Mathias Hong
@hongmathias.bsky.social
Human Rights & Constitutional Law • Prof. of Public Law (Kehl) (private account; reposts ≤ endorsement) • 2005-2008: law clerk @BVerfG (Federal Constitutional Court of Germany) • https://verfassungsblog.de/author/mathias-hong/ • (Foto (c) U. Völkner)
Reposted by Mathias Hong
"Der Fall wäre also prädestiniert dafür gewesen, zu demonstrieren, was so eine „Schutzpflicht“ des Grundgesetzes in der Praxis bedeutet. Zum Beispiel, dass man einem Staat, der sämtliche Regeln verletzt, keine Waffen liefert und auch keine Panzergetriebe.", meint Wolfgang Janisch von der SZ
Rüstungsexporte nach Israel: Der Beschluss des Bundesverfassungsgerichts klingt zynisch
Das Bundesverfassungsgericht hat hohe rechtliche Maßstäbe für die Außenpolitik formuliert, sie aber nicht eingefordert, als es darauf ankam.
www.sueddeutsche.de
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 AM
"Der Fall wäre also prädestiniert dafür gewesen, zu demonstrieren, was so eine „Schutzpflicht“ des Grundgesetzes in der Praxis bedeutet. Zum Beispiel, dass man einem Staat, der sämtliche Regeln verletzt, keine Waffen liefert und auch keine Panzergetriebe.", meint Wolfgang Janisch von der SZ
"Consistent with our prior work, we find that the LLM adheres to the legally correct outcome significantly more often than human judges. In fact, the LLM makes no errors at all."
Posner & Saran on Decisions by AI and Federal Judges
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment…
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment…
Posner & Saran on Decisions by AI and Federal Judges
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment originally conducted on 61 U.S. federal judges, this time with GPT-5 as the decision-maker. The experiment involves a choice-of-law dispute in a hypothetical automobile accident case, where three variables are manipulated: (1) whether the applicable doctrine is a rule or a standard, (2) whether the plaintiff or defendant is portrayed more sympathetically, and (3) the location of the accident, which affects the legal outcome under different states' choice-of-law rules.
legaltheoryblog.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:11 AM
"Consistent with our prior work, we find that the LLM adheres to the legally correct outcome significantly more often than human judges. In fact, the LLM makes no errors at all."
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Strongly recommend that everyone interested in contemporary legal theory drop what they're doing and read this immediately - if current LLM models can genuinely approximate the formalist ideal so much more closely, this could have huge implications for contemporary jurisprudence
Posner & Saran on Decisions by AI and Federal Judges
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment…
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment…
Posner & Saran on Decisions by AI and Federal Judges
Eric A. Posner (University of Chicago - Law School) & Shivam Saran (University of Chicago - Law School) have posted Silicon Formalism: Rules, Standards, and Judge AI on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This paper replicates a judicial experiment originally conducted on 61 U.S. federal judges, this time with GPT-5 as the decision-maker. The experiment involves a choice-of-law dispute in a hypothetical automobile accident case, where three variables are manipulated: (1) whether the applicable doctrine is a rule or a standard, (2) whether the plaintiff or defendant is portrayed more sympathetically, and (3) the location of the accident, which affects the legal outcome under different states' choice-of-law rules.
legaltheoryblog.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Strongly recommend that everyone interested in contemporary legal theory drop what they're doing and read this immediately - if current LLM models can genuinely approximate the formalist ideal so much more closely, this could have huge implications for contemporary jurisprudence
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Sorry Leute: Es ist falsch, der AfD im Wahlkampf Stadthallen zu verweigern, solange sie eine legale Partei ist.
Oder auch, sich ein „Redeverbot“ gegen Björn Höcke auszubedingen, wie es der CSU-Bürgermeister in Lindenberg im Allgäu versucht hat.
Rechtlich falsch - und politisch.
Mein Kommentar:
Oder auch, sich ein „Redeverbot“ gegen Björn Höcke auszubedingen, wie es der CSU-Bürgermeister in Lindenberg im Allgäu versucht hat.
Rechtlich falsch - und politisch.
Mein Kommentar:
Bayern: Björn Höcke muss m Kommunalwahlkampf reden dürfen
Bürgermeister sollten es sich nicht anmaßen, Björn Höcke ihre Stadthallen vorzuenthalten.
www.sueddeutsche.de
February 13, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Sorry Leute: Es ist falsch, der AfD im Wahlkampf Stadthallen zu verweigern, solange sie eine legale Partei ist.
Oder auch, sich ein „Redeverbot“ gegen Björn Höcke auszubedingen, wie es der CSU-Bürgermeister in Lindenberg im Allgäu versucht hat.
Rechtlich falsch - und politisch.
Mein Kommentar:
Oder auch, sich ein „Redeverbot“ gegen Björn Höcke auszubedingen, wie es der CSU-Bürgermeister in Lindenberg im Allgäu versucht hat.
Rechtlich falsch - und politisch.
Mein Kommentar:
Reposted by Mathias Hong
My review of two new books on Habermas for @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/also-a-revie...
www.liberalcurrents.com/also-a-revie...
Also a Review of Habermas
Is Habermas a titan of recent philosophy or a stodgy academic lacking a burning political vision?
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM
My review of two new books on Habermas for @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/also-a-revie...
www.liberalcurrents.com/also-a-revie...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
𝐄𝐢𝐥:: Redeverbote für Björn #Höcke sind unzulässig. Der BayVGH schafft bayernweit Klarheit, nachdem zwei Verwaltungsgerichte unterschiedlich entschieden. www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
Redeverbot für Björn Höcke ist rechtswidrig
Zwei Gemeinden in Bayern machten AfD-Veranstaltungen von der Auflage abhängig, dass Björn Höcke nicht auftritt. Rechtswidrig wie jetzt das BayVGH entschied.
www.lto.de
February 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM
𝐄𝐢𝐥:: Redeverbote für Björn #Höcke sind unzulässig. Der BayVGH schafft bayernweit Klarheit, nachdem zwei Verwaltungsgerichte unterschiedlich entschieden. www.lto.de/recht/nachri...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Kriener on the International Law of Peaceful Protest
Florian Kriener (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law; Yale Law School) has posted Mapping the International Law of Peaceful Protest on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The regulation of peaceful protest in…
Florian Kriener (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law; Yale Law School) has posted Mapping the International Law of Peaceful Protest on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The regulation of peaceful protest in…
Kriener on the International Law of Peaceful Protest
Florian Kriener (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law; Yale Law School) has posted Mapping the International Law of Peaceful Protest on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The regulation of peaceful protest in international law remains a largely uncharted territory. Despite the pivotal role protests retain in societal conflicts and the implementation of international rights, the absence of explicit recognition and thorough examination in international treaties and legal scholarship presents a significant gap.
legaltheoryblog.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Kriener on the International Law of Peaceful Protest
Florian Kriener (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law; Yale Law School) has posted Mapping the International Law of Peaceful Protest on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The regulation of peaceful protest in…
Florian Kriener (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law; Yale Law School) has posted Mapping the International Law of Peaceful Protest on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The regulation of peaceful protest in…
Reposted by Mathias Hong
The Court of Justice of the EU has recently clarified that Frontex is subject to effective judicial accountability.
GEORGIOS ATHANASIOU explains how the Court’s ruling in Hamoudi could reshape a pending case against the Agency.
verfassungsblog.de/hamoudis-bur...
GEORGIOS ATHANASIOU explains how the Court’s ruling in Hamoudi could reshape a pending case against the Agency.
verfassungsblog.de/hamoudis-bur...
February 13, 2026 at 9:09 AM
The Court of Justice of the EU has recently clarified that Frontex is subject to effective judicial accountability.
GEORGIOS ATHANASIOU explains how the Court’s ruling in Hamoudi could reshape a pending case against the Agency.
verfassungsblog.de/hamoudis-bur...
GEORGIOS ATHANASIOU explains how the Court’s ruling in Hamoudi could reshape a pending case against the Agency.
verfassungsblog.de/hamoudis-bur...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
a beautifully written and powerful piece from University of Minnesota Law professor Emmanuel Mauleón on the stakes of how the legal profession responds in this moment.
lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
Whistling at the Edge of Law
The whistle is sounding in Minneapolis. The question before the legal profession is whether we will hear it, amplify it, and act accordingly, or instead insist that the ground eroding beneath our feet...
lpeproject.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:07 PM
a beautifully written and powerful piece from University of Minnesota Law professor Emmanuel Mauleón on the stakes of how the legal profession responds in this moment.
lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
lpeproject.org/blog/whistli...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
👇
Overall, we have tallied 4x more protests through Jan 31, 2026 than we had through Jan 31, 2018
February 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
👇
Reposted by Mathias Hong
For those who care less about the planet here’s the local angle: climate change is going to hit your wallet: www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/e...
How EPA 'endangerment finding' repeal could impact your wallet
The Trump administration dismantled a key defense in the U.S. fight against climate change. Experts say that may have far-reaching impacts on people's finances.
www.cnbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:01 PM
For those who care less about the planet here’s the local angle: climate change is going to hit your wallet: www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/e...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Today, the IOC withdrew the Olympic accreditation of Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych over his “Helmet of Remembrance.”
ANTOINE DUVAL and MARK JAMES argue the disqualification is unlawful – and that the ban on athlete “expression” violates human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/disqualify-v...
ANTOINE DUVAL and MARK JAMES argue the disqualification is unlawful – and that the ban on athlete “expression” violates human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/disqualify-v...
February 12, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Today, the IOC withdrew the Olympic accreditation of Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych over his “Helmet of Remembrance.”
ANTOINE DUVAL and MARK JAMES argue the disqualification is unlawful – and that the ban on athlete “expression” violates human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/disqualify-v...
ANTOINE DUVAL and MARK JAMES argue the disqualification is unlawful – and that the ban on athlete “expression” violates human rights.
verfassungsblog.de/disqualify-v...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Slocum & Tobia on Pragmatic Textualism
Brian G. Slocum (Florida State University - College of Law) & Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) have posted Pragmatic Textualism on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Traditional textualism instructs judges to adhere to a statute’s linguistic meaning…
Brian G. Slocum (Florida State University - College of Law) & Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) have posted Pragmatic Textualism on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Traditional textualism instructs judges to adhere to a statute’s linguistic meaning…
Slocum & Tobia on Pragmatic Textualism
Brian G. Slocum (Florida State University - College of Law) & Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) have posted Pragmatic Textualism on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Traditional textualism instructs judges to adhere to a statute’s linguistic meaning and reject as irrelevant its interpretive consequences. Justice Scalia famously contrasted his restrained textualist judge with “Mr. Fix-It,” a judge who inappropriately weighs consequences.
legaltheoryblog.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Slocum & Tobia on Pragmatic Textualism
Brian G. Slocum (Florida State University - College of Law) & Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) have posted Pragmatic Textualism on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Traditional textualism instructs judges to adhere to a statute’s linguistic meaning…
Brian G. Slocum (Florida State University - College of Law) & Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) have posted Pragmatic Textualism on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Traditional textualism instructs judges to adhere to a statute’s linguistic meaning…
Granick on Orin Kerr, "The Digital Fourth Amendment"
"Kerr knows that technology has generally been a boon for law enforcement".
"The primary purpose of his book is to argue that courts should" account "for this shift in the balance of power...".
1/32
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
"Kerr knows that technology has generally been a boon for law enforcement".
"The primary purpose of his book is to argue that courts should" account "for this shift in the balance of power...".
1/32
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
February 12, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Granick on Orin Kerr, "The Digital Fourth Amendment"
"Kerr knows that technology has generally been a boon for law enforcement".
"The primary purpose of his book is to argue that courts should" account "for this shift in the balance of power...".
1/32
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
"Kerr knows that technology has generally been a boon for law enforcement".
"The primary purpose of his book is to argue that courts should" account "for this shift in the balance of power...".
1/32
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
This is a big deal. Approval polls, like the media, courts, and Congress, can serve as vehicles for presidential accountability. We are watching in real time as the institutions that could hold this administration to account wither on the vine.
Gallup announces, after 88 years, it will no longer track public approval of presidents. Trump's second-term approval rating fell to 36% in December, among the lowest ever recorded by the company. The president repeatedly has threatened to sue media and polling firms that portray him negatively.
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 AM
This is a big deal. Approval polls, like the media, courts, and Congress, can serve as vehicles for presidential accountability. We are watching in real time as the institutions that could hold this administration to account wither on the vine.
Reposted by Mathias Hong
“When Citizens United was decided in 2010, billionaires had spent $18 million on the 2000 election, $13M 2004 and $16M in 2008. Then came the deluge. In 2012 it was $231M, and nearly doubled again in next three election cycles —to $682M in 2016, $1.2 billion in 2020 and $2.6 billion in 2024.” Gift:
Opinion | Affordability and the ‘Epstein Class’ Will Define American Politics
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:57 AM
“When Citizens United was decided in 2010, billionaires had spent $18 million on the 2000 election, $13M 2004 and $16M in 2008. Then came the deluge. In 2012 it was $231M, and nearly doubled again in next three election cycles —to $682M in 2016, $1.2 billion in 2020 and $2.6 billion in 2024.” Gift:
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Waffenlieferungen an Israel: Auch das BVerfG schreitet nicht ein. Wenn die Verwaltungsgerichte Klagen ausländischer Zivilisten gegen deutsche Waffenexporte für unzulässig halten, verletze das keine Grundrechte, so ein heute veröffentlichter Kammerbeschluss. Damit dürfte das Thema durch sein.
February 12, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Waffenlieferungen an Israel: Auch das BVerfG schreitet nicht ein. Wenn die Verwaltungsgerichte Klagen ausländischer Zivilisten gegen deutsche Waffenexporte für unzulässig halten, verletze das keine Grundrechte, so ein heute veröffentlichter Kammerbeschluss. Damit dürfte das Thema durch sein.
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Every crisis is an opportunity, which means the time is NOW to figure out how to reform our system of free expression to enable it to better resist authoritarian repression of the kind all around us. Very grateful that @knightcolumbia.org is jumpstarting this impt convo about how to do just that.
Very excited about this new @knightcolumbia.org project, both because it gives us the chance to look beyond the current democratic crisis and because so many super people have already agreed to participate. knightcolumbia.org/content/new-...
New Knight Institute Initiative to Focus on “Reconstructing Free Expression” After Trump
knightcolumbia.org
February 11, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Every crisis is an opportunity, which means the time is NOW to figure out how to reform our system of free expression to enable it to better resist authoritarian repression of the kind all around us. Very grateful that @knightcolumbia.org is jumpstarting this impt convo about how to do just that.
Reposted by Mathias Hong
I'm delighted that the Harvard Law Review has published a book review of "The Digital Fourth Amendment." The review, by @granick.bsky.social, is here.
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
February 11, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I'm delighted that the Harvard Law Review has published a book review of "The Digital Fourth Amendment." The review, by @granick.bsky.social, is here.
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
Reposted by Mathias Hong
And from the intro
February 11, 2026 at 3:13 PM
And from the intro
Reposted by Mathias Hong
From my abstract
February 11, 2026 at 3:13 PM
From my abstract
Reposted by Mathias Hong
My paper on the original meaning of birthright citizenship is now published
February 11, 2026 at 3:13 PM
My paper on the original meaning of birthright citizenship is now published
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Thanks are due to our contributors - also for their patience with this much delayed issue!
Recht während Gaza
überfälliger Schwerpunkt in der Kritischen Justiz
großer Dank an
@isafei.bsky.social und @barskanmaz.bsky.social
für diese wichtige Intervention
ihre Einleitung kann man hier lesen:
www.inlibra.com/de/document/...
überfälliger Schwerpunkt in der Kritischen Justiz
großer Dank an
@isafei.bsky.social und @barskanmaz.bsky.social
für diese wichtige Intervention
ihre Einleitung kann man hier lesen:
www.inlibra.com/de/document/...
February 11, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Thanks are due to our contributors - also for their patience with this much delayed issue!
Reposted by Mathias Hong
"From the River to the Sea" ist eine strafbare Hamas-Parole, hat nun erstmals ein Oberlandesgericht entschieden. Klarheit kann aber nur Karlsruhe schaffen, wo neben dem BGH nun auch das BVerfG ins Spiel kommt. @mkolter.bsky.social mit dem Stand der Dinge:
‘From the River to the Sea’: Erstes OLG bejaht Strafbarkeit
Ist der Palästina-Spruch eine strafbare Hamas-Parole? Zu der Streitfrage haben sich erstmals zwei OLG geäußert. Neben dem BGH kommt nun auch das BVerfG ins Spiel.
www.lto.de
February 10, 2026 at 2:54 PM
"From the River to the Sea" ist eine strafbare Hamas-Parole, hat nun erstmals ein Oberlandesgericht entschieden. Klarheit kann aber nur Karlsruhe schaffen, wo neben dem BGH nun auch das BVerfG ins Spiel kommt. @mkolter.bsky.social mit dem Stand der Dinge:
Reposted by Mathias Hong
Im DFG-Graduiertenkolleg „Collective Decision-Making“ an der Universität Hamburg sollen zum 01.11.2026 gleich 12 Promotionsstellen im Umfang von je 75% besetzt werden. Die Ausschreibung richtet sich vorrangig an Kandidat:innen aus der Ökonomie, der... https://www.theorieblog.de/?p=30451
February 10, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Im DFG-Graduiertenkolleg „Collective Decision-Making“ an der Universität Hamburg sollen zum 01.11.2026 gleich 12 Promotionsstellen im Umfang von je 75% besetzt werden. Die Ausschreibung richtet sich vorrangig an Kandidat:innen aus der Ökonomie, der... https://www.theorieblog.de/?p=30451