Carissa Byrne Hessick
@cbhessick.bsky.social
Criminal law professor at the University of North Carolina
Director of the Prosecutors and Politics Project
Author of Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining is a Bad Deal
Director of the Prosecutors and Politics Project
Author of Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining is a Bad Deal
For those who are trying to assess the legitimacy of the charges against Bolton:
1) these charges came from the MD US Atty’s office—which is led by a career prosecutor
2) the investigation predates Trump taking office
3) the indictment suggests large amounts of classified material were involved
1) these charges came from the MD US Atty’s office—which is led by a career prosecutor
2) the investigation predates Trump taking office
3) the indictment suggests large amounts of classified material were involved
October 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
For those who are trying to assess the legitimacy of the charges against Bolton:
1) these charges came from the MD US Atty’s office—which is led by a career prosecutor
2) the investigation predates Trump taking office
3) the indictment suggests large amounts of classified material were involved
1) these charges came from the MD US Atty’s office—which is led by a career prosecutor
2) the investigation predates Trump taking office
3) the indictment suggests large amounts of classified material were involved
Whatever ends up happening in the James Comey prosecution, our country needs to grapple with the fact that public confidence in the impartiality of criminal prosecutions has been terribly damaged over the past few years.
October 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Whatever ends up happening in the James Comey prosecution, our country needs to grapple with the fact that public confidence in the impartiality of criminal prosecutions has been terribly damaged over the past few years.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
October 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I’m sure that bodes well for getting a conviction at trial
New on MSNBC: According to the court transcript, only 14 of the 23 grand jurors voted in favor of indicting James Comey on the two counts that went forward.
September 27, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I’m sure that bodes well for getting a conviction at trial
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
Oddly striking how this teenager, in accounting for her admittedly criminal behaviour, frames it as self-care. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
September 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Oddly striking how this teenager, in accounting for her admittedly criminal behaviour, frames it as self-care. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Given what’s been happening in DC, I would think no one in DOJ should feel particularly confident about whether a grand jury will indict anyone right now.
FORMER FBI DIRECTOR COMEY EXPECTED TO BE INDICTED IN COMING DAYS IN EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA -NBC REPORTER ON X
September 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Given what’s been happening in DC, I would think no one in DOJ should feel particularly confident about whether a grand jury will indict anyone right now.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I decided to look at all 66 prosecutor elections this fall.
Why? Prosecutors have huge power over sentencing, charging, second chances, and even immigration implications.
Here's everything you need to know, from East to West Coast. New from me:
Why? Prosecutors have huge power over sentencing, charging, second chances, and even immigration implications.
Here's everything you need to know, from East to West Coast. New from me:
Your Guide to the 2025 Prosecutor Elections - Bolts
Most of November's prosecutor races feature just one candidate, as usual. But key races will shape the politics of criminal justice, from Philly to Seattle — plus a wild card in New Jersey.
boltsmag.org
August 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I decided to look at all 66 prosecutor elections this fall.
Why? Prosecutors have huge power over sentencing, charging, second chances, and even immigration implications.
Here's everything you need to know, from East to West Coast. New from me:
Why? Prosecutors have huge power over sentencing, charging, second chances, and even immigration implications.
Here's everything you need to know, from East to West Coast. New from me:
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I enjoyed reading through @cbhessick.bsky.social's latest "Prosecutors and Politics" study. Surprising to learn that most media coverage about prosecutors is neutral in tone (only 6% of 2020 coverage about prosecutors was negative). Is that still true in 2025, in today's era of weaponized justice?
August 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I enjoyed reading through @cbhessick.bsky.social's latest "Prosecutors and Politics" study. Surprising to learn that most media coverage about prosecutors is neutral in tone (only 6% of 2020 coverage about prosecutors was negative). Is that still true in 2025, in today's era of weaponized justice?
Just posted my new paper (coauthored with Andy Hessick), called Facts, Policy, and Discretion, which is is forthcoming in the @ucdavislaw.bsky.social law review
We address an important error that I keep seeing in criminal justice cases about the nature of discretion papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We address an important error that I keep seeing in criminal justice cases about the nature of discretion papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
July 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Just posted my new paper (coauthored with Andy Hessick), called Facts, Policy, and Discretion, which is is forthcoming in the @ucdavislaw.bsky.social law review
We address an important error that I keep seeing in criminal justice cases about the nature of discretion papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We address an important error that I keep seeing in criminal justice cases about the nature of discretion papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
Calling it: Grand Jury Bluesky will be the worst Bluesky so far.
July 18, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Calling it: Grand Jury Bluesky will be the worst Bluesky so far.
Curious whether anyone could tell me more about this statutory restriction on plea bargaining in Kansas.
The conventional wisdom is that the parties will always evade plea bargaining prohibitions. I'm curious whether that has been the experience in KS with this limited carveout
The conventional wisdom is that the parties will always evade plea bargaining prohibitions. I'm curious whether that has been the experience in KS with this limited carveout
July 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Curious whether anyone could tell me more about this statutory restriction on plea bargaining in Kansas.
The conventional wisdom is that the parties will always evade plea bargaining prohibitions. I'm curious whether that has been the experience in KS with this limited carveout
The conventional wisdom is that the parties will always evade plea bargaining prohibitions. I'm curious whether that has been the experience in KS with this limited carveout
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
These 2 paragraphs are bananas. Truly incredible stuff c/o US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
July 12, 2025 at 4:36 AM
These 2 paragraphs are bananas. Truly incredible stuff c/o US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
DOJ has now fired 26 people who worked on Jack Smith's team. Pure political vengeance against professionals committed to the rule of law.
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
US Justice fires nine more employees from Jack Smith's team, sources say
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday fired at least nine more Justice Department employees who worked for Special Counsel Jack Smith to investigate President Donald Trump's retention of classified records and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to five people familiar with the matter.
www.reuters.com
July 12, 2025 at 12:21 PM
DOJ has now fired 26 people who worked on Jack Smith's team. Pure political vengeance against professionals committed to the rule of law.
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I'm a professor at the flagship university for the fourth whitest state in the US. Over 80% of our students are white.
The biggest barrier to access here is that due to lack of state funding, we have top 10 highest tuition per capita of public unis in the country.
We also have a food pantry.
The biggest barrier to access here is that due to lack of state funding, we have top 10 highest tuition per capita of public unis in the country.
We also have a food pantry.
oh, we have some straightforward gutter racism. “the blacks and the browns are the reason white people can’t get ahead” www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
July 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I'm a professor at the flagship university for the fourth whitest state in the US. Over 80% of our students are white.
The biggest barrier to access here is that due to lack of state funding, we have top 10 highest tuition per capita of public unis in the country.
We also have a food pantry.
The biggest barrier to access here is that due to lack of state funding, we have top 10 highest tuition per capita of public unis in the country.
We also have a food pantry.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
this is all downstream of people finding it aversive to change their mind
I increasingly feel certain that the thing that has driven politics insane is the growing ability of people to find ways to validate their beliefs, no matter how incorrect and irrational. It started in right-wing media but has become central to all political discussion.
June 23, 2025 at 4:56 AM
this is all downstream of people finding it aversive to change their mind
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I increasingly feel certain that the thing that has driven politics insane is the growing ability of people to find ways to validate their beliefs, no matter how incorrect and irrational. It started in right-wing media but has become central to all political discussion.
June 23, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I increasingly feel certain that the thing that has driven politics insane is the growing ability of people to find ways to validate their beliefs, no matter how incorrect and irrational. It started in right-wing media but has become central to all political discussion.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
we call this "fighting antisemitism"
Leavitt: "Electricians, plumbers -- we need more of those in our country, and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University. And that's what this administration's position is."
May 28, 2025 at 1:34 AM
we call this "fighting antisemitism"
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I always get caught off guard by Memorial Day weekend. It's somehow not on my list of summer occasions.
May 24, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I always get caught off guard by Memorial Day weekend. It's somehow not on my list of summer occasions.
Important statistics. But questionable claim that SCOTUS isn’t willing to defend the rule of law.
Stunning. May was brutal for Trump in federal court: 96% loss rate ⚖️. Even GOP-appointed judges have ruled against the admin 72% of the time. District courts are doing their job defending the Constitution. Soon the Supreme Court may be the only court unwilling to defend the rule of law.
May 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Important statistics. But questionable claim that SCOTUS isn’t willing to defend the rule of law.
This is the best assessment of the Trump administration vs universities battle that I've seen. Definitely worth the read.
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/o...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/o...
Opinion | Harvard Derangement Syndrome
www.nytimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This is the best assessment of the Trump administration vs universities battle that I've seen. Definitely worth the read.
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/o...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/o...
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
Can't wait until Trump's DHS spokespeople start trying to convince us this American toddler is actually a wife beating human trafficker
NEW: A federal judge raised alarm Friday that the Trump administration appeared to have deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras with "no meaningful process" — even as her father was fighting to keep her in the country.
Details w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Details w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
April 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Can't wait until Trump's DHS spokespeople start trying to convince us this American toddler is actually a wife beating human trafficker
Trump is putting 100% of the responsibility and blame for Garcia’s release on “his lawyers” in DOJ
Also, the implication of these comments is either that the lawyers are lying to Trump or that he can’t understand what they’re telling him.
Also, the implication of these comments is either that the lawyers are lying to Trump or that he can’t understand what they’re telling him.
April 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Trump is putting 100% of the responsibility and blame for Garcia’s release on “his lawyers” in DOJ
Also, the implication of these comments is either that the lawyers are lying to Trump or that he can’t understand what they’re telling him.
Also, the implication of these comments is either that the lawyers are lying to Trump or that he can’t understand what they’re telling him.
Reposted by Carissa Byrne Hessick
I think if Jack Lowden is going to play Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice it’s only right that Gary Oldman should play Mr Bennet and Kristin Scott Thomas should play Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
April 24, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I think if Jack Lowden is going to play Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice it’s only right that Gary Oldman should play Mr Bennet and Kristin Scott Thomas should play Lady Catherine de Bourgh.