Scott Wortley
@scottwortley.bsky.social
scottish law lecturer, TV viewer, accidental mental health advocate.
Interested in legislative interpretation and Columbo
Interested in legislative interpretation and Columbo
Pinned
Reading for 2026:
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
someone just recommended I read a newspaper article by [...] and I am not falling for that trick again.
January 7, 2026 at 5:42 PM
someone just recommended I read a newspaper article by [...] and I am not falling for that trick again.
Reposted by Scott Wortley
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 7, 1955: The first TV broadcast of the Throne Speech! Over 3 million Canadians watched!
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
January 7, 2026 at 8:13 AM
On this day in Canadian parliamentary history - January 7, 1955: The first TV broadcast of the Throne Speech! Over 3 million Canadians watched!
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
If my math is right, that was nearly 20% of the country's population at the time.
It's fair to say that viewership has declined somewhat since :P
Reposted by Scott Wortley
The Agnes Owens Archive opens January 2026, celebrating one of Scotland’s most distinctive literary voices. Marking her centenary, a programme of events and free guided tours will be announced soon. #AgnesOwens
December 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The Agnes Owens Archive opens January 2026, celebrating one of Scotland’s most distinctive literary voices. Marking her centenary, a programme of events and free guided tours will be announced soon. #AgnesOwens
Agnes Owens is wonderful. The forgotten figure from those writing groups in Glasgow led by Philip Hobsbaum that included Jim Kelman, Jeff Torrington, Alasdair Gray, and Liz Lochhead.
Saw her at an event with Kelman in Edinburgh once where she challenged his literary takes, & silenced him.
Saw her at an event with Kelman in Edinburgh once where she challenged his literary takes, & silenced him.
I love the covers for the new editions of Agnes Owens' novels, which I think all use Joan Eardley paintings.
@aowensarchive.bsky.social
@aowensarchive.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Agnes Owens is wonderful. The forgotten figure from those writing groups in Glasgow led by Philip Hobsbaum that included Jim Kelman, Jeff Torrington, Alasdair Gray, and Liz Lochhead.
Saw her at an event with Kelman in Edinburgh once where she challenged his literary takes, & silenced him.
Saw her at an event with Kelman in Edinburgh once where she challenged his literary takes, & silenced him.
Spoonbender seeks publicity shock
Uri Geller offers East Lothian island as America's '51st state' and military base
SPOON-BENDING magician Uri Geller has proposed a small island he owns off of the North Berwick coast becomes America's 51st state and use as a…
www.eastlothiancourier.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Spoonbender seeks publicity shock
Same, but I don't go on and on about it
Prince Harry not planning to meet King on next trip to the UK
The King is expected to keep his distance during Harry's court case against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Same, but I don't go on and on about it
Interesting event with Lord Reed in 3 weeks.
Why Trust Matters: in conversation with Lord Reed (Virtual)
Join us online for a conversation on 'Why trust matters: Public confidence in the rule of law in an age of AI and populism'.
www.eventbrite.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Interesting event with Lord Reed in 3 weeks.
Reposted by Scott Wortley
Unpopular opinion this might be on Bluesky, but while the government does bear some responsibility for any potential deaths here (they are, after all, managing the prison system), the greater responsibility lies with journalists and commentators who have egged the hunger strikers along
This is an extraordinary human failure from a supposedly progressive government. Jaw dropping www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Unpopular opinion this might be on Bluesky, but while the government does bear some responsibility for any potential deaths here (they are, after all, managing the prison system), the greater responsibility lies with journalists and commentators who have egged the hunger strikers along
Reposted by Scott Wortley
It's Callan. The three episode finale.
Obviously.
Obviously.
Given that apparently the Stranger Things finale was meh (idk, didn't watch it, just the scuttlebutt) and we're not that far removed from the disastrous GOT finale that retroactively made everyone have never cared about the show:
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
What's the *best* ending to a show you've ever seen? Quote/reply etc
January 6, 2026 at 11:22 PM
It's Callan. The three episode finale.
Obviously.
Obviously.
Reposted by Scott Wortley
I went to a conference in the US recently where a senior judge for the Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit (in their 90s) was a keynote speaker. I am sorry to say that the impression created for those from outside the US was that it is ridiculous that they stil sit as a judge.
Too many judges are too old (and the judiciary is a gerontocratic institution) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...
Opinion | The 92-Year-Old Judge in the Maduro Case Must Step Aside
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:54 PM
I went to a conference in the US recently where a senior judge for the Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit (in their 90s) was a keynote speaker. I am sorry to say that the impression created for those from outside the US was that it is ridiculous that they stil sit as a judge.
Bet supreme court Bart likes beer
We are only 6 years away from the year that Homer Simpson finally allowed his son, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Bart Simpson, to watch the Itchy & Scratchy movie.
January 6, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Bet supreme court Bart likes beer
why does King Charles have big ears?
Because Noddy won't pay the ransom.
Because Noddy won't pay the ransom.
a woman with her arms outstretched and the word maximum on the bottom
ALT: a woman with her arms outstretched and the word maximum on the bottom
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:15 PM
why does King Charles have big ears?
Because Noddy won't pay the ransom.
Because Noddy won't pay the ransom.
magnificent film. Features William Hartnell as a horror.
One of Sellers's best.
One of Sellers's best.
Due to an error, a minister is accidentally appointed to a snobbish parish...
⛪ HEAVENS ABOVE! (1963) 4:40pm #TPTVsubtitles Starring #PeterSellers #IanCarmichael #EricSykes #CecilParker comedy from the #BoultingBrothers
⛪ HEAVENS ABOVE! (1963) 4:40pm #TPTVsubtitles Starring #PeterSellers #IanCarmichael #EricSykes #CecilParker comedy from the #BoultingBrothers
January 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM
magnificent film. Features William Hartnell as a horror.
One of Sellers's best.
One of Sellers's best.
Reposted by Scott Wortley
My paper addresses pros and cons of codifying constitutional rights, drafting decisions surrounding them, and the relationship between statutory rights and constitutional rights. It is not published yet, but a prior version of the draft is available here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
2/2
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
2/2
Statutory Backups for Endangered Constitutional Rights
This Article concerns the phenomenon of "statutory backup rights," or statutes that provide protections parallel to constitutional rights that are bel
papers.ssrn.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:29 PM
My paper addresses pros and cons of codifying constitutional rights, drafting decisions surrounding them, and the relationship between statutory rights and constitutional rights. It is not published yet, but a prior version of the draft is available here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
2/2
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
2/2
Reposted by Scott Wortley
This week I will be presenting a paper on “statutory backup rights” at the AALS annual meeting. A statutory backup right is a statute that codifies a constitutional right that is believed to be at risk of judicial abrogation.
1/2
1/2
January 6, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This week I will be presenting a paper on “statutory backup rights” at the AALS annual meeting. A statutory backup right is a statute that codifies a constitutional right that is believed to be at risk of judicial abrogation.
1/2
1/2
Reading for 2026:
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
January 6, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Reading for 2026:
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
Dumas - The count of Monte Cristo.
It's really good. consistent page turner despite the length. The most recent Penguin translation is excellent. It zips along, without the ornate nature of the 19th century translation. More complex than it gets credit for when abridged as a kids'
Reposted by Scott Wortley
Reposted by Scott Wortley
The multi-talented @gailmyerscough.co.uk has done a marvellous job remodelling and reshaping my website. Go and have a look for yourselves and repost, if you please - ta very much 👍 www.mathew-owen.co.uk
Home | Matt Owen | Freelance Writer
I offer a broad and diverse range of writing services.
Get in touch!
www.mathew-owen.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 4:37 PM
The multi-talented @gailmyerscough.co.uk has done a marvellous job remodelling and reshaping my website. Go and have a look for yourselves and repost, if you please - ta very much 👍 www.mathew-owen.co.uk
Reposted by Scott Wortley
They've kidnapped the Chief Executive of Ticketmaster?!
FIFA takes a page from Trump’s playbook to justify World Cup ticket prices #Opinion
Scott Stinson: FIFA takes a page from Trump’s playbook to justify World Cup ticket prices
Do you want to pay thousands of dollars to attend a soccer game, or do you want the whole sport to go broke?
www.thestar.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:43 PM
They've kidnapped the Chief Executive of Ticketmaster?!
Reposted by Scott Wortley
A reminder that Cherry Blossom at Nightbreak will be published by @ninearchespress.bsky.social on 19 March 2026, and is available for pre-ordering now. ninearchespress.com/publications...
December 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
A reminder that Cherry Blossom at Nightbreak will be published by @ninearchespress.bsky.social on 19 March 2026, and is available for pre-ordering now. ninearchespress.com/publications...
Celtic managers eh?
bart simpson is giving a speech at a podium while homer simpson is standing in the doorway
ALT: bart simpson is giving a speech at a podium while homer simpson is standing in the doorway
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Celtic managers eh?
Reposted by Scott Wortley
I think you'd have a lot to offer, because I bet no-one has ever looked over the rules of football with a statutory-interpretation eye before. I bet there are loopholes you could exploit.
January 5, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I think you'd have a lot to offer, because I bet no-one has ever looked over the rules of football with a statutory-interpretation eye before. I bet there are loopholes you could exploit.
Very happy to take over at Manchested United and get sacked with a pay off later in the season provided they give me time to keep working on the undergraduate curriculum review
January 5, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Very happy to take over at Manchested United and get sacked with a pay off later in the season provided they give me time to keep working on the undergraduate curriculum review
Reposted by Scott Wortley
Seems unusually specific
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Seems unusually specific