6 million in 2012 to roughly 18 million today, now exceeding daily alcohol consumption. Health consequences—including cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, psychotic episodes, and impaired driving—have risen sharply alongside use. The New York Times editorial proposes...
Where Have All The Lawyers Gone?
Career prosecutors are abandoning U.S. Attorney offices as the DOJ openly solicits candidates who support former President Trump, signaling a politicized hiring push. Simultaneously, Indiana has relaxed bar admission rules, allowing graduates of non‑ABA‑accredited online law schools to sit for...