The hottest Judiciary Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

November 24, 2025

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A federal judge threw out the Comey and Letitia James indictments because the president’s appointment of an interim U.S. attorney was unlawful, which invalidated the prosecutor’s actions.
  2. The episode shows an attempt to use the Justice Department to pursue political enemies by replacing a reluctant prosecutor with a loyal appointee, raising concerns about abuse of prosecutorial power and threats to the rule of law.
  3. After the court losses, the administration escalated by threatening military-style responses against lawmakers who urged troops to refuse unlawful orders and publicly targeted Senator Mark Kelly, prompting sharp pushback and concern about intimidation.

Military Purges and Complacent Judges

Can We Still Govern? • 248 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The federal government is not too big; in fact, federal employment has declined over the years. Most government jobs support national security and public services that people rely on every day.
  2. Recent actions by the Trump administration have created a toxic work environment for federal employees, leading to fears and insecurity about job stability. This drastic change may hurt the public service we depend on.
  3. Judges need to pay more attention to the ongoing political changes and their impacts on federal jobs. They must act quickly to protect employees from unjust firings and make sure the legal system remains fair.

The Law Clerk Boycott Hits Stanford Law School

Original Jurisdiction • 479 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Federal appellate judges are boycotting Stanford Law School for clerk hiring due to recent disruptive events involving Judge Kyle Duncan.
  2. The boycott is part of a larger pattern of judges withholding clerkship opportunities from law schools due to concerns over free speech issues.
  3. The boycotting judges are advocating for changes in law schools to promote intellectual and ideological diversity as a condition to end the boycott.

December 3, 2025

Letters from an American • 23 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A Tennessee special election showed a large swing toward Democrats, suggesting a 7–8 point national shift that could flip the House and put the Senate in play for 2026. Republicans are alarmed and may have to defend many seats once thought safe.
  2. Affordability — rising prices for food, housing, energy, gas, and healthcare, plus economic stagnation — is driving voter anger and appears to be the core issue behind the political shift. Recent private-sector job losses and economic disruption are reinforcing those concerns.
  3. Expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits have turned into a major political flashpoint that splits Republicans between ideological goals and electoral reality, while Democrats push to force a vote to extend the credits. That fight, along with disputes over Trump’s priorities and congressional leadership, is deepening GOP fractures ahead of the midterms.

Hunter’s Pardon

David Friedman’s Substack • 323 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter, shows how complicated family loyalty can be versus the idea of justice. Many people believe a good father protects his child, even if it looks bad politically.
  2. The discussion over Biden's actions raises questions about what makes someone a good person. Is it better to prioritize family or to uphold laws and promises to the public?
  3. Biden's claim that politics affected Hunter's legal troubles highlights concerns about how political status influences justice. Some feel that Hunter received special treatment because of who his father is.
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In AI we trust, part II

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 22 HN points • 16 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Judiciary
  1. AI can adjudicate complex legal cases with impressive accuracy and efficiency, demonstrating a capacity to act as a Supreme Court Justice or law clerk.
  2. AI like Claude can generate creative legal solutions, identify errors in expert testimony, and propose novel legal standards effectively.
  3. The future of AI in the legal industry is promising, as demonstrated by Claude's ability to produce high-quality work at a rapid pace and its potential for further improvement with more training.

Firewall Physics, or: Why the German political establishment probably won't ban the AfD however much they may think they want to

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 91 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The German political scene has complicated dynamics that impact judicial nominations. It seems hard to predict outcomes, given the tug-of-war between parties.
  2. There's a strong belief that banning the AfD is highly unlikely due to the current political structure and the need for broad support in court appointments.
  3. Many people are concerned about the nomination of judges with extreme views, thinking it might increase the chances of banning political parties like the AfD. However, the system may not allow such drastic changes.

Election Countdown, 243 Days to Go: Four Mysteries After ‘Super Tuesday.’

Breaking the News • 474 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The press has been portraying both Biden and Trump as losers, but one of them will win the election based on various factors like support, achievements, and obstacles.
  2. Mainstream press coverage and expert 'framing' could influence voter perception of candidates, but election outcomes are more likely determined by fundamental factors like party unity and public priorities.
  3. The question of the Supreme Court's limits and potential consequences of it going too far is a matter for paid subscribers to explore in the context of the upcoming election.

The judgement is out for Sall Grover’s ‘Tickle v Giggle’ court case, and it means that Australian women have NO female-only sanctuaries anymore.

A B’Old Woman • 3 HN points • 23 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A court ruling in Australia has decided that women can no longer have private spaces just for them. This means any man can say he's a woman and enter those spaces.
  2. The judge in this case ruled that a person's legal paperwork can change their identified sex, even if their physical traits do not match. This has raised concerns about how this affects the safety and rights of women.
  3. There are ongoing debates about gender rights and safety for women. Some argue that this ruling could set a precedent for similar laws in other countries, prompting calls for action to protect women's rights.

Honor and Duty Aren't Toys

Marginally Compelling • 13 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The slogan to "refuse illegal orders" is being used as partisan bait to pressure enlisted personnel to disobey orders from a specific administration.
  2. Separately from politics, it is true and honorable that service members should refuse orders that are actually illegal.
  3. The National Guard-in-LA example shows how legality can be fluid—one judge called the action illegal but that ruling was quickly stayed—so invoking the slogan to demand refusal is misleading and politically weaponized.

Lock Him Up

Diane Francis • 439 implied HN points • 16 Jun 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The January 6 hearings have high viewership, but political opinions aren't changing much. Some believe the hearings could lead prosecutors to charge Trump with serious crimes.
  2. Trump's own advisers, including his Attorney General, testified that claims of election fraud were false. This suggests he knew he was lying, which could lead to criminal charges.
  3. There is a bigger issue of division in society that may allow public figures to avoid accountability. Unlike the past, many see any legal action against Trump as just more political drama.

OSD 337: What would a president who cares about gun rights do?

Open Source Defense • 42 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A president focusing on gun rights can make significant changes on their own. This includes restoring rights for some felons and addressing gun laws in court cases.
  2. Recent law changes allow gun owners to skip background checks in some states and have reduced costs for firearms accessories. These changes come from grassroots efforts rather than direct executive action.
  3. Overall, while some progress has been made in the first half of 2025, much more can be done to enhance gun rights and address related issues.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support this weekend

Unreported Truths • 33 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Building a community around sharing opinions and truths is really important. It creates support and understanding, especially during tough times.
  2. Legal battles about free speech can be frustrating. It's disheartening to feel that the government or others are not fully supporting your rights.
  3. Open discussions and respecting different viewpoints are crucial. It's okay to disagree, but we should listen to each other and not silence differing opinions.

The Courts and the Will of the People

Fisted by Foucault • 123 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The judiciary holds significant power in government as it can strike down laws, which can complicate the legislative process. This means popular reforms can be blocked by court decisions.
  2. Western democracies are designed with checks and balances, but political divisions often create gridlock, preventing necessary changes. This gridlock can last for years, leaving citizens frustrated.
  3. The influence of those who control the judiciary can overshadow the elected legislative body. This raises concerns about who really has the power in a democracy.

Constitutional Self-Defense

Thinking about... • 248 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Constitutions can defend themselves against threats through legal mechanisms.
  2. Historical events in Germany and the United States have shaped the concept of constitutional self-defense.
  3. Judges play a crucial role in upholding constitutional self-defense by interpreting and applying the law.

Chevron and the professional Republicans

Gray Mirror • 99 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Being a Republican lawyer can be beneficial for your career, especially since they get many more chances for jobs in the judicial field. It's unusual compared to most other professions, where being a Democrat might be preferred.
  2. Big legal changes are happening that could limit the power of federal agencies. The recent Supreme Court decisions make it easier for Republican lawyers to challenge those agencies' authority.
  3. There's a strange cycle where more regulations lead to more demand for Republican lawyers, and without those lawyers, those agencies might do even crazier things. It's a messy but important part of how the system works.

Integrity, Safety, & Conference Venues

Living Fossils • 25 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Integrity in judgments means looking at actions, not just who did them. It's important to evaluate behavior based on its own merit.
  2. There's a big difference between how society handles punishments based on a person's identity versus their actions. Often, identity can shield someone from consequences.
  3. The choice of a conference location can reflect deeper values, especially in academia. Prioritizing safety in some contexts should match the expectations in different locations.

Politics Chat, February 10, 2026

Letters from an American • 1 implied HN point • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A politics-focused discussion took place on February 10, 2026. It centers on current political topics relevant to that date.
  2. The post drew measurable engagement, with hundreds of interactions and multiple reactions indicating reader interest.
  3. The conversation was shared publicly, showing people wanted to circulate and discuss the topic further.

Game of Throwns

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 22 Jul 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Donald Trump challenged the rule of law during his presidency, often ignoring it and trying to manipulate the judicial system to his advantage.
  2. He appointed many judges quickly, aiming to replace liberal judges with conservatives, which changed how laws could be interpreted in the future.
  3. Republicans have been focusing on gerrymandering and controlling local election systems to ensure they keep power, which can lead to unfair voting practices.

How Western Judges Became Chinese State Puppets

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 55 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Some Western judges are working in Hong Kong's highest court, but it's seen as supporting China's strict government instead of promoting justice.
  2. Lord Jonathan Sumption, a former UK Supreme Court member, criticized how the law is misused to silence dissent against the Chinese Communist Party.
  3. After seeing how the legal system operates in Hong Kong, Sumption decided he no longer wanted to be involved with it.

Missing Fixed Effects Don't Justify Segregation

Cremieux Recueil • 199 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Justice Jackson's statements about segregation and survival rates of Black newborns were not strongly supported by a 2020 study.
  2. The exclusion of important fixed effects in studies can lead to incorrect or misleading conclusions.
  3. The issue of missing fixed effects is common in research and can impact policy decisions and research priorities.

UPDATE on Berenson v Biden: a (senior) federal lawyer just joined the case and the gov't wants to extend the stay

Unreported Truths • 23 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A senior federal lawyer has joined the case, which means the government is taking it seriously. They also want more time to decide on how to proceed.
  2. The outcome of this case could affect how the Trump administration views censorship and free speech online. They will need to make a decision soon.
  3. The Justice Department's request for more time could mean they are thinking about settling or preparing for potential appeals in the future.

July 10, 2025

Letters from an American • 21 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Recent flash floods in Texas led to a tragic loss of life, and there were delays in warning the public due to changes in the weather service. This shows how important clear communication and emergency response are during disasters.
  2. The new tariffs introduced by Trump are causing confusion and concern, especially since they might increase the cost of goods for American families. It’s important to understand that tariffs can impact prices that consumers pay.
  3. There are ongoing legal issues surrounding Trump's administration, including the nomination of a controversial judge and lawsuits over birthright citizenship. These developments reflect deeper issues of governance and legality in the current political climate.

How Trump Will Use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798

JoeWrote • 51 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Alien Enemies Act from 1798 allows the President to remove non-citizens from countries the U.S. is at war with. This means even legal immigrants could be sent away without a trial.
  2. Trump might use the idea of a 'national emergency' to frame immigrants as threats, leading to more aggressive deportation policies against various groups, even those who are legally present.
  3. Resistance to Trump's plans should focus on the larger issues of racism and anti-immigrant sentiments in America, not just oppose him as an individual leader.

June 23, 2025

Letters from an American • 22 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Trump made a military decision to strike Iran after seeing positive media coverage of Israel's actions. This shows how much he valued public perception over intelligence.
  2. The U.S. history with Iran is complicated, starting from support for the Shah to tensions after the 1979 revolution. These past events have shaped current U.S.-Iran relations.
  3. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to deport migrants to other countries without much process. This move may put vulnerable people in dangerous situations.

The Radical Left's New Lawfare Tactic

Who is Robert Malone • 21 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Supreme Court's recent ruling limits judges' ability to block executive orders. This gives more power to the Trump administration to enforce its policies without dealing with frequent nationwide injunctions.
  2. As a response to the ruling, there’s a shift towards using class action lawsuits instead of universal injunctions. This means more groups can come together to challenge government actions.
  3. The fight isn’t over, and the left is quickly adapting their strategies. They plan to use class action lawsuits to challenge Trump's executive orders, especially regarding immigration policies.

Politics Chat, January 8, 2026

Letters from an American • 2 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. A Politics Chat is dated January 8, 2026 and appears to have been posted on January 9, 2026.
  2. Engagement numbers shown — 683, 81, and 134 — indicate measurable reader interaction and a fairly sizable audience.
  3. The repeated 'Share' label suggests the post was set up for social distribution and encouraged readers to spread the conversation.

Sunday Strip: DOGEing the Dems

Who is Robert Malone • 43 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The judiciary plays a crucial role in supporting the government and its actions, as highlighted by thinkers like Murray Rothbard.
  2. There are ongoing challenges in balancing governmental power and the role it plays in society, often causing tensions.
  3. The idea of saving the government contrasts with the obstacles posed by its own system and regulations.

What is the point of confirmation hearings?

Matt’s Five Points • 159 implied HN points • 23 Mar 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Confirmation hearings are mostly for show, not for real information gathering. Senators often already know how they'll vote and use these sessions to make public statements.
  2. The main goal of these hearings is to shape public opinion. Politicians want their actions and decisions to be seen in the best light, regardless of the actual content of the discussions.
  3. Even if they seem pointless, these hearings can have benefits. They can raise awareness of issues, communicate party positions, and help the public understand the political process better.

All governments are based on violence but democracy brings that violence under the control of the people

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Judiciary
  1. All governments are based on violence, but democracy puts that violence under the control of the people.
  2. Liberal democracy adds extra checks to protect unpopular minorities from the majority's control of violence.
  3. Even in a democracy, the government's foundation is the threat of violence, although it's managed by laws and oversight for social benefit.

Should AI replace law clerks?

Adam's Legal Newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 20 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Judiciary
  1. AI could serve the same role as law clerks by reviewing briefs, summarizing arguments, and drafting judicial opinions quickly and accurately.
  2. Using AI in judicial decision-making can lead to faster justice, reducing delays that impact litigants, fact-finding quality, litigation expenses, and overall decision-making quality.
  3. The combination of human judges and AI working together is more likely to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of judicial decision-making compared to human judges working alone or solely relying on human law clerks.

Neo-Majorityism

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Avoid empowering short-term majorities through direct referendums or short terms-in-office for legislators.
  2. Current legal systems can easily disrupt the will of the majority, making governing slow and rigid.
  3. There is a potential for a more direct rule by the majority with less interference from courts, but it should be a majority built over time, not from a single election.

THE ACCUSATIONS THAT COULD BRING BIBI DOWN

Seymour Hersh • 50 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. Benjamin Netanyahu is facing serious legal troubles due to allegations of corruption and misconduct. This could potentially end his time as Israel's prime minister.
  2. A respected judge has jailed several high-ranking officials as part of a growing investigation into Netanyahu's actions. The case involves sensitive military documents related to hostages.
  3. The Israeli press is engaged and angry about the situation, recognizing it might reveal how Netanyahu's decisions affected the fate of hostages and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

February 9, 2025

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. The Second Amendment is seen by some as essential for protecting all rights, but the right to vote for lawmakers is really the foundation of our freedoms.
  2. Despite having the power to change laws, some leaders are choosing to make decisions without involving Congress, which undermines democratic processes.
  3. There's a growing concern that certain individuals, like Elon Musk and political leaders, are trying to consolidate power for their own interests, which could harm public services and protections for citizens.

January 23, 2025

Letters from an American • 23 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary
  1. President Trump recently defended his pardons for January 6 rioters, but many judges and reports reveal the violence at the Capitol was severe, with numerous officers injured. This has raised concerns about the legitimacy of these pardons.
  2. Trump's pardons seem to encourage January 6 rioters to pursue political positions, showcasing how loyalty to Trump may be used as a badge of honor in upcoming elections.
  3. There are ongoing legal challenges against Trump's executive orders, including attempts to end birthright citizenship. Many judges and states are pushing back against policies they view as unconstitutional.