Torey Dolan
@toreydolan.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School. An Indian writing about Federal Indian Law/Voting Rights. Views are my own. Citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma living on Ho Chunk Land📍
Pinned
Torey Dolan
@toreydolan.bsky.social
· Aug 25
Now up on SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Just in time to think about Section 2 VRA compliance minority-majority districting and the 14th/15th amendments. 👀
Just in time to think about Section 2 VRA compliance minority-majority districting and the 14th/15th amendments. 👀
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Glares in Native history in what is now mostly US territory.
The willful historical illiteracy among pundits about American imperialism is still shocking, no matter how predictable.
January 20, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Glares in Native history in what is now mostly US territory.
A more permissive standing analysis for candidates to challenge election rules. Yet, voters (seeking to exercise what the court has recognized as a “fundamental” right) must file before an unknown date (Purcell) and the challenged rule simply goes through a balancing test (Anderson-Burdick).
ICYMI John Roberts laid out a welcome mat for more Republican election interference on Wednesday
The Supreme Court ruled in Bost v. Illinois Board of Elections that candidates have a right to challenge the rules governing the counting of votes in their elections
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/supre...
The Supreme Court ruled in Bost v. Illinois Board of Elections that candidates have a right to challenge the rules governing the counting of votes in their elections
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/supre...
The Supreme Court Just Made It Easier For Republicans to Challenge Election Rules They Don’t Like
There are many cases the justices don’t think belong in federal courts. A Republican attacking mail-in ballots is not one of them.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 16, 2026 at 7:57 PM
A more permissive standing analysis for candidates to challenge election rules. Yet, voters (seeking to exercise what the court has recognized as a “fundamental” right) must file before an unknown date (Purcell) and the challenged rule simply goes through a balancing test (Anderson-Burdick).
Reposted by Torey Dolan
I truly do not understand what the American legal academy is about these days.
January 16, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I truly do not understand what the American legal academy is about these days.
Reposted by Torey Dolan
I’m seeing lots of people on here misunderstand the purpose of ICE watch.
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 5:37 PM
I’m seeing lots of people on here misunderstand the purpose of ICE watch.
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
It’s de-escalation. And it’s grounded in the social science of violence. 🧵
Reposted by Torey Dolan
The Kavanaugh Stop has morphed from a stop to the Kavanaugh Canvas.
Yes, you live in that country now
"“They specifically asked me if I knew where the Hmong families lived on my street & in the neighborhood.” Lugert-Thom responded, “I don’t know anything about that” & she said they then asked, “Well, what about the Asian families?”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
January 14, 2026 at 12:31 PM
The Kavanaugh Stop has morphed from a stop to the Kavanaugh Canvas.
I’m proud to have worked with the Native American Rights Fund on an amicus brief on behalf of Native communities about the difficulties Native communities face when voting by mail: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
www.supremecourt.gov
January 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
I’m proud to have worked with the Native American Rights Fund on an amicus brief on behalf of Native communities about the difficulties Native communities face when voting by mail: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Looks like ICE is now cracking down on … Native Americans.
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
January 10, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Looks like ICE is now cracking down on … Native Americans.
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
Reposted by Torey Dolan
State of play:
Forensic reconstructions disprove the administration's account of events (NYT, WaPo, Bellingcat):
bsky.app/profile/elio...
Local investigators being denied access to evidence (AP):
apnews.com/live/minneap...
Demonstrators met with violence (CNN):
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Forensic reconstructions disprove the administration's account of events (NYT, WaPo, Bellingcat):
bsky.app/profile/elio...
Local investigators being denied access to evidence (AP):
apnews.com/live/minneap...
Demonstrators met with violence (CNN):
bsky.app/profile/atru...
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 5:16 PM
State of play:
Forensic reconstructions disprove the administration's account of events (NYT, WaPo, Bellingcat):
bsky.app/profile/elio...
Local investigators being denied access to evidence (AP):
apnews.com/live/minneap...
Demonstrators met with violence (CNN):
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Forensic reconstructions disprove the administration's account of events (NYT, WaPo, Bellingcat):
bsky.app/profile/elio...
Local investigators being denied access to evidence (AP):
apnews.com/live/minneap...
Demonstrators met with violence (CNN):
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Wrote a piece for @slate.com explaining that states have a long history of prosecuting federal officers when they allegedly use excessive force. Federal officers are only immune from such prosecutions when they act reasonably in carrying out lawful duties.
Minnesota Could Prosecute the ICE Shooter. Trump Can’t Pardon Him.
Shortly after an ICE officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, city leaders began looking into whether the officer had violated state criminal law.
slate.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Wrote a piece for @slate.com explaining that states have a long history of prosecuting federal officers when they allegedly use excessive force. Federal officers are only immune from such prosecutions when they act reasonably in carrying out lawful duties.
Reposted by Torey Dolan
UW-Madison 5th in federal research in FY 2024, the highest ranking since 2014. Chancellor Mnookin noted the importance of the partnership with the federal government: "to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to generate discoveries..., to fuel the economy and to prepare students for the workforce."
UW–Madison top 5 in national research ranking for first time since 2014, surpasses $1.93B in research expenditures
The annual rankings, which cover fiscal year 2024, "highlight the importance of the decades-long partnership between universities and the federal government," says UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnook...
news.wisc.edu
January 6, 2026 at 7:18 PM
UW-Madison 5th in federal research in FY 2024, the highest ranking since 2014. Chancellor Mnookin noted the importance of the partnership with the federal government: "to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to generate discoveries..., to fuel the economy and to prepare students for the workforce."
Reposted by Torey Dolan
50-60 million acres of this land is held in trust for sovereign Native nations. This was written by a professor who teaches at the most highly ranked law school in the country and who should have mentioned this.
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
President Trump’s New Housing Policy Should Include Massive Privatization of Federal Land
The U.S. government currently owns 28% of the land in the United States, which is way too much.
reason.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM
50-60 million acres of this land is held in trust for sovereign Native nations. This was written by a professor who teaches at the most highly ranked law school in the country and who should have mentioned this.
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
Me @ SCOTUS this term.
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Me @ SCOTUS this term.
Reposted by Torey Dolan
SCOTUS is sitting on a cert petition in a major Section 2 case about implied causes of action. There's likely a dissent from denial of cert or its being held for Callais. This has very worrisome implications for the VRA's constitutionality.
electionlawblog.org?p=153412
electionlawblog.org?p=153412
Turtle Mountain Cert Petition Remains Pending: What Does this mean for Callais? #ELB
As readers of this blog know, the Eighth Circuit recently ruled that there is no implied cause of action under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and that Section 1983 cannot provide a jurisdictional ...
electionlawblog.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
SCOTUS is sitting on a cert petition in a major Section 2 case about implied causes of action. There's likely a dissent from denial of cert or its being held for Callais. This has very worrisome implications for the VRA's constitutionality.
electionlawblog.org?p=153412
electionlawblog.org?p=153412
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Is government unconstitutional?
December 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Is government unconstitutional?
Reposted by Torey Dolan
ICYMI: The Supreme Court hasn't finished weighing in on redistricting. Stay tuned for a ruling in a case about Louisiana's congressional map. Depending on the timing, a ruling that weakens Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination may lead to more gerrymandering before the midterms
Redistricting deadlines for the midterms loom as states wait for a Supreme Court ruling
Depending on the timing, a Supreme Court ruling that weakens Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination may lead to more states redrawing congressional maps before the 2026 midterms.
www.npr.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
ICYMI: The Supreme Court hasn't finished weighing in on redistricting. Stay tuned for a ruling in a case about Louisiana's congressional map. Depending on the timing, a ruling that weakens Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination may lead to more gerrymandering before the midterms
Check the news. SCOTUS makes me mad. Stop reading the news. Rinse and repeat.
bart simpson is sitting at a desk in a room while a man in a hat stands in the doorway
ALT: bart simpson is sitting at a desk in a room while a man in a hat stands in the doorway
media.tenor.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Check the news. SCOTUS makes me mad. Stop reading the news. Rinse and repeat.
Out of all of my treaty rights that have been violated, the existence of the state of Oklahoma continues to be the absolutely worst. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
www.supremecourt.gov
December 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Out of all of my treaty rights that have been violated, the existence of the state of Oklahoma continues to be the absolutely worst. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
Reposted by Torey Dolan
UPDATE: Justice Alito Grants Administrative Stay: Texas Files Emergency Supreme Court Motion to Stay District Court Order Throwing Out 2026 Gerrymandered Maps for Congressional Elections; What Should We Expect at SCOTUS and When? electionlawblog.org?p=153164
UPDATE: Justice Alito Grants Administrative Stay: Texas Files Emergency Supreme Court Motion to Stay District Court Order Throwing Out 2026 Gerrymandered Maps for Congressional Elections; Justice Alit...
The State of Texas, as expected, has filed an application for a stay at the Supreme Court of the 2-1 racial gerrymandering decision issued earlier this week (over a fiery dissent by Judge Smith). Just...
electionlawblog.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
UPDATE: Justice Alito Grants Administrative Stay: Texas Files Emergency Supreme Court Motion to Stay District Court Order Throwing Out 2026 Gerrymandered Maps for Congressional Elections; What Should We Expect at SCOTUS and When? electionlawblog.org?p=153164
Reposted by Torey Dolan
The first mid-decade redistricting case is headed to the Supreme Court's shadow docket. Here's why the so-called Purcell Principle--which counsels against enjoining redistricting maps close to an election--should not apply here:
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
Mid-Decade Redistricting and the Purcell Principle #ELB
Yesterday, a three-judge district court preliminarily enjoined Texas’s mid-decade congressional redistricting map. This case will be promptly appealed to the Supreme Court, and it will be the first of...
electionlawblog.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The first mid-decade redistricting case is headed to the Supreme Court's shadow docket. Here's why the so-called Purcell Principle--which counsels against enjoining redistricting maps close to an election--should not apply here:
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
electionlawblog.org?p=153101
Reposted by Torey Dolan
NEWS: This is a 2-1 decision of a three-judge district court blocking the mid-decade Texas redistricting map as a racial gerrymander. It will (undoubtedly) be appealed, and it goes directly to the Supreme Court.
![UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
EL PASO DIVISION
§
LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
ALEXANDER GREEN, et al.,
Plaintiff-Intervenors,
con con con con con
EP-21-CV-00259-DCG-JES-JVB
[Lead Case]
v.
§
All Consolidated Cases
GREG ABBOTT, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of Texas, et al.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
JEFFREY V. BROWN, United States District Judge:!
In August 2025, the State of Texas enacted a new electoral map to govern elections for the U.S. House of Representatives (the "2025 Map"). Claiming that the 2025 Map is racially
discriminatory, six groups of Plaintiffs (the "Plaintiff Groups") ask the Court to preliminarily
enjoin the State from using the 2025 Map for the 2026 elections.
For the reasons explained below, the Court PRELIMINARILY ENJOINS the State from using the 2025 Map. The Court ORDERS that the 2026 congressional election in Texas shall
proceed under the map that the Texas Legislature enacted in 2021 (the "2021 Map").](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreib3i5jmuws2fzu6zq7t6hucfrg46pmvz5ofh2qoxsqjekkrs5kdge@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
NEWS: This is a 2-1 decision of a three-judge district court blocking the mid-decade Texas redistricting map as a racial gerrymander. It will (undoubtedly) be appealed, and it goes directly to the Supreme Court.
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Law Profs teaching First Amendment: I have put together a FREE, recently updated, and easy to use casebook for use in free speech classes. If you are interested in using such a casebook, send me an email or DM and I would be happy to share!
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Law Profs teaching First Amendment: I have put together a FREE, recently updated, and easy to use casebook for use in free speech classes. If you are interested in using such a casebook, send me an email or DM and I would be happy to share!
This column laments the “feminization” of law and academia.
As a woman in legal academia, I love that my presence is so powerful as to ruin “the workplace.”
Stay mad.
As a woman in legal academia, I love that my presence is so powerful as to ruin “the workplace.”
Stay mad.
November 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
This column laments the “feminization” of law and academia.
As a woman in legal academia, I love that my presence is so powerful as to ruin “the workplace.”
Stay mad.
As a woman in legal academia, I love that my presence is so powerful as to ruin “the workplace.”
Stay mad.
Reposted by Torey Dolan
it me, the workplace ruiner
November 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
it me, the workplace ruiner
Reposted by Torey Dolan
Women should have jobs, but Ross Douthat shouldn’t.
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Women should have jobs, but Ross Douthat shouldn’t.