Matthew Lawrence
@mblawrence.bsky.social
Law professor at Emory Law. Admin law, health law, addictions.
Addiction and Liberty: https://www.cornelllawreview.org/2023/04/26/addiction-and-liberty/
Selected works: https://works.bepress.com/matthew-lawrence/
Addiction and Liberty: https://www.cornelllawreview.org/2023/04/26/addiction-and-liberty/
Selected works: https://works.bepress.com/matthew-lawrence/
Now that Character.AI is 18+ the pressure on other companies to age gate will grow.
Delighted to share my piece with Brett Frischmann and Avi Sholkoff, "Tort Liability for Failure to Age Gate: A Promising Regulatory Response to Digital Public Health Hazards," www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Delighted to share my piece with Brett Frischmann and Avi Sholkoff, "Tort Liability for Failure to Age Gate: A Promising Regulatory Response to Digital Public Health Hazards," www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
November 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Now that Character.AI is 18+ the pressure on other companies to age gate will grow.
Delighted to share my piece with Brett Frischmann and Avi Sholkoff, "Tort Liability for Failure to Age Gate: A Promising Regulatory Response to Digital Public Health Hazards," www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Delighted to share my piece with Brett Frischmann and Avi Sholkoff, "Tort Liability for Failure to Age Gate: A Promising Regulatory Response to Digital Public Health Hazards," www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Is the Trump admin going to appeal the RI court's order requiring SNAP distributions? DOJ's latest filing suggests they are considering it, asking for a written order to help them decide.
Meanwhile the MA court says funds *are legally available* and asks admin to say if they will pay by 11/3.
Meanwhile the MA court says funds *are legally available* and asks admin to say if they will pay by 11/3.
November 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Is the Trump admin going to appeal the RI court's order requiring SNAP distributions? DOJ's latest filing suggests they are considering it, asking for a written order to help them decide.
Meanwhile the MA court says funds *are legally available* and asks admin to say if they will pay by 11/3.
Meanwhile the MA court says funds *are legally available* and asks admin to say if they will pay by 11/3.
Two very different memos: Here is (1) the first Trump Admin's explanation that they'd made funds available to protect SNAP beneficiaries from shutdown-related disruptions, dated January 9, 2019, and (2) the second Trump Admin's explanation that they would not do so, posted by Axios last Friday.
October 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Two very different memos: Here is (1) the first Trump Admin's explanation that they'd made funds available to protect SNAP beneficiaries from shutdown-related disruptions, dated January 9, 2019, and (2) the second Trump Admin's explanation that they would not do so, posted by Axios last Friday.
Awesome presentation at Emory by Yale Law’s Nicholas Parrillo to discuss “Administrative Law as a Choice of Business Strategy.” If you’re in admin law (health care, energy, envt, consumer protection, etc.) you really ought to read this groundbreaking paper. tinyurl.com/3ejdm5a8
October 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Awesome presentation at Emory by Yale Law’s Nicholas Parrillo to discuss “Administrative Law as a Choice of Business Strategy.” If you’re in admin law (health care, energy, envt, consumer protection, etc.) you really ought to read this groundbreaking paper. tinyurl.com/3ejdm5a8
“If the President could later alter the bargain by negating provisions they disfavored, why would senators or representatives ever vote for a package including provisions they dislike?”
-Me, Pasachoff & Price last spring on how appropriations presidentialism causes shutdowns. tinyurl.com/59uwsu42
-Me, Pasachoff & Price last spring on how appropriations presidentialism causes shutdowns. tinyurl.com/59uwsu42
October 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
“If the President could later alter the bargain by negating provisions they disfavored, why would senators or representatives ever vote for a package including provisions they dislike?”
-Me, Pasachoff & Price last spring on how appropriations presidentialism causes shutdowns. tinyurl.com/59uwsu42
-Me, Pasachoff & Price last spring on how appropriations presidentialism causes shutdowns. tinyurl.com/59uwsu42
On this: One reason the Supreme Court just said others can’t sue is *because Congress gave the power to GAO*. But GAO hasn’t sued.
Right or wrong, yesterday’s ruling is SCOTUS’s invitation for GAO to go to court. GAO works for Congress, so it will be interesting to see if members call for this.
Right or wrong, yesterday’s ruling is SCOTUS’s invitation for GAO to go to court. GAO works for Congress, so it will be interesting to see if members call for this.
September 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
On this: One reason the Supreme Court just said others can’t sue is *because Congress gave the power to GAO*. But GAO hasn’t sued.
Right or wrong, yesterday’s ruling is SCOTUS’s invitation for GAO to go to court. GAO works for Congress, so it will be interesting to see if members call for this.
Right or wrong, yesterday’s ruling is SCOTUS’s invitation for GAO to go to court. GAO works for Congress, so it will be interesting to see if members call for this.
Delighted to share that “Platform Politicization and the Constitution” is forthcoming in Emory Law Journal. The paper explores what open integration b/w social media platforms and political parties would/will mean for freedoms of speech and association.
Sharing abstract, dm for draft!
Sharing abstract, dm for draft!
September 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Delighted to share that “Platform Politicization and the Constitution” is forthcoming in Emory Law Journal. The paper explores what open integration b/w social media platforms and political parties would/will mean for freedoms of speech and association.
Sharing abstract, dm for draft!
Sharing abstract, dm for draft!
"Within only a couple months, Sewell became addicted to the app."
Big decision denying motion to dismiss on 1A grounds today in Garcia v. Character A.I., the first case against a chatbot for allegedly contributing to a teen's death.
Full opinion here: tinyurl.com/496s4epn
Big decision denying motion to dismiss on 1A grounds today in Garcia v. Character A.I., the first case against a chatbot for allegedly contributing to a teen's death.
Full opinion here: tinyurl.com/496s4epn
May 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"Within only a couple months, Sewell became addicted to the app."
Big decision denying motion to dismiss on 1A grounds today in Garcia v. Character A.I., the first case against a chatbot for allegedly contributing to a teen's death.
Full opinion here: tinyurl.com/496s4epn
Big decision denying motion to dismiss on 1A grounds today in Garcia v. Character A.I., the first case against a chatbot for allegedly contributing to a teen's death.
Full opinion here: tinyurl.com/496s4epn
Thank you to the wonderful editors of the Indiana Law Journal for bringing "Super-Groups: Legal Empowerment and Public Law" to print!
My best effort to explore who the "powerful" are and the role of law in making them that way.
www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol100/i...
My best effort to explore who the "powerful" are and the role of law in making them that way.
www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol100/i...
May 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Thank you to the wonderful editors of the Indiana Law Journal for bringing "Super-Groups: Legal Empowerment and Public Law" to print!
My best effort to explore who the "powerful" are and the role of law in making them that way.
www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol100/i...
My best effort to explore who the "powerful" are and the role of law in making them that way.
www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol100/i...
Incredible to see "Moral Panic or Public Health Crisis? Lessons From Drugs and Gambling for 'Addictive' Design" now out in print!
With my amazing @EmoryLaw 2L coauthor, Kevin Yan.
When was the last time you saw a Music Man epigraph?
digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
With my amazing @EmoryLaw 2L coauthor, Kevin Yan.
When was the last time you saw a Music Man epigraph?
digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
May 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Incredible to see "Moral Panic or Public Health Crisis? Lessons From Drugs and Gambling for 'Addictive' Design" now out in print!
With my amazing @EmoryLaw 2L coauthor, Kevin Yan.
When was the last time you saw a Music Man epigraph?
digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
With my amazing @EmoryLaw 2L coauthor, Kevin Yan.
When was the last time you saw a Music Man epigraph?
digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Marijuana rescheduling has stalled. The Controlled Substances Act has failed. The opioid crisis continues.
We need to rethink drug scheduling from the ground up. But how?
Excited to share Dave Pozen's and my effort, forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review. tinyurl.com/3cxe6bh6
We need to rethink drug scheduling from the ground up. But how?
Excited to share Dave Pozen's and my effort, forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review. tinyurl.com/3cxe6bh6
April 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Marijuana rescheduling has stalled. The Controlled Substances Act has failed. The opioid crisis continues.
We need to rethink drug scheduling from the ground up. But how?
Excited to share Dave Pozen's and my effort, forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review. tinyurl.com/3cxe6bh6
We need to rethink drug scheduling from the ground up. But how?
Excited to share Dave Pozen's and my effort, forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review. tinyurl.com/3cxe6bh6
Now that courts are pushing back on DOGE's interference with spending through Treasury systems, OMB is breaking the law to keep its own spending actions secret.
I explain this separation of powers struggle in "Secret Conditions Move from DOGE to OMB," just up at Yale J Reg. tinyurl.com/3uyht563
I explain this separation of powers struggle in "Secret Conditions Move from DOGE to OMB," just up at Yale J Reg. tinyurl.com/3uyht563
April 4, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Now that courts are pushing back on DOGE's interference with spending through Treasury systems, OMB is breaking the law to keep its own spending actions secret.
I explain this separation of powers struggle in "Secret Conditions Move from DOGE to OMB," just up at Yale J Reg. tinyurl.com/3uyht563
I explain this separation of powers struggle in "Secret Conditions Move from DOGE to OMB," just up at Yale J Reg. tinyurl.com/3uyht563
Delighted to share news--my essay with Eloise Pasachoff and Zach Price, “Appropriations Presidentialism," is forthcoming in Georgetown Law Journal Online!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The draft is our attempt to explain a developing front in the fight for checks and balances. Thoughts welcome!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The draft is our attempt to explain a developing front in the fight for checks and balances. Thoughts welcome!
April 3, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Delighted to share news--my essay with Eloise Pasachoff and Zach Price, “Appropriations Presidentialism," is forthcoming in Georgetown Law Journal Online!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The draft is our attempt to explain a developing front in the fight for checks and balances. Thoughts welcome!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The draft is our attempt to explain a developing front in the fight for checks and balances. Thoughts welcome!
If you get the chance to attend (or even speak at) a conference at Seton Hall law, you take it!
Terrific, informative, generative presentations today reflecting on the ACA at 15 with a 🔥🔥🔥 keynote by Abbe Gluck.
Thanks to the center for health & pharma law and Seton Hall J. Leg. for hosting!
Terrific, informative, generative presentations today reflecting on the ACA at 15 with a 🔥🔥🔥 keynote by Abbe Gluck.
Thanks to the center for health & pharma law and Seton Hall J. Leg. for hosting!
March 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
If you get the chance to attend (or even speak at) a conference at Seton Hall law, you take it!
Terrific, informative, generative presentations today reflecting on the ACA at 15 with a 🔥🔥🔥 keynote by Abbe Gluck.
Thanks to the center for health & pharma law and Seton Hall J. Leg. for hosting!
Terrific, informative, generative presentations today reflecting on the ACA at 15 with a 🔥🔥🔥 keynote by Abbe Gluck.
Thanks to the center for health & pharma law and Seton Hall J. Leg. for hosting!
Awesome to share my jointly-authored article with Columbia's Dave Pozen, “Drug Scheduling as Institutional Design,” is now forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review!
Drug law meets admin law meets public health meets harm reduction meets LPE.
Public soon, but welcome draft requests!
Drug law meets admin law meets public health meets harm reduction meets LPE.
Public soon, but welcome draft requests!
March 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Awesome to share my jointly-authored article with Columbia's Dave Pozen, “Drug Scheduling as Institutional Design,” is now forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review!
Drug law meets admin law meets public health meets harm reduction meets LPE.
Public soon, but welcome draft requests!
Drug law meets admin law meets public health meets harm reduction meets LPE.
Public soon, but welcome draft requests!
I was very lucky to collaborate with Emory Medicine colleagues Justine Welsh and Allison LoPilato and @emorylaw 3L Allison Hickman on this new piece for JAMA @jama_current --
"What Courts are Asking Medicine About Social Media"
Check it out!
ow.ly/43TI50V1E0a
"What Courts are Asking Medicine About Social Media"
Check it out!
ow.ly/43TI50V1E0a
February 17, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I was very lucky to collaborate with Emory Medicine colleagues Justine Welsh and Allison LoPilato and @emorylaw 3L Allison Hickman on this new piece for JAMA @jama_current --
"What Courts are Asking Medicine About Social Media"
Check it out!
ow.ly/43TI50V1E0a
"What Courts are Asking Medicine About Social Media"
Check it out!
ow.ly/43TI50V1E0a
Emory Law Journal has put together a terrific symposium--great conversations at dinner tonight and a tremendous series of panels tomorrow ahead of a keynote by Commissioner Bedoyaftc.bsky.social. I'm looking forward to it! And nice somehow to focus on a critical yet not-entirely-partisan issue.
February 6, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Emory Law Journal has put together a terrific symposium--great conversations at dinner tonight and a tremendous series of panels tomorrow ahead of a keynote by Commissioner Bedoyaftc.bsky.social. I'm looking forward to it! And nice somehow to focus on a critical yet not-entirely-partisan issue.
I have one detail to add to @sbagen.bsky.social's take. When Trump 1.0 held up military aid Congress had promised Ukraine, OMB claimed it was merely a "programmatic delay." GAO unequivocally rejected that theory last time, but OMB may assert it here anyway. www.gao.gov/assets/b-331...
January 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I have one detail to add to @sbagen.bsky.social's take. When Trump 1.0 held up military aid Congress had promised Ukraine, OMB claimed it was merely a "programmatic delay." GAO unequivocally rejected that theory last time, but OMB may assert it here anyway. www.gao.gov/assets/b-331...
Everyone was not equally excited about our Atlanta snow day!
January 11, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Everyone was not equally excited about our Atlanta snow day!
Pretty excited to see Emory Law 3L Lane Cannon's poem on TVA v. Hill published in the Georgia YLD Division Review. This was the winner of our leg-reg poet lawreate contest back in 2022. As a leg/reg professor and appropriations nerd, I could not be more proud!
www.gabar.org/docs/default...
www.gabar.org/docs/default...
November 23, 2024 at 3:26 AM
Pretty excited to see Emory Law 3L Lane Cannon's poem on TVA v. Hill published in the Georgia YLD Division Review. This was the winner of our leg-reg poet lawreate contest back in 2022. As a leg/reg professor and appropriations nerd, I could not be more proud!
www.gabar.org/docs/default...
www.gabar.org/docs/default...
For legal researchers interested in addictive design issues, I am working on a blog listing recent cases and research. Before I post (and clean it up), I'm sure I'm missing items from my two lists, any suggestions?
September 13, 2024 at 6:16 PM
For legal researchers interested in addictive design issues, I am working on a blog listing recent cases and research. Before I post (and clean it up), I'm sure I'm missing items from my two lists, any suggestions?
I have a post up on con law of platform reg after Moody v. Netchoice at balkinization (dream come true!). I touch on KOSA and addictive design regs. "Supreme Court Endorses Neutrality Triangulation Approach to Constitutionality of Platform Regulation" balkin.blogspot.com/2024/08/gb05...
August 22, 2024 at 5:01 PM
I have a post up on con law of platform reg after Moody v. Netchoice at balkinization (dream come true!). I touch on KOSA and addictive design regs. "Supreme Court Endorses Neutrality Triangulation Approach to Constitutionality of Platform Regulation" balkin.blogspot.com/2024/08/gb05...
Happy to share that my article, is forthcoming in the Indiana Law Journal. On SSRN here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Super-Groups" is all about how we can address agency "capture" by targeting the captors.
"Super-Groups" is all about how we can address agency "capture" by targeting the captors.
August 21, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Happy to share that my article, is forthcoming in the Indiana Law Journal. On SSRN here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Super-Groups" is all about how we can address agency "capture" by targeting the captors.
"Super-Groups" is all about how we can address agency "capture" by targeting the captors.
Happy to share my new paper "Public Health Law's Digital Frontier: Addictive Design, Section 230, and the Freedom of Speech" in J. Free Speech Law. My effort to navigate hard tensions for regulation of tech raised by kids' social media addiction lawsuits.
www.journaloffreespeechlaw.org/lawrence.pdf
www.journaloffreespeechlaw.org/lawrence.pdf
March 25, 2024 at 10:52 AM
Happy to share my new paper "Public Health Law's Digital Frontier: Addictive Design, Section 230, and the Freedom of Speech" in J. Free Speech Law. My effort to navigate hard tensions for regulation of tech raised by kids' social media addiction lawsuits.
www.journaloffreespeechlaw.org/lawrence.pdf
www.journaloffreespeechlaw.org/lawrence.pdf
Terrific Thrower symposium at Emory Law the past couple days! Many thanks to our law review editors who did a masterful job of organizing this event.
February 9, 2024 at 12:29 AM
Terrific Thrower symposium at Emory Law the past couple days! Many thanks to our law review editors who did a masterful job of organizing this event.