Deborah Pearlstein
@debpearlstein.bsky.social
Director, Program on Law & Public Policy, Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. Charles & Marie Robertson Visiting Professor of Law & Public Affairs. Still teaching Con law, still aiming to get out of the new social media market.
Looking forward to welcoming @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social to Princeton!
I look forward to defending free speech from its progressive critics — and conservative assailants == as the Tanner Letures Nov. 12 and 13 @princeton.edu
A timely topic, sadly
lectures.princeton.edu/lectures/202...
A timely topic, sadly
lectures.princeton.edu/lectures/202...
Tanner Lecture on Human Values: David D. Cole
Progressives have increasingly lost faith in the First Amendment—at least as it has been interpreted and applied by the Supreme Court. They argue that free speech has been “weaponized” by big busines...
lectures.princeton.edu
November 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Looking forward to welcoming @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social to Princeton!
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
Breaking News: President Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and others who tried to overturn the 2020 election. The move doesn’t shield them from state charges.
Trump Pardons Giuliani and Others Involved in Effort to Overturn 2020 Election
The pardons of former Trump aides, which would only apply in federal court, are largely symbolic and cannot shield them from ongoing state-level prosecutions.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
No wonder DOJ spent last week at FedSoc trying to drum up applicants. WaPo estimates DOJ is down ~5500 attys & other staff since Trump 2.0. Applicants for what law reqs to be nonpartisan jobs must describe a Trump policy "significant to them & how they would advance that initiative."
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys and backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, in part because of a lack of qualified candidates.
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
No wonder DOJ spent last week at FedSoc trying to drum up applicants. WaPo estimates DOJ is down ~5500 attys & other staff since Trump 2.0. Applicants for what law reqs to be nonpartisan jobs must describe a Trump policy "significant to them & how they would advance that initiative."
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
MORE: The pardon language is extremely broad and could apply to many others too, since it covers anyone who advocates for the false elector slates or who investigated 2020 election fraud.
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 AM
MORE: The pardon language is extremely broad and could apply to many others too, since it covers anyone who advocates for the false elector slates or who investigated 2020 election fraud.
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
Breaking News: President Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and others who tried to overturn the 2020 election. The move doesn’t shield them from state charges.
Trump Pardons Giuliani and Others Involved in Effort to Overturn 2020 Election
The pardons of former Trump aides, which would only apply in federal court, are largely symbolic and cannot shield them from ongoing state-level prosecutions.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
In what amounts to Mark Wolf’s resignation letter from the federal bench in Massachusetts forget more than 40 years—he was already a senior judge, so it creates no vacancy—he says he “intend[s] to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In what amounts to Mark Wolf’s resignation letter from the federal bench in Massachusetts forget more than 40 years—he was already a senior judge, so it creates no vacancy—he says he “intend[s] to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
Between Mizelle's impeachment demands & Blanche's call for young conservative lawyers to join the "war" against judges who have the temerity to rule against the executive, FedSoc (otherwise losing influence w/Trump) annual meeting sounds like it's turning into a rally against judicial independence.
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Between Mizelle's impeachment demands & Blanche's call for young conservative lawyers to join the "war" against judges who have the temerity to rule against the executive, FedSoc (otherwise losing influence w/Trump) annual meeting sounds like it's turning into a rally against judicial independence.
Between Mizelle's impeachment demands & Blanche's call for young conservative lawyers to join the "war" against judges who have the temerity to rule against the executive, FedSoc (otherwise losing influence w/Trump) annual meeting sounds like it's turning into a rally against judicial independence.
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Between Mizelle's impeachment demands & Blanche's call for young conservative lawyers to join the "war" against judges who have the temerity to rule against the executive, FedSoc (otherwise losing influence w/Trump) annual meeting sounds like it's turning into a rally against judicial independence.
DAG Blanche made a pitch at FedSoc today for young lawyers to join DOJ (sounded a bit short-handed). The ask: join the "war" against "activist judges" & bars challenging admin lawyers' lies in court. “We’re going to do everything we can to take these activist bars...out of the picture.” Video below.
2025 National Lawyers Convention
The National Lawyers Convention is now sold out. Over three days, the Federalist Society's 2025...
fedsoc.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:14 PM
DAG Blanche made a pitch at FedSoc today for young lawyers to join DOJ (sounded a bit short-handed). The ask: join the "war" against "activist judges" & bars challenging admin lawyers' lies in court. “We’re going to do everything we can to take these activist bars...out of the picture.” Video below.
Shame.
Cornell Reaches Deal with Trump Administration to Restore Research Funds
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Shame.
I'd missed this. Evidently Rubio, Hegseth & someone from OLC told Congress in classified session that the administration doesn't currently have a legal justification for attacking Venezuela.
Trump admin tells Congress it currently lacks legal justification to strike Venezuela | CNN Politics
The “execute order” that launched the US military campaign against suspected drug boats in September also does not extend to land targets, the briefers said, according to the sources.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I'd missed this. Evidently Rubio, Hegseth & someone from OLC told Congress in classified session that the administration doesn't currently have a legal justification for attacking Venezuela.
My Princeton colleague @rorytruex.bsky.social launched a podcast last summer talking to scholars from various academic disciplines about about what to make of this moment in the American experiment. I've learned a lot from every episode and was honored when he asked me to hop on this one.
How America Is Losing the Law | Deborah Pearlstein
YouTube video by The Civic Forum
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 1:09 AM
My Princeton colleague @rorytruex.bsky.social launched a podcast last summer talking to scholars from various academic disciplines about about what to make of this moment in the American experiment. I've learned a lot from every episode and was honored when he asked me to hop on this one.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
Prominent Wall Street law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is working with the U.S. Commerce Department on unspecified legal matters, an official at the agency confirmed.
Law firm Simpson Thacher working with US Commerce Department
Prominent Wall Street law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is working with the U.S. Commerce Department on unspecified legal matters, an official at the agency confirmed.
reut.rs
November 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Prominent Wall Street law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is working with the U.S. Commerce Department on unspecified legal matters, an official at the agency confirmed.
Pretty much Shakespeare.
THE BALLAD OF SANDWICH MAN
This is the taLE of Sandwich Man,
Whose aim was straight and true,
Who fought for his home with deli meats
As any man should do.
Border Patrolman Lairmore
Wore armor thick snd strong
When he felt the sting of a whole wheat roll
He shouted, “This is wrong!!
This is the taLE of Sandwich Man,
Whose aim was straight and true,
Who fought for his home with deli meats
As any man should do.
Border Patrolman Lairmore
Wore armor thick snd strong
When he felt the sting of a whole wheat roll
He shouted, “This is wrong!!
November 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Pretty much Shakespeare.
What a pleasure to talk @rorytruex.bsky.social on his wonderful series. Thanks for the great conversatio.
Here's a new session of The Civic Forum with the great @debpearlstein.bsky.social on how the U.S. is "losing the law." We talk about how the courts and legal norms have changed, the implications for our democracy, and possible paths to reform. open.spotify.com/episode/4pyY...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:02 PM
What a pleasure to talk @rorytruex.bsky.social on his wonderful series. Thanks for the great conversatio.
Wow.
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury acquits D.C. 'sandwich guy' charged with chucking a sub at a federal agent
Sean Dunn faced single misdemeanor offense after federal grand jurors refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by prosecutors.
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Wow.
For the remarkable number of folks in excellent law firms, corporate suites, non-legal academia who still aren't really sure "where we are" country-wise, I'm just not sure how much clearer he can be. Countries in which opponents of the government can "never obtain power" are not democracies.
Trump: "They're gonna make DC a state and they're gonna make Puerto Rico a state. So now they pick up two states, four senators. They're gonna pick up electoral votes. It's gonna be a very, very bad situation. Now, if we do what I'm saying, they'll most likely never obtain power."
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
For the remarkable number of folks in excellent law firms, corporate suites, non-legal academia who still aren't really sure "where we are" country-wise, I'm just not sure how much clearer he can be. Countries in which opponents of the government can "never obtain power" are not democracies.
Wow - Alito's got nothing. He's now asking Katyal about whether he ever thought he'd be making a non-delegation argument. This is getting embarrassing.
November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Wow - Alito's got nothing. He's now asking Katyal about whether he ever thought he'd be making a non-delegation argument. This is getting embarrassing.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
The Illinois legislature had passed the “Illinois Bivens Act,” allowing people to sue ICE agents in state court. Just waiting for Pritzker’s signature.
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
November 5, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The Illinois legislature had passed the “Illinois Bivens Act,” allowing people to sue ICE agents in state court. Just waiting for Pritzker’s signature.
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
Now NYT calls it for Sherrill in NJ.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
New Jersey Governor Election Results 2025: Mikie Sherrill Wins
Get live results and maps from the 2025 New Jersey Governor election.
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Now NYT calls it for Sherrill in NJ.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
BREAKING:
NBC News projects: Mikie Sherrill (D) wins New Jersey Governor.
NBC News projects: Mikie Sherrill (D) wins New Jersey Governor.
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
BREAKING:
NBC News projects: Mikie Sherrill (D) wins New Jersey Governor.
NBC News projects: Mikie Sherrill (D) wins New Jersey Governor.
CNN calls NJ for Mikie Sherrill.
www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
Election live updates: Democrat Abigail Spanberger elected as Virginia governor, CNN projects | CNN Politics
Voters in multiple states on Tuesday are participating in the first major elections of President Donald Trump’s second term. Follow here for live news updates, results, analysis and more.
www.cnn.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
CNN calls NJ for Mikie Sherrill.
www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
www.cnn.com/politics/liv...