Jordan Fischer
@jordanonrecord.bsky.social
Senior reporter at @bloomberglaw.com covering the Supreme Court. Previously, courts & investigations at WUSA. Hot sauce enthusiast. Opinions my own.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt granted an 11th-hour reprieve today an hour after the Supreme Court declined to hear death row inmate Tremane Wood's appeal and minutes before his scheduled execution. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
Oklahoma Governor Commutes Execution After Justices Decline Case
Oklahoma’s Republican governor granted a reprieve to a death row inmate after the US Supreme Court declined to hear his case and just minutes before he was set to be executed.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt granted an 11th-hour reprieve today an hour after the Supreme Court declined to hear death row inmate Tremane Wood's appeal and minutes before his scheduled execution. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
The Supreme Court seems wary of expanding the compassionate release "safety valve," with justices from both wings taking turns today pressing attorneys on what Congress really had in mind in the First Step Act. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Justices Eye Scope of Compassionate Release ‘Safety Valve’ (1)
The US Supreme Court appeared wary of expanding the limits of what judges can consider when deciding compassionate release petitions from federal inmates.
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The Supreme Court seems wary of expanding the compassionate release "safety valve," with justices from both wings taking turns today pressing attorneys on what Congress really had in mind in the First Step Act. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Supreme Court conservatives appeared reluctant today to expand the right to sue state prison officials in federal court for violations of inmates’ religious liberties.
news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar...
news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar...
Conservative Justices Cool to Religious Liberty Damages Suit (1)
Supreme Court conservatives appeared reluctant to expand the right to sue state prison officials in federal court for violations of inmates’ religious liberties, in the case of a devout Rastafarian wh...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Supreme Court conservatives appeared reluctant today to expand the right to sue state prison officials in federal court for violations of inmates’ religious liberties.
news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar...
news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar...
The Trump admin says the Supreme Court should let a Rastafarian sue the Louisiana prison officials responsible for him being pinned down and forcibly shaved.
That's 180-degrees from the position it took in another religious liberty case 5 years ago. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
That's 180-degrees from the position it took in another religious liberty case 5 years ago. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Trump Administration Argues Against Itself in Rastafarian Case
The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to let a Rastafarian inmate sue Louisiana prison officials for shaving his head against his faith, breaking from its position in a similar religious li...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The Trump admin says the Supreme Court should let a Rastafarian sue the Louisiana prison officials responsible for him being pinned down and forcibly shaved.
That's 180-degrees from the position it took in another religious liberty case 5 years ago. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
That's 180-degrees from the position it took in another religious liberty case 5 years ago. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
There's now "more antisemitism on the right than at any time in my life," Sen. Ted Cruz told the Federalist Society today — urging conservatives to "stand up" to bigotry after Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Cruz Urges Right to Condemn Antisemitism After Carlson Podcast
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on conservatives to speak out against what he saw as a recent rise in antisemitism within the Republican party, days after a conservative leader drew outrage for defendi...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
There's now "more antisemitism on the right than at any time in my life," Sen. Ted Cruz told the Federalist Society today — urging conservatives to "stand up" to bigotry after Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Federal agencies' independent litigation powers may be next in President Trump's sights if SCOTUS agrees he has the right to fire executive branch employees at will, DOJ's Civil Division head said today. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
Agency Litigation Powers May Be in Trump’s Sights, Official Says
The Trump administration may target the independent litigation authority of federal agencies if the Supreme Court grants the president the power he seeks to fire executive branch employees at will, a ...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Federal agencies' independent litigation powers may be next in President Trump's sights if SCOTUS agrees he has the right to fire executive branch employees at will, DOJ's Civil Division head said today. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
The D.C. federal prosecutor's office is on a roll, with back-to-back losses in closely watched assault on a federal officer cases. More surge-era cases grand juries refused to indict are still pending in Superior Court. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Sandwich Thrower Acquitted of Assault Charge in Viral DC Case
A federal jury found a former Justice Department employee not guilty of misdemeanor assault over a viral incident in which he threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer.
www.bloomberg.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 AM
The D.C. federal prosecutor's office is on a roll, with back-to-back losses in closely watched assault on a federal officer cases. More surge-era cases grand juries refused to indict are still pending in Superior Court. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
The Supreme Court has asked for supplemental briefing in the Trump administration's request to lift the injunction currently blocking the deployment of the National Guard in Illinois amid an immigration enforcement surge in Chicago.
October 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The Supreme Court has asked for supplemental briefing in the Trump administration's request to lift the injunction currently blocking the deployment of the National Guard in Illinois amid an immigration enforcement surge in Chicago.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh's chambers have emerged as a big talent pipeline for President Trump's second-term judicial nominations. Three of his four confirmed appellate court nominees clerked for Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
Kavanaugh’s Chambers Are a Big Pipeline for Trump Circuit Judges
Justice Brett Kavanaugh has emerged as a major source of judicial nominees in the second Trump administration, with the president repeatedly looking to the justice’s former clerks to fill influential ...
news.bloomberglaw.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Justice Brett Kavanaugh's chambers have emerged as a big talent pipeline for President Trump's second-term judicial nominations. Three of his four confirmed appellate court nominees clerked for Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit. news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...
My first at @bloomberglaw.com: 31 former federal judges today signed on to an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject President Trump's sweeping tariffs. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Ex-Federal Judges Call on Supreme Court to Reject Trump Tariffs
Thirty-one former federal judges urged the US Supreme Court to reject President Donald Trump’s attempts to use emergency powers to impose sweeping, world-wide tariffs.
news.bloomberglaw.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
My first at @bloomberglaw.com: 31 former federal judges today signed on to an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject President Trump's sweeping tariffs. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Some (slightly belated) personal news: I began a new job this week at @bloomberglaw.com reporting on the U.S. Supreme Court. Add me to your SCOTUS-related media/mailing lists and keep an eye out for my byline soon!
October 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Some (slightly belated) personal news: I began a new job this week at @bloomberglaw.com reporting on the U.S. Supreme Court. Add me to your SCOTUS-related media/mailing lists and keep an eye out for my byline soon!
An extraordinarily embarrassing case for the line prosecutors forced to pursue it, who spent two weeks getting yelled at from the bench over missing/incomplete evidence and evasive witnesses -- including at least one whose testimony was flatly contradicted by video evidence.
NOW: Three grand juries declined to indict Sidney Reid, and today a petit jury came to the same conclusion in less than 2 hours -- finding her NOT GUILTY of assaulting an FBI agent during an ICE arrest. (via @sophrosenthal) www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Woman found not guilty of assaulting FBI agent during ICE arrest outside DC Jail
Sidney Lori Reid was acquitted after a three-day trial plagued with evidence issues.
www.wusa9.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
An extraordinarily embarrassing case for the line prosecutors forced to pursue it, who spent two weeks getting yelled at from the bench over missing/incomplete evidence and evasive witnesses -- including at least one whose testimony was flatly contradicted by video evidence.
NOW: Three grand juries declined to indict Sidney Reid, and today a petit jury came to the same conclusion in less than 2 hours -- finding her NOT GUILTY of assaulting an FBI agent during an ICE arrest. (via @sophrosenthal) www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Woman found not guilty of assaulting FBI agent during ICE arrest outside DC Jail
Sidney Lori Reid was acquitted after a three-day trial plagued with evidence issues.
www.wusa9.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
NOW: Three grand juries declined to indict Sidney Reid, and today a petit jury came to the same conclusion in less than 2 hours -- finding her NOT GUILTY of assaulting an FBI agent during an ICE arrest. (via @sophrosenthal) www.wusa9.com/article/news...
UPDATE: Judge Ana Reyes has set an April 12, 2027, trial date for the first wrongful death lawsuit filed in connection with the Flight 5342 disaster.
BREAKING: Rachel Crafton, the widow of Flight 5342 victim Casey Crafton, has filed the first wrongful death lawsuit today against the airlines and the government.
Crafton says they "utterly failed" to keep her husband and other passengers safe. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Crafton says they "utterly failed" to keep her husband and other passengers safe. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Widow of Flight 5342 victim files wrongful death suit against airlines, US government
Rachel Crafton's lawsuit says the airlines and the FAA "utterly failed" in their responsibilities to keep the airspace over D.C. safe.
www.wusa9.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
UPDATE: Judge Ana Reyes has set an April 12, 2027, trial date for the first wrongful death lawsuit filed in connection with the Flight 5342 disaster.
NEW: James Comey's attorneys say they plan to file their motion to disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan as unlawfully appointed on Monday.
As in similar challenges in New Jersey and Nevada, an out-of-district judge will be tapped to decide that.
As in similar challenges in New Jersey and Nevada, an out-of-district judge will be tapped to decide that.
October 14, 2025 at 3:16 PM
NEW: James Comey's attorneys say they plan to file their motion to disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan as unlawfully appointed on Monday.
As in similar challenges in New Jersey and Nevada, an out-of-district judge will be tapped to decide that.
As in similar challenges in New Jersey and Nevada, an out-of-district judge will be tapped to decide that.
MORE: Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia say affirmatively if DHS decided to remove him to Costa Rica tomorrow he would go.
That the Trump administration isn't trying to deport him there, they say, shows they're trying to punish him.
That the Trump administration isn't trying to deport him there, they say, shows they're trying to punish him.
NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ asserts presidential privilege over details about how Uganda was selected in Abrego Garcia deportation case
A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official said third-country designations are typically made by the State Department.
www.wusa9.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
MORE: Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia say affirmatively if DHS decided to remove him to Costa Rica tomorrow he would go.
That the Trump administration isn't trying to deport him there, they say, shows they're trying to punish him.
That the Trump administration isn't trying to deport him there, they say, shows they're trying to punish him.
NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ asserts presidential privilege over details about how Uganda was selected in Abrego Garcia deportation case
A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official said third-country designations are typically made by the State Department.
www.wusa9.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
BREAKING: Following OMB Director Russ Vought's tweet today announcing RIFs, AFGE has filed an emergency motion seeking a TRO. They argue the RIFs violate the Antideficiency Act by requiring unlawful work during a government shutdown.
Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
BREAKING: Following OMB Director Russ Vought's tweet today announcing RIFs, AFGE has filed an emergency motion seeking a TRO. They argue the RIFs violate the Antideficiency Act by requiring unlawful work during a government shutdown.
Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
During an evidentiary hearing now for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ICE Deputy Assistant Director for Removal Management John Schultz says Eswatini has not yet agreed to take him:
“We’ve had initial conversations with Eswatini and we haven’t gotten to a ‘yes,’ but discussions are continuing.”
“We’ve had initial conversations with Eswatini and we haven’t gotten to a ‘yes,’ but discussions are continuing.”
October 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
During an evidentiary hearing now for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ICE Deputy Assistant Director for Removal Management John Schultz says Eswatini has not yet agreed to take him:
“We’ve had initial conversations with Eswatini and we haven’t gotten to a ‘yes,’ but discussions are continuing.”
“We’ve had initial conversations with Eswatini and we haven’t gotten to a ‘yes,’ but discussions are continuing.”
NEW: DOJ says it will turn over the resignation letter of the criminal division chief who resigned the same day Kilmar Abrego Garcia was indicted.
It argues it shouldn't have to turn over any comms by high-level admin officials about the case. Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
It argues it shouldn't have to turn over any comms by high-level admin officials about the case. Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
NEW: DOJ says it will turn over the resignation letter of the criminal division chief who resigned the same day Kilmar Abrego Garcia was indicted.
It argues it shouldn't have to turn over any comms by high-level admin officials about the case. Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
It argues it shouldn't have to turn over any comms by high-level admin officials about the case. Link: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The government has responded to Sidney Reid's motion, saying officers didn't think there was much of anything on the video and that it was never really in their possession.
October 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The government has responded to Sidney Reid's motion, saying officers didn't think there was much of anything on the video and that it was never really in their possession.
Former FBI director Jim Comey pleaded not guilty today to lying to Congress.
In a rare move, his defense has laid out their strategy. They'll argue the case is politically motivated and that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
In a rare move, his defense has laid out their strategy. They'll argue the case is politically motivated and that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Former FBI director Comey pleads not guilty, will argue prosecution is politically motivated
Attorneys for James Comey said they intend to challenge the appointment of President Donald Trump's former attorney to lead the federal prosecutor's office.
www.wusa9.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Former FBI director Jim Comey pleaded not guilty today to lying to Congress.
In a rare move, his defense has laid out their strategy. They'll argue the case is politically motivated and that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
In a rare move, his defense has laid out their strategy. They'll argue the case is politically motivated and that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsay Halligan was unlawfully appointed. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
Former FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty this morning to two counts for alleged false statements to Congress.
Jury trial set for Jan. 5. Before that: Motions from the defense to dismiss for vindictive prosecution and disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
Jury trial set for Jan. 5. Before that: Motions from the defense to dismiss for vindictive prosecution and disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
In Alexandria this morning, where former FBI director Jim Comey is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Lots of media here along with a few folks protesting the case.
October 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Former FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty this morning to two counts for alleged false statements to Congress.
Jury trial set for Jan. 5. Before that: Motions from the defense to dismiss for vindictive prosecution and disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
Jury trial set for Jan. 5. Before that: Motions from the defense to dismiss for vindictive prosecution and disqualify interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
In Alexandria this morning, where former FBI director Jim Comey is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Lots of media here along with a few folks protesting the case.
October 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
In Alexandria this morning, where former FBI director Jim Comey is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Lots of media here along with a few folks protesting the case.
As promised, U.S. Attorney Pirro's office has now refiled misdemeanor charges against attorney Paul Bryant in D.C. Superior Court.
He was sent a citation to appear next month. Prosecutors had previously fought for pretrial detention.
He was sent a citation to appear next month. Prosecutors had previously fought for pretrial detention.
October 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
As promised, U.S. Attorney Pirro's office has now refiled misdemeanor charges against attorney Paul Bryant in D.C. Superior Court.
He was sent a citation to appear next month. Prosecutors had previously fought for pretrial detention.
He was sent a citation to appear next month. Prosecutors had previously fought for pretrial detention.