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briandowning.bsky.social
Brian Downing
@briandowning.bsky.social
120 followers 720 following 240 posts
Assistant professor of law at @olemiss.bsky.social this fall. Using this to rate SCOTUS oral args. Rating guide: https://briandowning.medium.com/notes-on-rating-supreme-court-oral-advocacy-0859f8952930. Former Google lawyer/eng.
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briandowning.bsky.social
Brian Downing @briandowning.bsky.social · Oct 8
My newest published paper is out! It's about TikTok. It's also about the constitutionality of U.S. data privacy regulation. I don't know which topic is more popular - could someone with a teen ask?

If you're interested in either, download it below.

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
A Switch In Strata’ll Save Your Data: TikTok Inc. v. Garland and the Future Of U.S. Data Protection Regulation
The U.S. Supreme Court's 2025 case of TikTok Inc. v. Garland looked to be a content-focused speech showdown. TikTok and its users' First Amendment arguments wou
papers.ssrn.com
briandowning.bsky.social
Fernandez etc v US

Crim: Relief

GruensteinP Clarity 3 Mastery 3 Adaptivity 1 Interplay 1

FrederickP Clarity 3 Mastery 2 Adaptivity 1 Interplay 1

ONeilP Clarity 4 Mastery 4 Adaptivity 2 Interplay 3

FeiginR Clarity 4 Mastery 5 Adaptivity 4 Interplay 4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNt-...
LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court hears arguments for Fernandez v. U.S. and Rutherford v. U.S.
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:14 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
GEO Group v Menocal

Civ Pro: Appeals

Draye (P) Clarity (3), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (2)

Bennett (R) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Joshi (SG R) Clarity (4), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (3)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQm1...
GEO Group, Inc. v. Menocal (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Landor v LA DOC

Religion: Officer immunity

Tripp (P) Clarity (3), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Baird (SG P) Clarity (3), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (2)

Aguiñaga (StSG R) Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1v-...
Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Case About Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act
YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:12 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Learning Resources v Trump

Con Law: Delegation

Sauer (SG) Clarity (4), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (4), Interplay (2)

Katyal (R) Clarity (4), Mastery (5), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (5)

Gutman (St SG) Clarity (1), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (3)

youtu.be/DXRWnfVEY5g?...
Oral Argument on tariffs: Learning Resources v. Trump
YouTube video by Supreme Court Oral Argument Transcripts
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 3:03 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Hain Celestial v Palmquist

Civ Pro: Jurisdiction

Harrington (P) - Clarity (4), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (2)

Post (R) - Clarity (4), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/c0XvRr4Lr3I?...
Hain Celestial Group v. Palmquist (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Coney Island Auto v Burton

Civ Pro: Void judgment

Ginzburg (P) - Clarity (2), Mastery (1), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Clarity (Blatt), Mastery (Blatt), Adaptivity (Blatt), Interplay (Blatt)

youtu.be/0rWGw6un15Q?...
Coney Island Auto Parts, Inc. v. Burton (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Hencely v Fluor Corp

Torts: war immunity

Chang (P) - Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Mosier (R) - Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Gannon (SG R) - Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/_Nk9V3j2q78?...
Hencely v. Fluor Corporation (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Rico v US

Crim: Tolling

Unikowsky (P) - Clarity (5), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (4)

Handell (SG R) - Clarity (3), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/QRR17XWCla0?...
Rico v. United States (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
LA v Callais

ConL: Voting

Nelson Clarity 2, Mastery 2, Adaptivity 1, Interplay 2

Aguiñaga Clarity 3, Mastery 3, Adaptivity 2, Interplay 1

Greim Clarity 2, Mastery 3, Adaptivity 1, Interplay 1

Mooppan Clarity 3, Mastery 3, Adaptivity 1, Interplay 1

youtu.be/yC-Axo9aA1c?...
Oral Argument on racial gerrymandering: Louisiana v. Callais
YouTube video by Supreme Court Oral Argument Transcripts
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 10:51 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Case v MT

Con Law: 4th Am

Rowley (P) - Clarity (3), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Corrigan (St SG R) - Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (2)

Jacoby (SG R) - Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/PHE4dPrfZvc?...
Case v. Montana (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Ellingburg v US

Crim: Ex Post Facto

Saharia (P) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Robertson (SG w/P) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (2)

Bash (Amici R) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/s0AmxZEwUQw?...
Ellingburg v. United States | SCOTUS-Toons (2025-10-14)
YouTube video by Daniel Meeks
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Bowe v US

Crim: Habeas

Adler (P) - Clarity (3), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (2)

Yang (R SG) - Clarity (4), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (3)

Mitchell (Amicus R) - Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/1wc5-NXeMRs?...
Bowe v. United States (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Postal Service v Konan

Civ Pro: Immunity

Liu (P SG) - Clarity (4), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (2)

Anand (R) - Clarity (4), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (3)

Miscarriage of postage not high stakes, but good advocates make it fun.

youtu.be/sMQBvLnF8dI?...
USPS v. Konan (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Bost v Ill

Con Law: Standing

Clement (P) Clarity (4), Mastery (5), Adaptivity (5), Interplay (5)

Talent (SG, P) Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Notz (R, Ill SG) Clarity (1), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/saBKhFU6IkI?...
Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 4:35 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Barrett v US

Crim: 5th Am

Larsen (P) - Clarity (4), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (2)

Brown (SG, P) - Clarity (3), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (3)

McCloud (Crt Amicus R) - Clarity (4), Mastery (4), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (2)

youtu.be/N2_1E0J5Ods?...
Barrett v. United States (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 4:32 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Chiles v Salazar

Con Law: 1st Am

Campbell (P) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (1)

Mooppan (SG P) Clarity (3), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

Stevenson (R CO SG) Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/TnNJkug34vY?...
Oral Argument on conversion therapy: Chiles v. Salazar
YouTube video by Supreme Court Oral Argument Transcripts
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 4:29 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
My newest published paper is out! It's about TikTok. It's also about the constitutionality of U.S. data privacy regulation. I don't know which topic is more popular - could someone with a teen ask?

If you're interested in either, download it below.

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
A Switch In Strata’ll Save Your Data: TikTok Inc. v. Garland and the Future Of U.S. Data Protection Regulation
The U.S. Supreme Court's 2025 case of TikTok Inc. v. Garland looked to be a content-focused speech showdown. TikTok and its users' First Amendment arguments wou
papers.ssrn.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Berk v Choy

Civ Pro: Pleading

Tutt (P) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (1)

Yarger (R) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (1), Interplay (1) m35 Kagan: R’s position “is, like, what the entire Federal Rules are designed to prevent”

youtu.be/yV1_TYEoxIA?...
Berk v. Choy (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 8, 2025 at 3:39 AM
briandowning.bsky.social
Villarreal v TX

Crim: 6A

Banner (P) Clarity (2), Mastery (2), Adaptivity (2), Interplay (2)

Warthen (R TX) Clarity (4), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (1)

Kevin J. Barber (SG, R) Clarity (3), Mastery (3), Adaptivity (3), Interplay (1)

youtu.be/9qfE2vojoME?...
Villarreal v. Texas (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group, inc.
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
A thing I wrote about chatbot liability got picked up by my old local paper. Hopefully after reading it you will feel post-intelligenced (if that’s a good thing).

Btw, SCOTUS oral arg season starting soon! Will post more then.

www.seattlepi.com/news/article...
Suicide-by-chatbot puts Big Tech in the product liability hot seat
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
www.seattlepi.com
September 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
The students will assume I failed to show up on the first day if they are looking for this person. When you've had the same job since before smartphones were a thing, you don't have a lot of professional pictures documenting the aging process. Which is a blessing.

law.olemiss.edu/um-law-welco...
UM Law Welcomes New Faculty, Senior Staff for 2025-26 Academic Year | School of Law | Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Law is welcoming several new faces this year among its faculty … Continued
law.olemiss.edu
August 4, 2025 at 7:32 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
During the SCOTUS summer break, let me shamelessly promote my paper on AI's impact on the increased discoverability of private conversations, particularly in corporations with video calling. If you're on a lit hold, you might want to check it out: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The AI Elf on the Shelf: Preserving Private Spaces in the Age of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Live Conversations
The content of live audio and video calls were traditionally unrecorded, produced in civil discovery only through costly deposition testimony. Conference&n
papers.ssrn.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Trump v CASA

Civ Pro: Universal Injunctions

Sauer (SG Applicants) - Clarity 2 Mastery 3 Adaptability 2 Interplay 1

Feigenbaum (St SG R) - Clarity 4 Mastery 4 Adaptability 4 Interplay 4

Corkran (R) - Clarity 3 Mastery 3 Adaptability 2 Interplay 2

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jggn...
Supreme Court hears arguments in Trump birthright citizenship case | full audio
YouTube video by CBS News
www.youtube.com
May 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Ok v Drummond

1A: Charter Sch

Campbell-Clarity 3 Mastery 3 Adaptability 2 Interplay 2

McGinley-Clarity 3 Mastery 3 Adaptability 2 Interplay 2

Sauer-Clarity 2 Mastery 2 Adaptability 1 Interplay 1

Garre-Clarity 3 Mastery 3 Adaptability 3 Interplay 2

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oe8...
Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group inc.
www.youtube.com
May 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
briandowning.bsky.social
Lab Corp v Davis

Civ Pro: Class Action

Francisco (P) - Clarity (4) Mastery (4) Adaptability (3) Interplay (4)

Joshi (SG) - Clarity (2) Mastery (3) Adaptability (1) Interplay (2)

Gupta (R) - Clarity (3) Mastery (3) Adaptability (3) Interplay (1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3suu...
Laboratory Corporation of America v. Davis (2025)
YouTube video by electron media group inc.
www.youtube.com
May 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM