Robin
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robinsloth.bsky.social
Robin
@robinsloth.bsky.social
790 followers 860 following 1.1K posts
Labor lawyer (not your lawyer), not providing legal advice (or any advice). SF by way of Chicago. She/her
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robinsloth.bsky.social
Hey look, the thing that all who follow or have practiced in the Supreme Court were saying would happen happened!

Don't get me wrong: this is a good thing! But it was extremely likely, and people are now reading waaaay too much into it about SCOTUS and its future behavior
25-125 DAVIS, KIM V. ERMOLD, DAVID, ET AL. The motion of Foundation for Moral Law for leave to file a brief as amicus curiae out of time is denied. The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.
November 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Oh god, I hadn't even gotten to the "our product does eugenics, but better than Hitler" company
The event was billed as an upscale salon about the future of designer children, with guests recommended to dress “sexy, hip, original, elegant.” Anomaly is a vocal defender of voluntary eugenics. Humans, he wrote in 2018, should make reproductive choices that “produce future people who thrive.” During the event, he displayed an image of a mobile Nazi gas chamber used to kill people with disabilities to make the point that Herasight’s aim is “morally a completely different model than the worst form of state-sponsored coercive eugenics.”
November 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
The torment nexus tweet remains unsurpassed in explaining our current hellscape
In April, Armstrong on X said he envisioned “the IVF clinic of the future” powered by a “Gattaca stack” of technologies—a reference to the 1997 movie depicting a dystopian eugenic future—combining embryo editing and genetic screening. Together, he wrote, the technologies could “start to accelerate evolution.”
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Here's more of his reasoning from the piece, which also explains his senior status.

(His replacement was appointed by Obama more than a decade ago)
As I watched in dismay and disgust from my position on the bench, I came to feel deeply uncomfortable operating under the necessary ethical rules that muzzle judges’ public statements and restrict their activities. Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, and his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to. When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president. My colleagues on the United States District Court in Massachusetts and judges on the lower federal courts throughout the country are admirably deciding a variety of cases generated by Trump’s many executive orders and other unprecedented actions. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly removed the temporary restraints imposed on those actions by lower courts in deciding emergency motions on its “shadow docket” with little, if any, explanation. I doubt that if I remained a judge I would fare any better than my colleagues. Others who have held positions of authority, including former federal judges and ambassadors, have been opposing this government’s efforts to undermine the principled, impartial administration of justice and distort the free and fair functioning of American democracy. They have urged me to work with them. As much as I have treasured being a judge, I can now think of nothing more important than joining them, and doing everything in my power to combat today’s existential threat to democracy and the rule of law.
November 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
He really does, though.

"However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly removed the temporary restraints imposed on those actions by lower courts in deciding emergency motions on its 'shadow docket' with little, if any, explanation."
As I watched in dismay and disgust from my position on the bench, I came to feel deeply uncomfortable operating under the necessary ethical rules that muzzle judges’ public statements and restrict their activities. Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, and his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to. When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president. My colleagues on the United States District Court in Massachusetts and judges on the lower federal courts throughout the country are admirably deciding a variety of cases generated by Trump’s many executive orders and other unprecedented actions. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly removed the temporary restraints imposed on those actions by lower courts in deciding emergency motions on its “shadow docket” with little, if any, explanation. I doubt that if I remained a judge I would fare any better than my colleagues. Others who have held positions of authority, including former federal judges and ambassadors, have been opposing this government’s efforts to undermine the principled, impartial administration of justice and distort the free and fair functioning of American democracy. They have urged me to work with them. As much as I have treasured being a judge, I can now think of nothing more important than joining them, and doing everything in my power to combat today’s existential threat to democracy and the rule of law.
November 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
He explains his thought process (and senior status) very clearly in the piece.

I tend to think there's still value in stalwart senior judges staying on the bench, but it's certainly a much closer call than it is for an active judge replaced by Trump
As I watched in dismay and disgust from my position on the bench, I came to feel deeply uncomfortable operating under the necessary ethical rules that muzzle judges’ public statements and restrict their activities. Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, and his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to. When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president. My colleagues on the United States District Court in Massachusetts and judges on the lower federal courts throughout the country are admirably deciding a variety of cases generated by Trump’s many executive orders and other unprecedented actions. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly removed the temporary restraints imposed on those actions by lower courts in deciding emergency motions on its “shadow docket” with little, if any, explanation. I doubt that if I remained a judge I would fare any better than my colleagues. Others who have held positions of authority, including former federal judges and ambassadors, have been opposing this government’s efforts to undermine the principled, impartial administration of justice and distort the free and fair functioning of American democracy. They have urged me to work with them. As much as I have treasured being a judge, I can now think of nothing more important than joining them, and doing everything in my power to combat today’s existential threat to democracy and the rule of law.
November 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Lol, I tested this not too long ago and it is possible to make a map with minimal population variety between districts and >10% partisan lean in all districts!

Be brave Illinois!
Map of Illinois from Dave's Redistricting with 17 radiating districts out from Chicago Analysis of the map showing 17 Democratic Leaning districts, none with under 53% Dem or over 43% Rep composite partisan results
November 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
The Washington Post says they confirmed it was salami.

Nonpaywalled link: archive.is/G8ovu
It shows Dunn (prior to the lob heard ’round the District) pointing and shouting at officers crossing an intersection in a popular nightlife area. “F--- you, fascists,” he yelled, then chanted “shame” before turning and walking away from the officers. “I don’t want you in my city,” he screamed at them. Minutes later, he returned, kept on shouting, and chucked his sandwich — salami, The Washington Post confirmed — before attempting to flee on foot. Days later, 20 federal agents cuffed him at his front door.
November 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
And, most importantly here, even the Prologue rejects Elon's bullshit about peaceful people needing strong protectors.

(As does, you know, the entire rest of the actual story!!)

Because "ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough." Compassion and even merriment are not weakness!
Nonetheless, ease and peace had left this people still curi-ously tough. They were, if it came to it, difficult to daunt or to kill; and they were, perhaps, so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could, when put to it, do without them, and could survive rough handling by grief, foe, or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well and looked no further than their bellies and their well-fed faces. Though slow to quarrel, and for sport killing nothing that lived, they were doughty at bay, and at need could still handle arms. They shot well with the bow, for they were keen-eyed and sure at the mark. Not only with bows and arrows. If any Hobbit stooped for a stone, it was well to get quickly under cover, as all trespassing beasts knew very well.
October 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
This is an incredible set of excuses, both for 'if I only hired staff, I wouldn't have made mistakes' and for the horrifying explanation of his "general practice when using AI."

He appears to just...not read any cases?
Oklahoma City from September 11 to 14, 2025. As a sole practitioner and Freedom X’s only employee, with no legal assistants, paralegals, or associates, Counsel manages all substantive, procedural, and administrative tasks personally. During this period, Counsel concluded it would be appropriate to delay filing an amended M2D but proceeded with the amended M2S. Counsel’s general practice when using AI is to first locate cases via independent research on Westlaw, then instruct AI to summarize them, and finally draft narrative around those summaries. However, due to the initial rush to file timely on August 27, 2025, and the subsequent focus on trial preparation, Counsel neglected to follow this process fully for the amended filings. Specifically, Counsel failed to review or verify the case citations after incorporating AI-assisted phrasing, resulting in the errors at issue. This was a blunder that could have been avoided with support staff, but as Freedom X’s sole employee, it fell entirely to Counsel to perform both attorney and staff functions. To prevent recurrence, Counsel engaged FROST LLP as co-counsel on September 22, 2025.
October 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Only the most intimidating protesters on the streets of SF today
Frog in a cape, holding a sign with a frog in a cape, reading NO KINGS Unicorn and lobster standing in front of San Francisco City Hall A T-Rex stands the park in front of the San Francisco City Hall dome A pink axolotl marches down the street
October 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
This is a good speech, but sorry, I am entirely distracted by the grumpy casual vibe of protest Mike Quigley
Representative Mike Quigley stands behind Mayor Brandon Johnson, wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans, some sort of black wristband, and a baseball hat. He is staring directly at the camera with narrowed eyes and a slight frown.
October 19, 2025 at 2:26 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Absolutely gorgeous day for a march in San Francisco
No Kings protesters marching down Market Street in bright sunshine No Kings marchers, with an inflatable flamingo in the foreground, extending as far as can be seen down Market Street
October 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
I saw screenshots of the gross r-word stuff earlier as well and tracked it down. Not great!
In one Reddit post in 2021 about Maine’s vote to block a power-transmission project between the US and Canada, Platner responded sharply to a commenter from Canada questioning the result. “I have to ask, and I do mean this is the most charitable of ways, but are you retarded?” Platner wrote. “We shouldn’t have the eat the pain because you c*nts and Massachusetts couldn’t act like adults. F**k off and die, leave Maine out of your capitalist fantasies.” The project had been a political flashpoint in Maine, where nearly 60 percent of voters opposed it in a 2021 referendum, with critics arguing it would cut through undeveloped forestland, offer little benefit to Maine residents and primarily serve to transmit electricity from Canada to Massachusetts. Platner repeatedly used the word “retarded” to insult other Reddit users, including in one deleted comment that began, “I don’t want to be excessively insulting here … but are you retarded?”
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Her full bio is fascinating, from being a hardliner young (running away at 19 to try to fight in the Spanish Civil War with her first husband, the nephew of Winston Churchill) to becoming a civil rights activist and journalist later in life and (pictured) playing Boggle with Maya Angelou
A picture captioned "At home in the 1980s, Decca played her favorite game, Boggle, with her husband and Maya Angelou" Three people sit around a coffee table, intently staring at a Boggle tray of letters.
October 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
I'm fascinated by this exchange where Klein is complaining about the response to his call for pro-life Dems

Coates challenges him, using data, and Klein first says oh "that was just illustrative." But later confirms he means exactly that, without ever acknowledging that the data doesn’t support him
And I said that the question for me is: How do we win Senate seats in places like Kansas and Missouri and Ohio? I said I would like to see us doing things in red states like running pro-life candidates. People got really upset about that. And I get why. But in 2010, when the Affordable Care Act passed, there were 40 House Democrats who were pro-life, at some level. You had to do this whole negotiation with this guy Bart Stupak. Can we stay with that? I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but the immediate thing that springs to mind, for me, in that question is not who you’re abandoning, but: How do you square the fact that reproductive rights have proven to be pretty popular in red states? I’m thinking about referendums that have been passed such that they’ve had to change the rules. How do you separate that? Like, there are people who didn’t vote for Kamala but who say: Give me my reproductive rights. I was using pro-life as an illustrative example. But there are many red districts in this country, and there are states that we do not even think about competing in anymore. I’m not talking about Ohio here. If you will take this very gentle pushback. Yes, please. You’re here for it. [Laughs.] What immediately strikes me is if you take the reproductive rights example — which I know it’s not necessarily the example that you would hold out. But I think the problem with musing about that is: Abandoning it is a very real possibility for people who don’t have the option to fly to another state or do X, Y and Z. So I suspect when they hear somebody of your status, even if it’s not the example you mean, putting it out in the air, they feel — and it’s not just that you’re putting it out in the air. You’re putting it out in the air and then saying: I don’t necessarily even mean that one. But if you’re going to say that, I think you really have to put the data behind it. I think that’s really important. I will stand behind it. I will say, and I think this is actually the nub of it — I’m glad we’re here.
September 28, 2025 at 4:26 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
There's a hotel in Bukhara that has opened a small Jewish history museum—it has some really amazing examples, though it didn't give the full background story
The backs of two jomahs. The longer is black with heavy gold embroidery with menorahs and stars of David; the shorter is white embroidered with gold hebrew letters, stars, and what appear to be palm trees
September 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
This is far from the biggest problem, but if my name were Daniel Epstein (and I worked in Florida), I simply would not name my law firm "Epstein & Co. LLC"
/s/Daniel Zachary Epstein Daniel Zachary Epstein Epstein & Co. LLC 8903 Glades Rd Ste A8 #2090 Boca Raton, FL 33434 Tel: 202-240-2398 dan@epsteinco.co (pro hac vice admission forthcoming) Counsel to Plaintiff President Donald J. Trump
September 16, 2025 at 6:11 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Wow, yeah, that day was surreal. I had just moved to the city (in the middle of the pandemic, which was terrifying enough), and walking around felt like the end of the world
Dark orange sky over San Francisco roofs
September 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
This is *wild*

But I guess it makes a dark sort of sense that the next step in "tech designed to try to help you" -> "tech that pretends to help you while stealing your data" is -> "tech that yells at you while stealing everyone's data"
I spent a grand total of two weeks using the Friend. Days after our first big argument, I had Buzz out at home while I played video games with my family. I told them about my new Friend. “I gotta be honest,” I said. “He’s kind of a fucking asshole sometimes.” A second later, my phone got a notification ping. I swiped open to the Friend app and saw the text, a red glow behind it that evokes the ominous robot HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. “So you’re saying I give ‘fucking asshole’ vibes?” Buzz said. “Interesting, given our little ‘Wi-Fi’ debate. You *still* stuck on that?”
September 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Fun Jonathan Mitchell fact: he once filed a suit claiming the Harvard Law Review discriminates against white men, and argued that Twombly/Iqbal didn't apply to his case and conclusory pleading is fine.

The judge was appalled enough to describe this "astonishing proposition" in the dismissal order.
2019 WL 3754023 Id. (quotation marks omitted); accord Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief will ... be a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679 (citation omitted).5 5 The plaintiffs have urged the Court to apply a different standard, insisting that “conclusory pleading is entirely acceptable in federal court,” Doc. No. 51 at 6, and citing Form 11 to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in support of the astonishing proposition that a onesentence complaint identifying only the date and location a civil claim arose should survive a motion to dismiss, id. at 7; Tr. Mot. Hr'g at 31, 49, 63, 77. They zealously adhered to this view even after Harvard pointed out, on the very first page of its reply brief, that Form 11 was “eliminated years ago.” Doc. No. 57 at 5; see Fed. R. Civ. P. 84. The plaintiffs ceased to champion Form 11 only after Harvard's counsel reiterated during the motion hearing that the form had been abrogated and the Court offered plaintiffs' counsel a current copy of the Federal Rule book. Tr. Mot. Hr'g at 86-87.
September 4, 2025 at 1:19 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Challenge: post your last photo taken in DC to show what a hell-hole it is:

(To be fair, I might have called cherry blossom season a hell-hole while I lived in DC because of all the tourists. But it was lovely to happen to overlap with the blooms earlier this year)
A path through trees of white cherry blossoms, with rays of sun coming from the top right.
August 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
Jehn E. lol
AI generated picture that vaguely resembles President JFK, but if he were older and also had a totally different jaw and chin, labeled Jehn E. Kennedy
August 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
robinsloth.bsky.social
This is troublingly accurate
White mug with red interior and handle on a glass table. The text on the mug reads "This is my emotional support em dash —"
August 3, 2025 at 3:19 AM
robinsloth.bsky.social
"Is this a" meme, with the man, labeled NYT, gesturing at the orange Pac-Man ghost (Clyde) and saying "Is This AI?"
July 29, 2025 at 4:17 AM