Jessica K. Lowe
@jessicaklowe.bsky.social
Author, historian, law prof @UVA Law, on leave; OH/KY native, part-owner of a KY holler.
Web: https://www.law.virginia.edu/faculty/profile/jkl4h/1517188
Book: https://a.co/d/fRe9crB
Web: https://www.law.virginia.edu/faculty/profile/jkl4h/1517188
Book: https://a.co/d/fRe9crB
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Friendly amendment. Everyone should know who Pauli Murray was. A life truly well lived. And one that shaped our world.
Today is Pauli Murray's 115th birthday. If you're a law student (or just a curious person) and don't know who they are, look them up! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_M...
(And if you're in Durham, go check out @paulimurraycenter.bsky.social ! I had the privilege of visiting yesterday and it's great.)
(And if you're in Durham, go check out @paulimurraycenter.bsky.social ! I had the privilege of visiting yesterday and it's great.)
Pauli Murray - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Friendly amendment. Everyone should know who Pauli Murray was. A life truly well lived. And one that shaped our world.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
The publication date for my book on the history of policing American slavery has been moved up a month! Now available May 12, 2026! Thanks so much to those who have preordered! The Press is offering 30% off with the code, 01UNCP30
uncpress.org/978146969484...
uncpress.org/978146969484...
White Power
Beginning in the colonial era and growing through the American Revolution and the Southern plantation system, slaveholders’ violent police regime continued...
uncpress.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The publication date for my book on the history of policing American slavery has been moved up a month! Now available May 12, 2026! Thanks so much to those who have preordered! The Press is offering 30% off with the code, 01UNCP30
uncpress.org/978146969484...
uncpress.org/978146969484...
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
This digital image of Charles Blaskowitz's early 1777 map of New York Island doesn't do it justice -- it is taller than I am -- but it is a unique perspective on the British invasion. It narrates the British campaign. Zoom in for delicious details. #HATM
www.argomaps.org/maps/commonw...
www.argomaps.org/maps/commonw...
A plan of New York Island, and part of Long Island, with the circumjacent country, as far as Dobbs's Ferry to the north, and White Plains to the east, including the rivers, islands, roads, &ca - Ameri...
American Revolutionary Geographies Online is a portal containing thousands of maps from dozens of institutions that bring to life the history and geography of the American Revolutionary War era.
www.argomaps.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This digital image of Charles Blaskowitz's early 1777 map of New York Island doesn't do it justice -- it is taller than I am -- but it is a unique perspective on the British invasion. It narrates the British campaign. Zoom in for delicious details. #HATM
www.argomaps.org/maps/commonw...
www.argomaps.org/maps/commonw...
Hey local Bluesky friends! Tomorrow night (Wed 11/19) my cousin Abby Hamilton will be playing The Southern. She’s recently toured with Tyler Childers and has been getting accolades for her songwriting. More info below. I’ll be there — stop by if you’re free.
November 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Hey local Bluesky friends! Tomorrow night (Wed 11/19) my cousin Abby Hamilton will be playing The Southern. She’s recently toured with Tyler Childers and has been getting accolades for her songwriting. More info below. I’ll be there — stop by if you’re free.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Reminder for 2025 Detroit #ASLH people: check out our *new* table for recently pub. legal history books not otherwise represented @ book sale! Authors donate a copy & everyone else can enter raffle for each book. I'll pull names of winners on Sat. morning & winners pick up books before end of day
November 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reminder for 2025 Detroit #ASLH people: check out our *new* table for recently pub. legal history books not otherwise represented @ book sale! Authors donate a copy & everyone else can enter raffle for each book. I'll pull names of winners on Sat. morning & winners pick up books before end of day
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Deeks, 2016
Many now doubt that the best-known overseers—legislatures and courts—can provide effective oversight to constrain and modulate intelligence collection and covert action....
[Peer] constraints ... offer unique benefits that include a granular understanding of operations.
Many now doubt that the best-known overseers—legislatures and courts—can provide effective oversight to constrain and modulate intelligence collection and covert action....
[Peer] constraints ... offer unique benefits that include a granular understanding of operations.
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Deeks, 2016
Many now doubt that the best-known overseers—legislatures and courts—can provide effective oversight to constrain and modulate intelligence collection and covert action....
[Peer] constraints ... offer unique benefits that include a granular understanding of operations.
Many now doubt that the best-known overseers—legislatures and courts—can provide effective oversight to constrain and modulate intelligence collection and covert action....
[Peer] constraints ... offer unique benefits that include a granular understanding of operations.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Huge. And I am reminded of an excellent paper from years ago by Ashley Deeks on “Peer Constraints” — papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Huge. And I am reminded of an excellent paper from years ago by Ashley Deeks on “Peer Constraints” — papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Lottie, a 15yo in Pike County, KY, writes for @kentucky.com about the impact of SNAP delays in her community, which is still recovering from flooding. Cars line up hours before the church where she volunteers begins giving out food: "I see this line growing longer and longer month after month..."
As a Pike Co. student, I see the SNAP delays, and I see our people suffer | Opinion
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
www.kentucky.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Lottie, a 15yo in Pike County, KY, writes for @kentucky.com about the impact of SNAP delays in her community, which is still recovering from flooding. Cars line up hours before the church where she volunteers begins giving out food: "I see this line growing longer and longer month after month..."
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
See this? This is a case to potentially be concerned about!
BREAKING: #SCOTUS will decide an issue near and dear to President Trump: whether federal law allows states to tally ballots in federal elections after Election Day. 5th Circuit ruled it does.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
See this? This is a case to potentially be concerned about!
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Yes, we cat.
November 4, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Yes, we cat.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Reposting with Alt-text:
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Reposting with Alt-text:
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Historians at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have announced the identification of 6 additional individuals who were enslaved at the plantation. www.29news.com/2025/10/21/m...
It marks the first time new names have been added to the estate’s memorial dedicated to honoring the enslaved community.
It marks the first time new names have been added to the estate’s memorial dedicated to honoring the enslaved community.
Monticello identifies six more people enslaved by Thomas Jefferson
The six people include four adults—Moses, Nanny, Mary Ann Hern, and Robert—and two children whose names remain unknown.
www.29news.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Historians at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have announced the identification of 6 additional individuals who were enslaved at the plantation. www.29news.com/2025/10/21/m...
It marks the first time new names have been added to the estate’s memorial dedicated to honoring the enslaved community.
It marks the first time new names have been added to the estate’s memorial dedicated to honoring the enslaved community.
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
This chimes with what I remember and experience of Ohio, right down to themes of and anecdotes about local news and social mobility that I tried to handle in "On Freedom." The essay is wonderful and I am liking forward to reading "Paper Girl."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
What Happened to Ohio?
The fraying of my family and our working-class hometown
www.theatlantic.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This chimes with what I remember and experience of Ohio, right down to themes of and anecdotes about local news and social mobility that I tried to handle in "On Freedom." The essay is wonderful and I am liking forward to reading "Paper Girl."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Join me at 1pm ET on Substack Live for an interview with Harvard Law Professor Michael Klarman to discuss his essential work on the Constitution and the Supreme Court. open.substack.com/live-stream/...
LIVE SOON: Weekend Reading Live with Michael Klarman
Starting Oct 23 at 1:00 PM EDT
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Join me at 1pm ET on Substack Live for an interview with Harvard Law Professor Michael Klarman to discuss his essential work on the Constitution and the Supreme Court. open.substack.com/live-stream/...
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Cville folks - does anyone have an updated list of current food pantries in the area. Not the food banks, but the food pantries that can be accessed as needed.
There is a little food pantry in front of the Presbyterian church on Angus Rd, Church of Our Savior on Rio has one, any more ideas?
There is a little food pantry in front of the Presbyterian church on Angus Rd, Church of Our Savior on Rio has one, any more ideas?
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Cville folks - does anyone have an updated list of current food pantries in the area. Not the food banks, but the food pantries that can be accessed as needed.
There is a little food pantry in front of the Presbyterian church on Angus Rd, Church of Our Savior on Rio has one, any more ideas?
There is a little food pantry in front of the Presbyterian church on Angus Rd, Church of Our Savior on Rio has one, any more ideas?
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Caleb Nelson -- as paradigmatic an originalist as the academy has -- announces, sensibly, that he doesn't agree with unitary executive theory and specifically doesn't think the president can fire everyone in the executive branch. Key language below:
democracyproject.org/posts/must-a...
democracyproject.org/posts/must-a...
September 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Caleb Nelson -- as paradigmatic an originalist as the academy has -- announces, sensibly, that he doesn't agree with unitary executive theory and specifically doesn't think the president can fire everyone in the executive branch. Key language below:
democracyproject.org/posts/must-a...
democracyproject.org/posts/must-a...
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
As shocks to the system go, you might group these with the argument from U.Va.'s Caleb Nelson, already making waves, that originalism properly understood does not entail a strong version of the unitary executive theory. /3, end reason.com/volokh/2025/...
Caleb Nelson's Originalist Critique of Unitary Executive Theory
NA The Supreme Court seems likely to embrace "unitary executive" theory (UET) in its upcoming case in Trump v. Slaughter,…
reason.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
As shocks to the system go, you might group these with the argument from U.Va.'s Caleb Nelson, already making waves, that originalism properly understood does not entail a strong version of the unitary executive theory. /3, end reason.com/volokh/2025/...
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
In the second, Prakash notes that while many moderns disdain the "result-oriented," "it turns out that interpreters have long used consequences, particularly inconvenient consequences, to decode the law." Jefferson called argument from consequences one of the "great foundations of the law." /2
The Inconvenience Doctrine
Many disdain the use of consequences in legal interpretation. Yet it turns out that interpreters have long used consequences, particularly inconvenient conseque
papers.ssrn.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
In the second, Prakash notes that while many moderns disdain the "result-oriented," "it turns out that interpreters have long used consequences, particularly inconvenient consequences, to decode the law." Jefferson called argument from consequences one of the "great foundations of the law." /2
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
Two exceedingly interesting articles from Sai Prakash (U.Va. Law) on founding-era legal interpretation. In the first, he argues that "the Founders were not textualists," frequently elevating the "spirit" of the law above its letter in ways modern textualists resist. /1
Spirit
The Founders were not textualists. Certainly, the letter of the law mattered quite a bit. But, as William Blackstone noted, interpretation also required the con
papers.ssrn.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Two exceedingly interesting articles from Sai Prakash (U.Va. Law) on founding-era legal interpretation. In the first, he argues that "the Founders were not textualists," frequently elevating the "spirit" of the law above its letter in ways modern textualists resist. /1
Reposted by Jessica K. Lowe
UPDATE: Judge Perry issued an opinion explaining why she blocked the Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago.
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
![OPINION AND ORDER
Since this country was founded, Americans have disagreed about the appropriate division
of power between the federal government and the fifty states that make up our Union. This
tension is a natural result of the system of federalism adopted by our Founders. And yet, not even
the Founding Father most ardently in favor of a strong federal government believed that one
state's militia could be sent to another state for the purposes of political retribution, calling such
a suggestion "inflammatory," and stating "it is impossible to believe that [a President] would employ such preposterous means to accomplish their designs." But Plaintiffs contend that such
an event has come to pass, and argue that National Guard troops from both Illinois and Texas
have been deployed to Illinois because the President of the United States wants to punish state elected officials whose policies are different from his own.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreiefrnejknswedhhz5os4kxytyubcriulytg64k2ims446uxsscsla@jpeg)
October 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
UPDATE: Judge Perry issued an opinion explaining why she blocked the Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago.
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵