Erin Durant
@erindurant42.bsky.social
Founder of Durant Barristers. I like sports, birds and photography. Currently lawyering rarely and healing full time.
Pinned
The Destruction of a Democracy - Part I
What does the past tell us about the state of America's democracy?
open.substack.com
I wrote a long thing. This is only part I. Part II will be next week. Please share.
open.substack.com/pub/durantba...
open.substack.com/pub/durantba...
If captain clutch ends it…
February 19, 2026 at 8:28 PM
If captain clutch ends it…
I get excited anytime Sophie Jaques is on the ice. Her uncle worked with my husband here in Ottawa. He’s very proud.
February 19, 2026 at 8:08 PM
I get excited anytime Sophie Jaques is on the ice. Her uncle worked with my husband here in Ottawa. He’s very proud.
It’s only been 3 minutes 30 seconds in this period. I can’t breathe.
February 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM
It’s only been 3 minutes 30 seconds in this period. I can’t breathe.
I was having lunch at a bar downtown Ottawa when Canada scored. Much cheering occurred in a typically stuffy establishment.
Two up, two down and Canada holds the 1-0 lead over the United States in the gold medal game.
The lone goal so far was courtesy of Kristin O’Neill shorthanded.
SOG: 21-20 Canada
What an unbelievable two periods of hockey in this one. Now excuse me as I find my breath.
The lone goal so far was courtesy of Kristin O’Neill shorthanded.
SOG: 21-20 Canada
What an unbelievable two periods of hockey in this one. Now excuse me as I find my breath.
February 19, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I was having lunch at a bar downtown Ottawa when Canada scored. Much cheering occurred in a typically stuffy establishment.
Reposted by Erin Durant
'At a moment when your government is rounding people up and building camps to concentrate them — and you know *everyone in the world knows it* — some ambivalence when you’re at an international competition is not just understandable but unavoidable." — @paulwaldman.bsky.social
Yeah, US Olympians are woke. Deal with it.
Sports have always been political — it's just a question of who's speaking out.
www.publicnotice.co
February 19, 2026 at 1:21 PM
'At a moment when your government is rounding people up and building camps to concentrate them — and you know *everyone in the world knows it* — some ambivalence when you’re at an international competition is not just understandable but unavoidable." — @paulwaldman.bsky.social
He’s not very good at hiding it.
Trump: "Frankly, if these radical left lunatic Democrats would come and say, 'Please, help us, please,' we'd stop crimes all over the place. Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them because they're so bad."
February 19, 2026 at 2:02 AM
He’s not very good at hiding it.
I’m reading a book by Stephen King about writing. In it he writes:
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”
This book was already worth the price.
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”
This book was already worth the price.
February 19, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I’m reading a book by Stephen King about writing. In it he writes:
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”
This book was already worth the price.
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”
This book was already worth the price.
Reposted by Erin Durant
It'd take some digging. You'd need either their commission package, or you'd have to cross reference the year they were commissioned with the year they graduated law school.
Not impossible if a journalist wanted to do it.
Not impossible if a journalist wanted to do it.
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 AM
It'd take some digging. You'd need either their commission package, or you'd have to cross reference the year they were commissioned with the year they graduated law school.
Not impossible if a journalist wanted to do it.
Not impossible if a journalist wanted to do it.
*cough* law firms *cough*
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
February 19, 2026 at 1:25 AM
*cough* law firms *cough*
Reposted by Erin Durant
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
February 18, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
Reposted by Erin Durant
Holding the ID documents after release is common practice for ICE also in NJ and Pennsylvania, I heard today from attorneys. More on that tomorrow.
JUST IN: Judge Provinzino in Minnesota has held a Justice Department attorney in civil contempt for violations of her order requiring the return of a released ICE detainee’s ID documents. He must pay $500 a day until the documents are returned.
February 19, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Holding the ID documents after release is common practice for ICE also in NJ and Pennsylvania, I heard today from attorneys. More on that tomorrow.
Who has the text of the ruling or transcript? I’m very interested in this one.
1. DHS surges 3,000 officers to Minneapolis without doing anywhere near enough prep first.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
February 18, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Who has the text of the ruling or transcript? I’m very interested in this one.
I would like to propose an Olympic rule change: each Olympic venue must have at least one cute dog causing chaos and cuteness and a cat who supervises the medal ceremonies.
February 18, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I would like to propose an Olympic rule change: each Olympic venue must have at least one cute dog causing chaos and cuteness and a cat who supervises the medal ceremonies.
I’m curious if the lawyers would have been in-house with CBS or from one of the big firms that signed deals with Trump. Any American lawyers familiar with CBS’ usual approach to legal matters? I assume it’s an in-house team who would advise on this.
If you have been following the clumsy — no, pathetic — attempt by CBS lawyers to collaborate with the FCC in reviving the pointless "equal time" rule, using Stephen Colbert and his show as their playground... then watch him explain it from his POV.
Fascinating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQIl...
Fascinating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQIl...
Why Everyone's Talking About Stephen Colbert, CBS, The FCC And James Talarico
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I’m curious if the lawyers would have been in-house with CBS or from one of the big firms that signed deals with Trump. Any American lawyers familiar with CBS’ usual approach to legal matters? I assume it’s an in-house team who would advise on this.
As a former competitive figure skater who quit around the age of 15, I cannot overstate how incredible this comeback is. Figure skating at an elite level is not like riding a bike. It is also very hard on the aging body.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
Alysa Liu quit figure skating after years of chasing success. The freedom she found brought her back to the Olympics | CNN
As they hiked the Himalayas in 2023, Alysa Liu and her best friend – Shay Newton – found themselves in a deep, existential argument.
www.cnn.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:14 PM
As a former competitive figure skater who quit around the age of 15, I cannot overstate how incredible this comeback is. Figure skating at an elite level is not like riding a bike. It is also very hard on the aging body.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
Good doggo.
February 18, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Good doggo.
Reposted by Erin Durant
The horror stories rolling in from Minnesota are just the tip of the iceberg. This 20-year-old, who's lawfully present in the country, was arrested for being Latino, then jailed in a filthy cell where he couldn't even sit down. 18 days of illegal detention. democracyforward.org/wp-content/u...
February 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The horror stories rolling in from Minnesota are just the tip of the iceberg. This 20-year-old, who's lawfully present in the country, was arrested for being Latino, then jailed in a filthy cell where he couldn't even sit down. 18 days of illegal detention. democracyforward.org/wp-content/u...
I’m disappointed in 38% of people.
It’s affirming that the good people of the United States have so clearly rejected Trump’s terror campaign and mass deportation. New data from Reuters:
February 18, 2026 at 1:13 AM
I’m disappointed in 38% of people.
Just throwing it out there. If there is a law school who would pay me $100,000/year to teach one 2-credit course, I wouldn’t say no.
This is performance art: Leveraging your job as state AG to get a publicly funded state university to pay you an extra $100,000/year to teach a 2-credit class called "Executive Power." Indeed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
February 18, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Just throwing it out there. If there is a law school who would pay me $100,000/year to teach one 2-credit course, I wouldn’t say no.
Same. I I wasn’t paid 1/10th of this. Maybe 1/20th.
As an adjunct, I would like to report I am not paid $100,000.
February 17, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Same. I I wasn’t paid 1/10th of this. Maybe 1/20th.
America will not quickly bounce back from their new authoritarian ways. This article has several examples of the US federal government openly violating rights contained in the US constitution - as official government policy.
Incredible story that is worth your time to read. It exposes the ways in which the Trump admin is turning the legal immigration system into yet another arm of the mass deportation machine, transforming a benefits agency into a trap for those seeking legal status.
February 17, 2026 at 11:36 PM
America will not quickly bounce back from their new authoritarian ways. This article has several examples of the US federal government openly violating rights contained in the US constitution - as official government policy.
As someone who benefited significantly from OSAP by assisting me get through two degrees, this comment really pisses me off. I could not have afforded university without it. Even with OSAP, it was a big struggle that took a decade to pay off.
“You’re picking basket-weaving courses, and there’s not too many baskets being sold out there.” The hell?? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ford tells students to not pick 'basket-weaving courses' in wake of OSAP cuts | CBC News
Premier Doug Ford had choice words for students expressing concerns over cuts to OSAP grants Tuesday, telling them to "not pick basket-weaving courses" and to invest in education that gives students i...
www.cbc.ca
February 17, 2026 at 10:44 PM
As someone who benefited significantly from OSAP by assisting me get through two degrees, this comment really pisses me off. I could not have afforded university without it. Even with OSAP, it was a big struggle that took a decade to pay off.
These articles constantly underplay just how angry Canadians are and that it is directly attributable to President Donald Trump. We will not be back until there is a full throated rejection of Trump’s authoritarianism.
Niagara-Buffalo-Northwest NY State and tourism impacts of the Trump trade / deportation war
buffalonews.com/news/local/b...
buffalonews.com/news/local/b...
Prospectus: WNY Tourism sites are feeling the absence of Canadians
Over the past year, visitation to Western New York from Canada has dropped 25%. That's a problem for the region's tourist sites, as well as the retailers and restaurants around them.
buffalonews.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:33 PM
These articles constantly underplay just how angry Canadians are and that it is directly attributable to President Donald Trump. We will not be back until there is a full throated rejection of Trump’s authoritarianism.
Up to about 2.3 million now, which is roughly what Colbert gets nightly on TV. I imagine the clips will circulate for a while yet. Colbert played this perfectly.
Watched Colbert’s interview with Talarico. Worth your time. Up to 1.5 million views on YouTube.
February 17, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Up to about 2.3 million now, which is roughly what Colbert gets nightly on TV. I imagine the clips will circulate for a while yet. Colbert played this perfectly.
For Canadian lawyers trying to understand the FCC/CBS debacle, this is a great thread.
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
February 17, 2026 at 8:29 PM
For Canadian lawyers trying to understand the FCC/CBS debacle, this is a great thread.