Laura Portuondo
@lauraportuondo.bsky.social
Law professor writing about repro rights, gender equality, and the First Amendment. She/her.
Views my own, not my employer's. Writing here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=3078304
Views my own, not my employer's. Writing here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=3078304
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NEW:
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.
She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.
Then she died.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
In the Harvard Law Review, @kredburn.bsky.social has a new piece explaining what happened in Skrmetti, and what it means for trans rights and sex equality more broadly.
Skrmetti Beyond Scrutiny - Harvard Law Review
In United States v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), a state law that prohibits transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming care.
harvardlawreview.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In the Harvard Law Review, @kredburn.bsky.social has a new piece explaining what happened in Skrmetti, and what it means for trans rights and sex equality more broadly.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
The Supreme Court had three religious freedom cases last Term. With @richschragger.bsky.social and @nelsontebbe.bsky.social, our latest comments on them, extending our analysis of religious preferentialism under the First Amendment.
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
The Structure of Religious Preference - Harvard Law Review
A revolution has occurred in the law of religious freedom. At this point, the picture is reasonably clear. The Supreme Court has greatly expanded the scope of the Free Exercise Clause.
harvardlawreview.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The Supreme Court had three religious freedom cases last Term. With @richschragger.bsky.social and @nelsontebbe.bsky.social, our latest comments on them, extending our analysis of religious preferentialism under the First Amendment.
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-13...
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Black women in America are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth.
Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a Black woman, you get dismissed.”
(Published Dec. 2022)
Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a Black woman, you get dismissed.”
(Published Dec. 2022)
She Says Doctors Ignored Her Concerns About Her Pregnancy. For Many Black Women, It’s a Familiar Story.
Black women in America are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth. Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a B...
www.propublica.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Black women in America are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth.
Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a Black woman, you get dismissed.”
(Published Dec. 2022)
Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a Black woman, you get dismissed.”
(Published Dec. 2022)
I am a true feminist because I dare to say feminism is bad.
JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT:
“Being a conservative woman in a law school, particularly, takes a lot of courage and independence, and in many ways shows more feminism than just falling into some predetermined vision of what a woman should be.”
“Being a conservative woman in a law school, particularly, takes a lot of courage and independence, and in many ways shows more feminism than just falling into some predetermined vision of what a woman should be.”
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I am a true feminist because I dare to say feminism is bad.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
The killjoys on the Fifth Circuit have upheld Texas's ban on drag shows--a ban clearly aimed at speech
Federal appeals court says Texas can enforce ban on 'sexually oriented' drag shows
A federal appeals court has ruled that Texas can enforce Senate Bill 12, which restricts "sexually oriented performances" in front of kids. The judges said drag shows aren't necessarily sexual, and th...
www.kut.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The killjoys on the Fifth Circuit have upheld Texas's ban on drag shows--a ban clearly aimed at speech
The Court calling sex assigned at birth a "historical fact" is insidious. It feigns neutrality by not adopting the govt's "biological fact" framing, but sends the same message. It suggests that others' mistaken beliefs about trans/nonbinary people's identity are as, if not more, real than their own.
November 6, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The Court calling sex assigned at birth a "historical fact" is insidious. It feigns neutrality by not adopting the govt's "biological fact" framing, but sends the same message. It suggests that others' mistaken beliefs about trans/nonbinary people's identity are as, if not more, real than their own.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
to be clear: the government's claim - validated by the Court - is that it would *irreparably harm* the president to not misgender trans people
NEW: On the shadow docket, the Supreme Court lets Trump resume misgendering trans Americans on their passports, claiming "the government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment." All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
![This case concerns an Executive Branch policy requiring
all new passports to display an individual’s biological sex at
birth. The United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts preliminarily enjoined the Government
from enforcing the policy, and the First Circuit declined to
stay the injunction pending appeal. The Government then
filed this stay application. Applying our familiar stay fac-
tors at this preliminary stage, we grant the application.
Displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends
equal protection principles than displaying their country of
birth—in both cases, the Government is merely attesting to
a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential
treatment. And on this record, respondents have failed to
establish that the Government’s choice to display biological
sex “lack[s] any purpose other than a bare . . . desire to
harm a politically unpopular group.” Trump v. Hawaii, 585
U. S. 667, 705 (2018) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Nor are respondents likely to prevail in arguing that the
State Department acted arbitrarily and capriciously by de-
clining to depart from Presidential rules that Congress ex-
pressly required it to follow. See 22 U. S. C. §211a.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreiacrtgoecxjy5y7ojz7xzbun4c4nwutjcvqn4qb4p25ldpt6va5lu@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 PM
to be clear: the government's claim - validated by the Court - is that it would *irreparably harm* the president to not misgender trans people
Why not list more useless "historical facts" on IDs? How about your childhood home address? Weight at birth? Hair color at birth?
The point of an ID is to identify people now, not when they were babies!
The point of an ID is to identify people now, not when they were babies!
NEW: On the shadow docket, the Supreme Court lets Trump resume misgendering trans Americans on their passports, claiming "the government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment." All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Why not list more useless "historical facts" on IDs? How about your childhood home address? Weight at birth? Hair color at birth?
The point of an ID is to identify people now, not when they were babies!
The point of an ID is to identify people now, not when they were babies!
Supports my view that an unreformed Supreme Court does more to undermine the benefits of judicial review than Court reforms would.
New paper from me offering a holistic assessment of #SCOTUS's behavior on Trump-related emergency applications thus far:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
TL;DR: The ultimate theme of the decisions is a majority bent on preserving *their* supremacy, as such—which is likely to only be self-defeating.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
TL;DR: The ultimate theme of the decisions is a majority bent on preserving *their* supremacy, as such—which is likely to only be self-defeating.
October 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Supports my view that an unreformed Supreme Court does more to undermine the benefits of judicial review than Court reforms would.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Whenever people complain about the number of folks relying on food stamps, it is worth reminding them that SNAP is, by too large of a degree, a subsidy for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage and their political allies who reject public policy prescriptions to reduce income inequality.
October 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Whenever people complain about the number of folks relying on food stamps, it is worth reminding them that SNAP is, by too large of a degree, a subsidy for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage and their political allies who reject public policy prescriptions to reduce income inequality.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Can we celebrate and publicize the wins, not just the new Jonathan Mitchell lawsuits or anti politicians' letters to FDA?
Missouri appeals court rules against attorney general, allows abortions to continue • Missouri Independent
A Missouri appeals court unanimously rejected arguments by the attorney general that abortion regulations do not cause "irreparable harm."
missouriindependent.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Can we celebrate and publicize the wins, not just the new Jonathan Mitchell lawsuits or anti politicians' letters to FDA?
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
This is an infuriating and shameful scandal. The Roberts Court is condoning Trump’s law breaking, again, pure and simple. There is no serious path forward for democratic government without Supreme Court reform.
BREAKING: Supreme Court lets Trump unilaterally freeze billions in congressionally appropriated foreign aid money
apparent 6-3 vote with liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 vote with liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This is an infuriating and shameful scandal. The Roberts Court is condoning Trump’s law breaking, again, pure and simple. There is no serious path forward for democratic government without Supreme Court reform.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
I wrote about the Trump administration’s false claims about Tylenol, and the moral—not scientific—burdens they place on pregnant women’s bodies. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
September 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I wrote about the Trump administration’s false claims about Tylenol, and the moral—not scientific—burdens they place on pregnant women’s bodies. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Preventing abortions by... destroying the #1 tool to prevent abortions?
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...
$10 Million in Contraceptives Have Been Destroyed on Orders From Trump Officials
www.nytimes.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Preventing abortions by... destroying the #1 tool to prevent abortions?
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Want a short piece debunking "originalist" arguments that the 14th Amendment requires abortion criminalization? I got you. Forthcoming in the UC Davis Law Review Online.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
September 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Want a short piece debunking "originalist" arguments that the 14th Amendment requires abortion criminalization? I got you. Forthcoming in the UC Davis Law Review Online.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
My horizons broaden every time I read a piece by my amazing UHLC colleague Andrew Lanham (who is unfortunately not on here—or anywhere). Just incredibly deep and rich insights at the intersection of social movements, racial justice, and national security from a fantastic legal historian.
How to Resist Trump’s Militarization of America
The president’s deployment of the armed forces on American streets is an alarming escalation. Fortunately, there’s a playbook for fighting back.
newrepublic.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My horizons broaden every time I read a piece by my amazing UHLC colleague Andrew Lanham (who is unfortunately not on here—or anywhere). Just incredibly deep and rich insights at the intersection of social movements, racial justice, and national security from a fantastic legal historian.
“apparent ethnicity” is a cool new way to say race
🚨The Supreme Court today gives Trump a license to engage in racial profiling, with Justice Kavanaugh writing in concurrence to expressly endorse ICE and Border Patrol targeting any Latinos they observe in Los Angeles speaking Spanish and then demanding their papers.
September 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
“apparent ethnicity” is a cool new way to say race
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Hey Bluesky! Little late to the joining game, but excited to be here. I'm an appellate attorney with an interest in legal scholarship, and my writing focuses on state supreme courts, state constitutions, and judicial selection.
August 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Hey Bluesky! Little late to the joining game, but excited to be here. I'm an appellate attorney with an interest in legal scholarship, and my writing focuses on state supreme courts, state constitutions, and judicial selection.
This is how I know I’ve made it!
I’m so excited to join this class run by the amazing @yuvrajjoshi.bsky.social, alongside such incredible scholars.
I’m so excited to join this class run by the amazing @yuvrajjoshi.bsky.social, alongside such incredible scholars.
Back to school! ✨📚 Excited to teach “Law and Inequality” again at @brooklynlawschool.bsky.social, joined by these wonderful scholars:
Alice Abrokwa
Matthew Patrick Shaw
Russell Robinson
@kredburn.bsky.social
@lauraportuondo.bsky.social
Maureen Edobor
Susan Sturm
Alice Abrokwa
Matthew Patrick Shaw
Russell Robinson
@kredburn.bsky.social
@lauraportuondo.bsky.social
Maureen Edobor
Susan Sturm
August 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
This is how I know I’ve made it!
I’m so excited to join this class run by the amazing @yuvrajjoshi.bsky.social, alongside such incredible scholars.
I’m so excited to join this class run by the amazing @yuvrajjoshi.bsky.social, alongside such incredible scholars.
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
Join an amazing group of scholars at UH incl. @chrismirasola.bsky.social @leahfowler.bsky.social @nikenberger.bsky.social @petersalib.bsky.social @lauraportuondo.bsky.social @jessiebregant.bsky.social @amangebru.bsky.social @dfroomkin.bsky.social and more with better things to do than Bluesky!
📢 We are hiring! Come join us at the University of Houston.
- 3 entry-level tenure-track faculty members in crim; employment and labor law; and torts;
- a clinical assistant/associate professor to teach lawyering skills and strategies;
- a full/associate professor in health law.
Qs? Reach out!
- 3 entry-level tenure-track faculty members in crim; employment and labor law; and torts;
- a clinical assistant/associate professor to teach lawyering skills and strategies;
- a full/associate professor in health law.
Qs? Reach out!
July 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Join an amazing group of scholars at UH incl. @chrismirasola.bsky.social @leahfowler.bsky.social @nikenberger.bsky.social @petersalib.bsky.social @lauraportuondo.bsky.social @jessiebregant.bsky.social @amangebru.bsky.social @dfroomkin.bsky.social and more with better things to do than Bluesky!
Reposted by Laura Portuondo
UH Law Center is hiring this year!
- 3 entry-level, TT in crim, employment/labor, & torts
- 1 clinical in lawyering skills
- 1 tenured position in health law
Teach fantastic students with supportive colleagues! Reach out with any Qs!
- 3 entry-level, TT in crim, employment/labor, & torts
- 1 clinical in lawyering skills
- 1 tenured position in health law
Teach fantastic students with supportive colleagues! Reach out with any Qs!
July 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
UH Law Center is hiring this year!
- 3 entry-level, TT in crim, employment/labor, & torts
- 1 clinical in lawyering skills
- 1 tenured position in health law
Teach fantastic students with supportive colleagues! Reach out with any Qs!
- 3 entry-level, TT in crim, employment/labor, & torts
- 1 clinical in lawyering skills
- 1 tenured position in health law
Teach fantastic students with supportive colleagues! Reach out with any Qs!