Chris Geidner
@chrisgeidner.bsky.social
Subscribe to www.lawdork.com for SCOTUS, Trump, LGBTQ, criminal justice, and other legal news. / Email: lawdorknews@gmail.com / Signal: crg.32 / About me: Sober. Queer. Bipolar. Buckeye. / He/him.
Pinned
Chris Geidner
@chrisgeidner.bsky.social
· Feb 24
Law Dork | Chris Geidner | Substack
The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more. Click to read Law Dork, by Chris Geidner, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
www.lawdork.com
REMINDERS:
* Not every post is for every person; some are to inform legal folks of something.
* If I have time & if it matters, I say more, but I don't always have time & it doesn't always matter.
* If it's important, I usually cover it at Law Dork, where I work to make reports accessible to all.
* Not every post is for every person; some are to inform legal folks of something.
* If I have time & if it matters, I say more, but I don't always have time & it doesn't always matter.
* If it's important, I usually cover it at Law Dork, where I work to make reports accessible to all.
Alright, that was a lot going on a Monday! I’m off for the night. … Night, all, and let us try to be good to one another — and ourselves.
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Alright, that was a lot going on a Monday! I’m off for the night. … Night, all, and let us try to be good to one another — and ourselves.
UPDATE: No written order issued as of now in the multistate SNAP benefits case, and I was holding off on writing something at Law Dork until I saw the order, so this will be put off for Tuesday.
Also: In the other SNAP case, plaintiffs supplemental response is due at SCOTUS by 8a Tuesday.
Also: In the other SNAP case, plaintiffs supplemental response is due at SCOTUS by 8a Tuesday.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
November 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
UPDATE: No written order issued as of now in the multistate SNAP benefits case, and I was holding off on writing something at Law Dork until I saw the order, so this will be put off for Tuesday.
Also: In the other SNAP case, plaintiffs supplemental response is due at SCOTUS by 8a Tuesday.
Also: In the other SNAP case, plaintiffs supplemental response is due at SCOTUS by 8a Tuesday.
Reposted by Chris Geidner
President Trump criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during a Fox News interview tonight, saying people "get it automatically now so the number is many times what it should be, it's disgraceful."
Trump says "we can reform" SNAP
"SNAP is supposed to be if you are down and out," Trump said on Fox News this evening.
www.axios.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM
President Trump criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during a Fox News interview tonight, saying people "get it automatically now so the number is many times what it should be, it's disgraceful."
Reposted by Chris Geidner
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
Reposted by Chris Geidner
At the FedSoc’s National Lawyers Convention last week, high-ranking DOJ officials spoke very openly about their weaponization of civil rights laws and their prioritization of helping those who feel victimized by equality. I listened so you didn’t have to: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/doj-offici...
DOJ Officials Hype Up Ongoing Efforts to Weaponize Civil Rights Laws
If you feel victimized by equality and fairness, this DOJ is working for you.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
At the FedSoc’s National Lawyers Convention last week, high-ranking DOJ officials spoke very openly about their weaponization of civil rights laws and their prioritization of helping those who feel victimized by equality. I listened so you didn’t have to: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/doj-offici...
Reposted by Chris Geidner
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Reposted by Chris Geidner
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 PM
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
In the multistate SNAP case, Judge Talwani will:
- keep USDA's 11/8 order that states "undo" full payments or face penalties stayed for now
- issue a TRO mirroring the RI case TRO to protect states directly
- likely address an error states say USDA made in its partial payment tables
Reposted by Chris Geidner
BREAKING: Judge Talwani will be issuing a second order — aside from the Rhode Island TRO — to "protect against the government's position" that the states suing over SNAP benefits are not "parties" to the R.I. litigation. It will be stayed to run concurrently w/ the R.I. order's current admin stay.
November 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
BREAKING: Judge Talwani will be issuing a second order — aside from the Rhode Island TRO — to "protect against the government's position" that the states suing over SNAP benefits are not "parties" to the R.I. litigation. It will be stayed to run concurrently w/ the R.I. order's current admin stay.
Reposted by Chris Geidner
UNC-Chapel Hill's chancellor says the university will not sign on to a higher education compact from the Trump administration.
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
After faculty raise concerns, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor says university will not sign Trump's higher ed compact
Lee Roberts called the "preferential treatment" proposal a clear infringement on academic freedom.
www.wunc.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
UNC-Chapel Hill's chancellor says the university will not sign on to a higher education compact from the Trump administration.
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
DOJ really upset the federal judge in Massachusetts (hearing the multistate SNAP case) with its Sunday filing at the First Circuit in the other SNAP case —>
Talwani: "In an abundance of caution, is there any reason this court should not issue an order parallel to the R.I. one" to ensure the states have the same protection?
"I'm concerned," she reiterates, about the First Circuit filing. "This is a sentence in the filing to the First Circuit."
"I'm concerned," she reiterates, about the First Circuit filing. "This is a sentence in the filing to the First Circuit."
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
DOJ really upset the federal judge in Massachusetts (hearing the multistate SNAP case) with its Sunday filing at the First Circuit in the other SNAP case —>
Reposted by Chris Geidner
Talwani accuses the Trump administration of playing "vindictive games with the states."
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Talwani accuses the Trump administration of playing "vindictive games with the states."
Reposted by Chris Geidner
BREAKING: Judge will keep USDA's Saturday order on hold that directed states to "undo" full SNAP payments.
Talwani: "I think there is no reason for me not to keep in place my stay of the order directing the agencies to take steps to return the funds that were issued."
Talwani: "I think there is no reason for me not to keep in place my stay of the order directing the agencies to take steps to return the funds that were issued."
November 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
BREAKING: Judge will keep USDA's Saturday order on hold that directed states to "undo" full SNAP payments.
Talwani: "I think there is no reason for me not to keep in place my stay of the order directing the agencies to take steps to return the funds that were issued."
Talwani: "I think there is no reason for me not to keep in place my stay of the order directing the agencies to take steps to return the funds that were issued."
Thread on this hearing in the SNAP multistate litigation here —>
And, Judge Talwani has begun her hearing on the multistate case over the SNAP benefits.
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
DOJ says full SNAP payments were "unauthorized," as USDA directs states to "undo" them
A week of chaotic change-ups as food benefits for more than 40 million people hang in the balance. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Thread on this hearing in the SNAP multistate litigation here —>
Reposted by Chris Geidner
And, Judge Talwani has begun her hearing on the multistate case over the SNAP benefits.
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
DOJ says full SNAP payments were "unauthorized," as USDA directs states to "undo" them
A week of chaotic change-ups as food benefits for more than 40 million people hang in the balance. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
And, Judge Talwani has begun her hearing on the multistate case over the SNAP benefits.
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
Tyler Becker is arguing for DOJ.
Talwani, on the 11/7 USDA memo: "It doesn't say there was an appeal pending, it doesn't say you were seeking a stay."
She's raising the point I made here Sunday:
Reposted by Chris Geidner
NEW: DOJ filed its supplemental brief in the SNAP benefits case stay application at SCOTUS, leading off with the Senate vote last night, not the legal issues or the First Circuit's stay denial (although it does get into those issues after that). www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
NEW: DOJ filed its supplemental brief in the SNAP benefits case stay application at SCOTUS, leading off with the Senate vote last night, not the legal issues or the First Circuit's stay denial (although it does get into those issues after that). www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
NEW: Shira Perlmutter, the head of the Copyright Office, filed her opposition today to DOJ's request for an order from SCOTUS that would allow the Trump administration's effort to fire her to take effect during litigation.
Here is the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
Here is the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
NEW: Shira Perlmutter, the head of the Copyright Office, filed her opposition today to DOJ's request for an order from SCOTUS that would allow the Trump administration's effort to fire her to take effect during litigation.
Here is the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
Here is the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
Reposted by Chris Geidner
LawDork Rules
As always, subscribe to Law Dork to keep up with and support my independent legal journalism: www.lawdork.com
Law Dork | Chris Geidner | Substack
The Supreme Court, law, politics, and more. Click to read Law Dork, by Chris Geidner, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
www.lawdork.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
LawDork Rules
Reposted by Chris Geidner
Thread from @chrisgeidner.bsky.social on the latest (complicated) ongoings in the challenges to the Trump administration's efforts to cut SNAP benefit payments this month —>
OK, where are we on the SNAP benefits cases?
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
![Judge Indira Talwani: ELECTRONIC ORDER: granting in part Plaintiffs' Further Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Emergency Virtual Hearing Request [
80
]. Good cause shown, the USDA Memorandum issued on Saturday, November
8, 2025, directing that "ItJo the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025," they "must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025" and shall "advise the appropriate FNS Regional Office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum[,l" see Attachment to Defendants' Third Notice to Court 4 [ 79 4 is STAYED pending further court order. The clerk shall reset the hearing scheduled for November 13, 2025, to a remote hearing today at 3:30 p.m.(SEC) (Entered:
11/10/2025)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreif6tnsoqzmk6snokm2m64ne264idl5paz4wwle4phmab2aftkto4y@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Thread from @chrisgeidner.bsky.social on the latest (complicated) ongoings in the challenges to the Trump administration's efforts to cut SNAP benefit payments this month —>
OK, where are we on the SNAP benefits cases?
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
OK, where are we on the SNAP benefits cases?
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
Two things happened this morning:
* DOJ told SCOTUS they're still fighting to stop full November SNAP benefit payments, via their stay request at SCOTUS
* District court judge in Mass. stayed USDA's 11/8 memo ordering states to "undo" full payments
This was not a surprise to anyone who followed me and other actual reporters who know Supreme Court procedure.
The only places it succeeded were to generate donations for Liberty Counsel and to prompt clicks through ragebait headlines from your favorite resistance grifters.
Sorry, it's true.
The only places it succeeded were to generate donations for Liberty Counsel and to prompt clicks through ragebait headlines from your favorite resistance grifters.
Sorry, it's true.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This was not a surprise to anyone who followed me and other actual reporters who know Supreme Court procedure.
The only places it succeeded were to generate donations for Liberty Counsel and to prompt clicks through ragebait headlines from your favorite resistance grifters.
Sorry, it's true.
The only places it succeeded were to generate donations for Liberty Counsel and to prompt clicks through ragebait headlines from your favorite resistance grifters.
Sorry, it's true.
Reposted by Chris Geidner
The President wouldn't last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they've been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business shitting on them now.
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The President wouldn't last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they've been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business shitting on them now.
DOJ appealed the preliminary injunction and class certification order in the Illinois press and protesters case on Sunday to the Seventh Circuit: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
DOJ appealed the preliminary injunction and class certification order in the Illinois press and protesters case on Sunday to the Seventh Circuit: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Chris Geidner
Rep. Adrian Smith R-NE ignores Democrats on the floor and adjourns the House until Wednesday. Adelita Grijalva was elected on Sept. 23 and still has not been sworn into office. It may finally happen later this week.
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Rep. Adrian Smith R-NE ignores Democrats on the floor and adjourns the House until Wednesday. Adelita Grijalva was elected on Sept. 23 and still has not been sworn into office. It may finally happen later this week.
If you want accurate reporting and analysis, not fearmongering, subscribe to Law Dork, where I always treated this case as the dud it was. (I covered it at the Sixth Circuit; said it was not at all a likely candidate for SCOTUS for review; and that was, basically, that.) www.lawdork.com
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
November 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If you want accurate reporting and analysis, not fearmongering, subscribe to Law Dork, where I always treated this case as the dud it was. (I covered it at the Sixth Circuit; said it was not at all a likely candidate for SCOTUS for review; and that was, basically, that.) www.lawdork.com
Reposted by Chris Geidner
The Supreme Court did grant review of one case today, Watson v. Republican National Committee, and it's a big one over state laws allowing the counting of ballots cast by Election Day but received after Election Day.
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented:
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented:
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The Supreme Court did grant review of one case today, Watson v. Republican National Committee, and it's a big one over state laws allowing the counting of ballots cast by Election Day but received after Election Day.
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented:
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented: