Landon Magnusson
@landonmagnusson.bsky.social
Husband. Father. KC-based Appellate Lawyer @WithersBrant. Former #CA8 & #SCOMo clerk. @BYU & @sorbonneparis1.bsky.social alumnus. Francophile. Audiophile. Posts are my own.
Praying today for recovery, peace, and peacemakers.
September 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Praying today for recovery, peace, and peacemakers.
With Missouri jumping into re-districting, it’s important to remember that while gerrymandering isn’t illegal in Missouri, there are some district requirements imposed by the Missouri constitution.
Districts must be “as compact as may be.” While there’s a lot of room there, it’s not unlimited.
Districts must be “as compact as may be.” While there’s a lot of room there, it’s not unlimited.
August 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
With Missouri jumping into re-districting, it’s important to remember that while gerrymandering isn’t illegal in Missouri, there are some district requirements imposed by the Missouri constitution.
Districts must be “as compact as may be.” While there’s a lot of room there, it’s not unlimited.
Districts must be “as compact as may be.” While there’s a lot of room there, it’s not unlimited.
Hey @dullboy237.bsky.social ! So very cool to see Poolhouse all over social media recently.
July 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Hey @dullboy237.bsky.social ! So very cool to see Poolhouse all over social media recently.
Today’s court:
June 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Today’s court:
Around 9 minutes into this video, the legal analyst says that the first thing a judge does when applying a statute is open up Merriam-Webster or Black's to define a term....
I think that @smouritsen.bsky.social may like a word....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4q...
I think that @smouritsen.bsky.social may like a word....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4q...
Enten: ‘One of the worst polling weeks for Donald Trump that we’ve seen’
YouTube video by CNN
www.youtube.com
June 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Around 9 minutes into this video, the legal analyst says that the first thing a judge does when applying a statute is open up Merriam-Webster or Black's to define a term....
I think that @smouritsen.bsky.social may like a word....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4q...
I think that @smouritsen.bsky.social may like a word....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4q...
God only knows what music would have been without him.
June 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM
God only knows what music would have been without him.
Was listening to a podcast recently that said they checked twitter for lawyer reactions to a recent court decision and learned that all of the best lawyer analysis had migrated to Bluesky.
I agree.
Thanks, #LawSky, for helping to make this a good place.
I agree.
Thanks, #LawSky, for helping to make this a good place.
May 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Was listening to a podcast recently that said they checked twitter for lawyer reactions to a recent court decision and learned that all of the best lawyer analysis had migrated to Bluesky.
I agree.
Thanks, #LawSky, for helping to make this a good place.
I agree.
Thanks, #LawSky, for helping to make this a good place.
So fun to watch my ten year old discover the joy of TECMO Bowl. 😂
April 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
So fun to watch my ten year old discover the joy of TECMO Bowl. 😂
Reposted by Landon Magnusson
An appellate brief is never done. It's just due.
April 22, 2025 at 2:31 AM
An appellate brief is never done. It's just due.
Even though we’ve tariffed EU exports, it looks like we just imported the “cumul des mandats” (now-limited French practice of holding multiple government posts at the same time, although the current French PM is simultaneously the mayor of his hometown).
Big question: does he draw 2 salaries?
Big question: does he draw 2 salaries?
Uh, the same person simultaneously serving as Sec. of the Army and head of a federal police agency seems problematic.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Army secretary, in rare move, also becomes ATF head
This puts a Pentagon official in charge of a law enforcement agency for the first time.
www.politico.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Even though we’ve tariffed EU exports, it looks like we just imported the “cumul des mandats” (now-limited French practice of holding multiple government posts at the same time, although the current French PM is simultaneously the mayor of his hometown).
Big question: does he draw 2 salaries?
Big question: does he draw 2 salaries?
Maybe I'm the outlier, but I've heard a remarkable amount of times from judges something along the lines of: "When I'm preparing for a case, I usually start with the reply brief."
Please don't decline to file a reply brief, people.
Lawgeeks, 7th Cir. (by Judge Scudder) reminds appellants that although a reply brief is not required, failing to file one can give the panel the impression that appellant has given up in the face of the arguments in appellee's answering brief.
media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/Opin...
media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/Opin...
April 9, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Maybe I'm the outlier, but I've heard a remarkable amount of times from judges something along the lines of: "When I'm preparing for a case, I usually start with the reply brief."
Reposted by Landon Magnusson
TL;DR: “Yes.”
The key takeaway: “No obligation to a client—including one that happens to be a governmental entity—justifies a lawyer in violating the Rules [of Professional Conduct].”
The key takeaway: “No obligation to a client—including one that happens to be a governmental entity—justifies a lawyer in violating the Rules [of Professional Conduct].”
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If the Attorney General orders a DOJ lawyer to lie in court, should he refuse the order?
NYC Bar Opinion 2025 addresses situations where a government lawyer is asked to lie or engage in other unethical conduct by a political appointee or … (cont.)
lnkd.in/e875V58G
#law #lawsky
NYC Bar Opinion 2025 addresses situations where a government lawyer is asked to lie or engage in other unethical conduct by a political appointee or … (cont.)
lnkd.in/e875V58G
#law #lawsky
April 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
TL;DR: “Yes.”
The key takeaway: “No obligation to a client—including one that happens to be a governmental entity—justifies a lawyer in violating the Rules [of Professional Conduct].”
The key takeaway: “No obligation to a client—including one that happens to be a governmental entity—justifies a lawyer in violating the Rules [of Professional Conduct].”
A supreme court election that costs more than $90M! ($40M from a single donor & his affiliates)
People don't have to live under a system where rights & the constitution can change every 2 years when one rich/powerful person sways the election of a judge. 🧵
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wis...
People don't have to live under a system where rights & the constitution can change every 2 years when one rich/powerful person sways the election of a judge. 🧵
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wis...
Wisconsin Supreme Court race passes $90 million in spending: Nonprofit law institute
Spending in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election has passed $90 million as of Monday, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.
abcnews.go.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
A supreme court election that costs more than $90M! ($40M from a single donor & his affiliates)
People don't have to live under a system where rights & the constitution can change every 2 years when one rich/powerful person sways the election of a judge. 🧵
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wis...
People don't have to live under a system where rights & the constitution can change every 2 years when one rich/powerful person sways the election of a judge. 🧵
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wis...
A week after an ex-president was convicted, sentenced to a years-long prison sentence, and fined hundreds of thousands of euros, French courts have also ruled that the popular, far-right candidate is not eligible to run for president and will face her own prison sentence for breaking the law.
Marine Le Pen condamnée et inéligible : ce que les juges lui reprochent et comment ils ont raisonné
🔗https://l.sudouest.fr/rsr
🔗https://l.sudouest.fr/rsr
March 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A week after an ex-president was convicted, sentenced to a years-long prison sentence, and fined hundreds of thousands of euros, French courts have also ruled that the popular, far-right candidate is not eligible to run for president and will face her own prison sentence for breaking the law.
I can hear his voice when I read this.
March 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I can hear his voice when I read this.
So, in France, when a president breaks the law, he can be sentenced to 7 years of prison and a 300,000 euro fine.
Financement libyen: sept ans de prison requis contre l'ex-président français Nicolas Sarkozy
Financement libyen: sept ans de prison requis contre l'ex-président français Nicolas Sarkozy
Le parquet financier a requis jeudi 27 mars à l'encontre de Nicolas Sarkozy une peine de sept ans de prison et de 300 000 euros d'amende, ainsi que cinq ans d'inéligibilité, des réquisitions que l'ancien président de la République a accueilli le visage pétrifié.
rfi.my
March 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
So, in France, when a president breaks the law, he can be sentenced to 7 years of prison and a 300,000 euro fine.
1: Draft brief. Become overconfident & think, "This is a no-brainer. Everyone will agree with me."
2: Read response. Nervously think: "How did I get this so wrong?!"
3: Do some research for reply. Re-establish position and find reassurance. "I am right!"
4: Rinse, repeat.
#AppellateSky
2: Read response. Nervously think: "How did I get this so wrong?!"
3: Do some research for reply. Re-establish position and find reassurance. "I am right!"
4: Rinse, repeat.
#AppellateSky
March 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
1: Draft brief. Become overconfident & think, "This is a no-brainer. Everyone will agree with me."
2: Read response. Nervously think: "How did I get this so wrong?!"
3: Do some research for reply. Re-establish position and find reassurance. "I am right!"
4: Rinse, repeat.
#AppellateSky
2: Read response. Nervously think: "How did I get this so wrong?!"
3: Do some research for reply. Re-establish position and find reassurance. "I am right!"
4: Rinse, repeat.
#AppellateSky
Reposted by Landon Magnusson
Trump and Musk are absolutely destroying Indian colleges, which are federally funded as part of the government's trust obligation to tribes. Haskell, which is here in Lawrence, is the oldest Indian college in the US. DOGE even fired the women's basketball coach, during the season!
"Students at Haskell Indian Nations University say they want their teachers back after federal orders terminated 35 employees at Haskell." https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/a-lot-of-chaos-haskell-indian-nations-students-react-to-teachers-being-laid-off-following-federal-orders
'A lot of chaos': Haskell Indian Nations students react to teachers being laid off following federal orders
Students at Haskell Indian Nations University say they want their teachers back after federal orders terminated 35 employees at Haskell Indian Nations University.
www.kshb.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Trump and Musk are absolutely destroying Indian colleges, which are federally funded as part of the government's trust obligation to tribes. Haskell, which is here in Lawrence, is the oldest Indian college in the US. DOGE even fired the women's basketball coach, during the season!
February 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I've been micro-blogging for ≈8 years (the bird site and now here), & I've never gotten over two hang-ups:
1. It's easy to participate in conversations, but hard to post my own thoughts. Who really cares what I think?
2. Editing. When will I remember to review my writing before I click "post"?
1. It's easy to participate in conversations, but hard to post my own thoughts. Who really cares what I think?
2. Editing. When will I remember to review my writing before I click "post"?
February 15, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I've been micro-blogging for ≈8 years (the bird site and now here), & I've never gotten over two hang-ups:
1. It's easy to participate in conversations, but hard to post my own thoughts. Who really cares what I think?
2. Editing. When will I remember to review my writing before I click "post"?
1. It's easy to participate in conversations, but hard to post my own thoughts. Who really cares what I think?
2. Editing. When will I remember to review my writing before I click "post"?
La Chandeleur 2025
February 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
La Chandeleur 2025
Counterpoint and radical idea: what if government was not supposed to operate like a business?
Can the U.S. government be downsized just like Twitter? An experiment is underway to find out... cnn.it/3EfJVTK
January 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Counterpoint and radical idea: what if government was not supposed to operate like a business?
Kansas City is so happening!
#chiefskingdom
#chiefskingdom
January 27, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Kansas City is so happening!
#chiefskingdom
#chiefskingdom
Reposted by Landon Magnusson
On birthright citizenship, lots of hot takes here. Mine, it has been simmering near a boil for more than a decade.
January 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
On birthright citizenship, lots of hot takes here. Mine, it has been simmering near a boil for more than a decade.