Joel Johnson
@joeljohnson13.bsky.social
Law Prof at Pepperdine -- Criminal Law and Procedure, Statutory Interpretation, Constitutional Law
Research @ http://tinyurl.com/SSRNjsj
Research @ http://tinyurl.com/SSRNjsj
Reposted by Joel Johnson
BIG IN THE 4A WORLD: The Supreme Court has granted cert in Chatrie, the geofence warrant case, to decide the following Q: "Whether the execution of the geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment." (I assume this includes both whether a "search" happened and whether the warrant was lawful.)
January 16, 2026 at 7:57 PM
BIG IN THE 4A WORLD: The Supreme Court has granted cert in Chatrie, the geofence warrant case, to decide the following Q: "Whether the execution of the geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment." (I assume this includes both whether a "search" happened and whether the warrant was lawful.)
Reposted by Joel Johnson
How often can you read amicus briefs from colleagues at the same law school arguing for opposite sides in the same case?? Check out Joel’s super interesting brief urging the Court not to even reach the 2nd Am q.
My amicus brief (w/ other 2A scholars) is here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
My amicus brief (w/ other 2A scholars) is here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
January 15, 2026 at 8:59 PM
How often can you read amicus briefs from colleagues at the same law school arguing for opposite sides in the same case?? Check out Joel’s super interesting brief urging the Court not to even reach the 2nd Am q.
My amicus brief (w/ other 2A scholars) is here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
My amicus brief (w/ other 2A scholars) is here: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
I’ve filed an amicus brief in Hemani, the pending case involving a #SecondAmendment challenge to 18 USC 922(g)(3).
The case is perceived as a sequel to Bruen and Rahimi. My brief argues that the Court can avoid the constitutional thicket by narrowly construing the statute.
🧵
The case is perceived as a sequel to Bruen and Rahimi. My brief argues that the Court can avoid the constitutional thicket by narrowly construing the statute.
🧵
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
I’ve filed an amicus brief in Hemani, the pending case involving a #SecondAmendment challenge to 18 USC 922(g)(3).
The case is perceived as a sequel to Bruen and Rahimi. My brief argues that the Court can avoid the constitutional thicket by narrowly construing the statute.
🧵
The case is perceived as a sequel to Bruen and Rahimi. My brief argues that the Court can avoid the constitutional thicket by narrowly construing the statute.
🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Excited to announce that my book, REVOLUTION IN REDLINE, is finally out! I compile key docs leading to the Founding, then present the Founding Docs in "redline," visually tracking the drafters' edits to show how the text evolved. (The Founders didn't start from scratch, and they disagreed often.)1/6
January 11, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Excited to announce that my book, REVOLUTION IN REDLINE, is finally out! I compile key docs leading to the Founding, then present the Founding Docs in "redline," visually tracking the drafters' edits to show how the text evolved. (The Founders didn't start from scratch, and they disagreed often.)1/6
It was a treat to celebrate Prof. Dick Howard, for whom I worked as a research assistant while in law school. He received the ABA Kutak Award in recognition of his incredible career.
January 9, 2026 at 3:18 AM
It was a treat to celebrate Prof. Dick Howard, for whom I worked as a research assistant while in law school. He received the ABA Kutak Award in recognition of his incredible career.
It was an honor to receive the Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation Section — especially while seated next to Bill Eskridge and Mary Ann Bernard (Phil Frickey’s widow).
Thanks @kevintobia.bsky.social for the kind words about my work.
Thanks @kevintobia.bsky.social for the kind words about my work.
January 7, 2026 at 3:39 AM
It was an honor to receive the Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation Section — especially while seated next to Bill Eskridge and Mary Ann Bernard (Phil Frickey’s widow).
Thanks @kevintobia.bsky.social for the kind words about my work.
Thanks @kevintobia.bsky.social for the kind words about my work.
Later this week at #AALS, I’ll be presenting my new paper, The New Criminal Docket and the Clemency Court. The paper examines how the contemporary Supreme Court curates and resolves its criminal merits docket—and how that practice has quietly changed. 🧵
January 6, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Later this week at #AALS, I’ll be presenting my new paper, The New Criminal Docket and the Clemency Court. The paper examines how the contemporary Supreme Court curates and resolves its criminal merits docket—and how that practice has quietly changed. 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Check out the @scotusblog.com post from my brilliant colleague @joeljohnson13.bsky.social on the upcoming 2nd Am case! Altho the Court could clarify the statute (& vagueness doctrine), I think there's real need for SCOTUS to clarify (ahem, vague) 2nd Am doctrine.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
An off-ramp for the court’s next big gun case
Please note that SCOTUS Outside Opinions constitute the views of outside contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. Last year, federal prosecutors obtained a ...
www.scotusblog.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Check out the @scotusblog.com post from my brilliant colleague @joeljohnson13.bsky.social on the upcoming 2nd Am case! Altho the Court could clarify the statute (& vagueness doctrine), I think there's real need for SCOTUS to clarify (ahem, vague) 2nd Am doctrine.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
My take on Hemani, the pending Second Amendment case on the criminal prohibition on gun possession for “unlawful users.” Over at SCOTUSblog.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
An off-ramp for the court’s next big gun case
Please note that SCOTUS Outside Opinions constitute the views of outside contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. Last year, federal prosecutors obtained a ...
www.scotusblog.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
My take on Hemani, the pending Second Amendment case on the criminal prohibition on gun possession for “unlawful users.” Over at SCOTUSblog.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/an-o...
I’m thrilled to see my latest, Major-Questions Lenity, in print in the Minnesota Law Review.
🔗 to the article ⬇️
🔗 to the article ⬇️
December 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I’m thrilled to see my latest, Major-Questions Lenity, in print in the Minnesota Law Review.
🔗 to the article ⬇️
🔗 to the article ⬇️
Over the next couple days, I’ll be participating in the Vanderbilt Law Criminal Justice Roundtable. It promises to be a great event with some terrific scholars and papers.
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
November 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Over the next couple days, I’ll be participating in the Vanderbilt Law Criminal Justice Roundtable. It promises to be a great event with some terrific scholars and papers.
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This is madness. Today we had to send a message to our 1L students telling them it’s not a great idea to use the first drafts of their first legal writing assignments because the new OCI timeline is so early they are wondering if they should.
#LegalWriting
#LegalWriting
October 16, 2025 at 9:15 PM
This is madness. Today we had to send a message to our 1L students telling them it’s not a great idea to use the first drafts of their first legal writing assignments because the new OCI timeline is so early they are wondering if they should.
#LegalWriting
#LegalWriting
@johnpelwood.bsky.social correctly notes that some of the pending cases involving 2A challenges to 922(g)(3) have been relisted. But for reasons I point out in my amicus brief, Harris v. United States is better vehicle than any of the relisted petitions.
bsky.app/profile/joel...
bsky.app/profile/joel...
Friday's (or Monday's) #SCOTUS grants? The government petitions to review a decision striking down on 2d Amendment grounds a law prohibiting gun possession by controlled substance users. And another colorable grant on the scope of judicial estoppel.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/cont...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/cont...
Controlled substances and courtroom candor
The Relist Watch column examines cert petitions that the Supreme Court has “relisted” for its upcoming conference. A short explanation of relists is available here. It’s only week two of the […]
www.scotusblog.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
@johnpelwood.bsky.social correctly notes that some of the pending cases involving 2A challenges to 922(g)(3) have been relisted. But for reasons I point out in my amicus brief, Harris v. United States is better vehicle than any of the relisted petitions.
bsky.app/profile/joel...
bsky.app/profile/joel...
It was a treat for me to interview @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social a few weeks ago, as part of the William French Lecture Series at Pepperdine. For those interested, the video of the interview is now available here:
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
October 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It was a treat for me to interview @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social a few weeks ago, as part of the William French Lecture Series at Pepperdine. For those interested, the video of the interview is now available here:
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.
Legal Theory Blog
Discover our latest articles and updates. Stay informed with recent posts that cover a variety of topics you care about!
legaltheoryblog.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.
Honored to win the inaugural Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation and Law of the Political Process Section — based on my article Ad Hoc Constructions of Penal Statutes in the Notre Dame Law Review.
🔗⬇️
🔗⬇️
October 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Honored to win the inaugural Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation and Law of the Political Process Section — based on my article Ad Hoc Constructions of Penal Statutes in the Notre Dame Law Review.
🔗⬇️
🔗⬇️
I’m very much looking forward to this event tomorrow at Pepperdine with my friend and mentor, @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social.
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
September 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I’m very much looking forward to this event tomorrow at Pepperdine with my friend and mentor, @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social.
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
A reminder that winning at SCOTUS does not mean you win the case. The plaintiff in Barnes v Felix, who was shot by the police, and won in the Supreme Court a few months ago, loses his case on summary judgment.
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
September 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A reminder that winning at SCOTUS does not mean you win the case. The plaintiff in Barnes v Felix, who was shot by the police, and won in the Supreme Court a few months ago, loses his case on summary judgment.
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
In my Criminal Procedure class this semester, I've been showing slides with AI-generated images depicting the facts of the key cases (not always accurately). The students get a kick out of them. And I think they have pedagogical value. Here are some favorites so far: 🧵
September 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
In my Criminal Procedure class this semester, I've been showing slides with AI-generated images depicting the facts of the key cases (not always accurately). The students get a kick out of them. And I think they have pedagogical value. Here are some favorites so far: 🧵