Matthew Segal
@segalmr.bsky.social
Civil Rights Lawyer | Personal Views | Not Legal Advice | https://as.tufts.edu/politicalscience/people/faculty/matthew-segal
Reposted by Matthew Segal
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...
Hey remember when the Biden admin sued to ask a court to let them remove razor wire that Texas officials had put up to impede federal agents?
Is there any doubt that, if state officials were to try anything like that now, the Trump admin would try to prosecute them?
Is there any doubt that, if state officials were to try anything like that now, the Trump admin would try to prosecute them?
February 11, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Hey remember when the Biden admin sued to ask a court to let them remove razor wire that Texas officials had put up to impede federal agents?
Is there any doubt that, if state officials were to try anything like that now, the Trump admin would try to prosecute them?
Is there any doubt that, if state officials were to try anything like that now, the Trump admin would try to prosecute them?
Reposted by Matthew Segal
It's unusual when the government can't persuade a sufficient number of grand jurors to return an indictment. But this is a whole other kind of unusual.
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
None of the D.C. grand jurors who heard the Trump administration’s pitch on why they should indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
It's unusual when the government can't persuade a sufficient number of grand jurors to return an indictment. But this is a whole other kind of unusual.
for some weird reason SCOTUS's immunity decision doesn't seem to have persuaded Trump against using criminal law to resolve political disputes
February 11, 2026 at 4:14 PM
for some weird reason SCOTUS's immunity decision doesn't seem to have persuaded Trump against using criminal law to resolve political disputes
Reposted by Matthew Segal
NEW: We're suing Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem for being real jawboners about ICE.
www.thefire.org/news/fire-su...
www.thefire.org/news/fire-su...
FIRE sues Bondi, Noem for censoring Facebook group and app reporting ICE activity
Two Midwesterners are fighting back after the platforms they created to report on public Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity were censored by government officials.
www.thefire.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:52 PM
NEW: We're suing Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem for being real jawboners about ICE.
www.thefire.org/news/fire-su...
www.thefire.org/news/fire-su...
Agreed.
But here, my point is partly that this particular viral post was well written and persuasive. Maybe it's wrong. But if an AI can write that well, as some people are arguing, that fact tends to weigh in favor of the argument the poster is making.
But here, my point is partly that this particular viral post was well written and persuasive. Maybe it's wrong. But if an AI can write that well, as some people are arguing, that fact tends to weigh in favor of the argument the poster is making.
February 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Agreed.
But here, my point is partly that this particular viral post was well written and persuasive. Maybe it's wrong. But if an AI can write that well, as some people are arguing, that fact tends to weigh in favor of the argument the poster is making.
But here, my point is partly that this particular viral post was well written and persuasive. Maybe it's wrong. But if an AI can write that well, as some people are arguing, that fact tends to weigh in favor of the argument the poster is making.
"That extremely well written viral post about AI was probably written with the help of AI" is, um, not a comforting rebuttal.
February 11, 2026 at 2:37 PM
"That extremely well written viral post about AI was probably written with the help of AI" is, um, not a comforting rebuttal.
Thank you. And yes, I don't think anything I'm saying here depends on a particular view of Israel's government.
February 11, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Thank you. And yes, I don't think anything I'm saying here depends on a particular view of Israel's government.
Reposted by Matthew Segal
Damn. "Paid agitators" nonsense aside, he's flatly admitting that they hate observers because observers *witness* what is going on and *share* that knowledge with others.
KNOTT: Why is it that there is so much tension in Minneapolis/St Paul right now?
SCOTT: Because paid agitators are actively trying to stop law enforcement action. Without that, you wouldn't even have any idea most of these arrests were taking place
SCOTT: Because paid agitators are actively trying to stop law enforcement action. Without that, you wouldn't even have any idea most of these arrests were taking place
February 10, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Damn. "Paid agitators" nonsense aside, he's flatly admitting that they hate observers because observers *witness* what is going on and *share* that knowledge with others.
Reposted by Matthew Segal
This is what Kagan was describing in Trump v CASA as the fallout of limiting injunctions for nonparties
"You're going to have individual by individual by individual, and all of those individuals are going to win, and the ones who can't afford to go to court, they're the ones who are going to lose."
"You're going to have individual by individual by individual, and all of those individuals are going to win, and the ones who can't afford to go to court, they're the ones who are going to lose."
February 10, 2026 at 5:41 PM
This is what Kagan was describing in Trump v CASA as the fallout of limiting injunctions for nonparties
"You're going to have individual by individual by individual, and all of those individuals are going to win, and the ones who can't afford to go to court, they're the ones who are going to lose."
"You're going to have individual by individual by individual, and all of those individuals are going to win, and the ones who can't afford to go to court, they're the ones who are going to lose."
As a civil rights lawyer, I don’t think cases alleging discrimination against Jews or Israelis should be subjected to a special, narrow discrimination test that applies only to them.
I wrote about this problem here: www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
I wrote about this problem here: www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
The Anti-Zionism Exception - Tablet Magazine
A court decision just carved Jews out of civil rights law
www.tabletmag.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM
As a civil rights lawyer, I don’t think cases alleging discrimination against Jews or Israelis should be subjected to a special, narrow discrimination test that applies only to them.
I wrote about this problem here: www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
I wrote about this problem here: www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
After that last carry the leading rusher in this game is now Bad Bunny
February 9, 2026 at 1:34 AM
After that last carry the leading rusher in this game is now Bad Bunny
Arizona court rules that multiple Arizona abortion restrictions violate 2024 voter-approved constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. www.acluaz.org/press-releas...
February 7, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Arizona court rules that multiple Arizona abortion restrictions violate 2024 voter-approved constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights. www.acluaz.org/press-releas...
OREGON SUPREME COURT: Oregon Constitution, as applied to public defense crisis, entitles defendants to dismissals without prejudice if, after arraignment, state fails to appoint
counsel for >60 consecutive days (misdemeanors) or >90 consecutive days (felonies). ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/cust...
counsel for >60 consecutive days (misdemeanors) or >90 consecutive days (felonies). ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/cust...
February 6, 2026 at 5:55 PM
OREGON SUPREME COURT: Oregon Constitution, as applied to public defense crisis, entitles defendants to dismissals without prejudice if, after arraignment, state fails to appoint
counsel for >60 consecutive days (misdemeanors) or >90 consecutive days (felonies). ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/cust...
counsel for >60 consecutive days (misdemeanors) or >90 consecutive days (felonies). ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/cust...
The Anti-Zionism Exception.
www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
The Anti-Zionism Exception - Tablet Magazine
A court decision just carved Jews out of civil rights law
www.tabletmag.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The Anti-Zionism Exception.
www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
www.tabletmag.com/sections/new...
It's certainly true that judges might have multiple good reasons for writing clear opinions that explain the stakes and are accessible to nonlawyers.
But no one writes "With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike" because they just trying to make their ruling clear and accessible.
But no one writes "With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike" because they just trying to make their ruling clear and accessible.
February 5, 2026 at 4:53 AM
It's certainly true that judges might have multiple good reasons for writing clear opinions that explain the stakes and are accessible to nonlawyers.
But no one writes "With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike" because they just trying to make their ruling clear and accessible.
But no one writes "With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike" because they just trying to make their ruling clear and accessible.
Reposted by Matthew Segal
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Matthew Segal
GREAT JOB ALERT: The Appellate Immersion Clinic at Georgetown Law is accepting applications for fellows!
This is an incredible opportunity to do great work with incredibly smart, good people. @immersionclinic.bsky.social @brianwolfman.bsky.social
www.law.georgetown.edu/experiential...
This is an incredible opportunity to do great work with incredibly smart, good people. @immersionclinic.bsky.social @brianwolfman.bsky.social
www.law.georgetown.edu/experiential...
Graduate Fellowships
www.law.georgetown.edu
January 11, 2026 at 1:12 PM
GREAT JOB ALERT: The Appellate Immersion Clinic at Georgetown Law is accepting applications for fellows!
This is an incredible opportunity to do great work with incredibly smart, good people. @immersionclinic.bsky.social @brianwolfman.bsky.social
www.law.georgetown.edu/experiential...
This is an incredible opportunity to do great work with incredibly smart, good people. @immersionclinic.bsky.social @brianwolfman.bsky.social
www.law.georgetown.edu/experiential...
Reposted by Matthew Segal
* clears throat * let him cook
February 4, 2026 at 4:41 AM
* clears throat * let him cook
As I recall, Cousin Vinny reached a similar conclusion.
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 9:13 PM
As I recall, Cousin Vinny reached a similar conclusion.
Fair. Judge Posner was arguably similar in the modern era; he wrote in ways that would have been criticized more harshly if they had come from other jurists, but he could sort of get away with it for various reasons, including the respect he'd earned over time.
February 3, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Fair. Judge Posner was arguably similar in the modern era; he wrote in ways that would have been criticized more harshly if they had come from other jurists, but he could sort of get away with it for various reasons, including the respect he'd earned over time.
This is just a guess, but maybe the rise in dramatic prose from district court judges is partly due to a growing belief among those judges that it's pointless to try to persuade SCOTUS and they must therefore focus on other potential audiences.
February 3, 2026 at 2:04 PM
This is just a guess, but maybe the rise in dramatic prose from district court judges is partly due to a growing belief among those judges that it's pointless to try to persuade SCOTUS and they must therefore focus on other potential audiences.
Reposted by Matthew Segal
This hasn’t received nearly enough attention:
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Utah governor signs bill adding justices to state Supreme Court as redistricting appeal looms
Once the new seats are filled, Gov. Spencer Cox will have appointed five of the seven justices.
www.nbcnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:22 PM
This hasn’t received nearly enough attention:
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Reposted by Matthew Segal
BREAKING: We're challenging the Trump administration’s sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries.
This discriminatory, nationality-based ban on legal immigration strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law.
This discriminatory, nationality-based ban on legal immigration strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law.
Breaking News: A group sued Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department, asking a judge to block a ban on 75 countries, saying the Trump administration tried to “eviscerate decades of settled immigration law.”
Trump Administration Sued Over Ban on Immigration From 75 Countries
The Trump administration says these immigrants take welfare intended for Americans, which the lawsuit says is an “unsupported and demonstrably false claim.”
nyti.ms
February 2, 2026 at 4:50 PM
BREAKING: We're challenging the Trump administration’s sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries.
This discriminatory, nationality-based ban on legal immigration strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law.
This discriminatory, nationality-based ban on legal immigration strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law.