Sean Marotta
@smmarotta.bsky.social
Partner with Hogan Lovells's Appellate and Administrative Litigation groups. Banner image by Art Lien. My GC wants you to know that my postings are my own and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of Hogan Lovells, clients, or personnel.
Reposted by Sean Marotta
My mentor Professor in history sat me down and said “have you looked at the salaries for full professors in history?”
November 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
My mentor Professor in history sat me down and said “have you looked at the salaries for full professors in history?”
I really, really, really liked the rules to games as a kid.
November 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I really, really, really liked the rules to games as a kid.
Or is the Librarian not allowed to purchase books for the Supreme Court's law library because there is no Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
#textualism
#textualism
Except ... the U.S. Code uses "Chief Justice of the Supreme Court" in 2 U.S.C. § 135.
Reminder: John Roberts is the Chief Justice of the United States. He is not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme, but if you get it wrong, SCOTUS watchers will judge you!
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Or is the Librarian not allowed to purchase books for the Supreme Court's law library because there is no Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
#textualism
#textualism
Reposted by Sean Marotta
Every once in a while during a SCOTUS argument, someone will call the Justices "judges," and sometimes they get snippy about that. One time when it happened, (I think) Justice Stevens very kindly noted that Article III uses the word "judges" to include the ones on the Supreme Court.
Reminder: John Roberts is the Chief Justice of the United States. He is not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme, but if you get it wrong, SCOTUS watchers will judge you!
November 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Every once in a while during a SCOTUS argument, someone will call the Justices "judges," and sometimes they get snippy about that. One time when it happened, (I think) Justice Stevens very kindly noted that Article III uses the word "judges" to include the ones on the Supreme Court.
Good on the judge and the courthouse's director of security for standing their ground and getting ICE to back off, even under harrowing circumstances.
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
RI judge intervenes after ICE mistakenly detains Superior Court intern
A teenager was nearly taken into federal immigration custody in Providence Thursday afternoon before a Superior Court judge intervened, according to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
www.wpri.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Good on the judge and the courthouse's director of security for standing their ground and getting ICE to back off, even under harrowing circumstances.
My sons' public school does an annual Thanksgiving luncheon, which families are invited to attend. I get to work from home when I want, generally speaking, so I went, though my older son was anxious I might not be coming because parking was crowded and so it took me a few minutes to get inside. /1
November 21, 2025 at 3:33 AM
My sons' public school does an annual Thanksgiving luncheon, which families are invited to attend. I get to work from home when I want, generally speaking, so I went, though my older son was anxious I might not be coming because parking was crowded and so it took me a few minutes to get inside. /1
Reposted by Sean Marotta
"I bet the media won't even cover this" watch, part ♾️
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
"I bet the media won't even cover this" watch, part ♾️
Reposted by Sean Marotta
Wonderful! @judgedillard.bsky.social is an especially good egg.
It was just a joy to see @judgedillard.bsky.social receive the Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence at tonight’s NCSC dinner. Such a worthy recognition of an exemplary ambassador for the American bench.
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Wonderful! @judgedillard.bsky.social is an especially good egg.
This is a fantastic thread and reflects a good deal of what I do. I would also add that if you are writing a dense email, like a short legal analysis that wouldn't go into a memo, draft the email in Word and copy-paste to email. Don't try to compose it directly in Outlook.
A gentle thought, though: If you are a law student or early career attorney, and considering using AI because professional emails are intimidating to you (they were to me! I didn’t know lawyers), here are some tips you can use, instead of chatwhatthefuckever:
You do not need AI to "punch up" your email. Just send it and move on with your life, Dostoevsky.
November 20, 2025 at 2:44 PM
This is a fantastic thread and reflects a good deal of what I do. I would also add that if you are writing a dense email, like a short legal analysis that wouldn't go into a memo, draft the email in Word and copy-paste to email. Don't try to compose it directly in Outlook.
Reposted by Sean Marotta
Foley Square at sunrise. It’s an oral argument day here in New York.
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Ah. Well, then.
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Ah. Well, then.
In an opinion from noted anti-Trumpist . . .
(Checks notes)
. . . Trump appointee and former Texas Supreme Court justice Jeff Brown.
(Checks notes)
. . . Trump appointee and former Texas Supreme Court justice Jeff Brown.
BREAKING: A three-judge court blocks Texas from using the congressional map passed by its Republican-controlled legislature in August for the 2026 midterms as part of the gerrymandering fight sparked by President Trump. An appeal to the Supreme Court is expected
www.courtlistener.com/docket/60654...
www.courtlistener.com/docket/60654...
Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction – #1437 in Leagu...
Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction AND Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction
www.courtlistener.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
In an opinion from noted anti-Trumpist . . .
(Checks notes)
. . . Trump appointee and former Texas Supreme Court justice Jeff Brown.
(Checks notes)
. . . Trump appointee and former Texas Supreme Court justice Jeff Brown.
Explicate the multicircuit lottery.
Question 25:
Brag on yourself.
There’s something you do better than literally everyone else. What is it?
Brag on yourself.
There’s something you do better than literally everyone else. What is it?
November 16, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Explicate the multicircuit lottery.
Reposted by Sean Marotta
TIL that this state court rule exists and I think @smmarotta.bsky.social's next mission in life should be getting a federal district court to adopt it. What do you say #lawsky?
C'mon Sean you can do it I believe in you.
C'mon Sean you can do it I believe in you.
November 15, 2025 at 4:25 AM
TIL that this state court rule exists and I think @smmarotta.bsky.social's next mission in life should be getting a federal district court to adopt it. What do you say #lawsky?
C'mon Sean you can do it I believe in you.
C'mon Sean you can do it I believe in you.
Reposted by Sean Marotta
I say this often to new attorneys: one of the most important things to remember is that you will NOT be a fit for every client, and that’s okay. We are human beings first, attorneys second - not the other way around. If you prioritize appealing to everyone and lose yourself, you’ve lost.
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I say this often to new attorneys: one of the most important things to remember is that you will NOT be a fit for every client, and that’s okay. We are human beings first, attorneys second - not the other way around. If you prioritize appealing to everyone and lose yourself, you’ve lost.
Okay. Here's the thing with Aaron. The transcriptions aren't always accurate.
Miran says "disinflationary," not "deflationary." Disinflationary is when the rate of inflation declines; deflationary is when inflation goes negative. The latter is REALLY BAD; the former, not so much.
Miran says "disinflationary," not "deflationary." Disinflationary is when the rate of inflation declines; deflationary is when inflation goes negative. The latter is REALLY BAD; the former, not so much.
Fed Governor Stephen Miran: "Cutting down net migration to 0, potentially even negative because of the deportations that have been occurring, I think is very deflationary."
November 14, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Okay. Here's the thing with Aaron. The transcriptions aren't always accurate.
Miran says "disinflationary," not "deflationary." Disinflationary is when the rate of inflation declines; deflationary is when inflation goes negative. The latter is REALLY BAD; the former, not so much.
Miran says "disinflationary," not "deflationary." Disinflationary is when the rate of inflation declines; deflationary is when inflation goes negative. The latter is REALLY BAD; the former, not so much.
When @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social news hits my inbox.
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
When @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social news hits my inbox.
Isn't this model of a PE-backed services organization attached to a law firm what, in part, got LeClairRyan in trouble?
McDermott Will & Schulte said Wednesday it is in preliminary discussions about selling a stake in the law firm to outside investors, a novel move that could advance acceptance of non-lawyer backing of Big Law operations.
McDermott Will & Schulte Considers Outside Investment in Firm
McDermott Will & Schulte said Wednesday it is in preliminary discussions about selling a stake in the law firm to outside investors, a novel move that could advance acceptance of non-lawyer backing of Big Law operations.
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Isn't this model of a PE-backed services organization attached to a law firm what, in part, got LeClairRyan in trouble?
“I’ll be very succinct. First, ‘Doctor Zhivago’ and ‘North by Northwest.’”
(This is a deep cut from the JGR confirmation hearing, but it's what sprang to mind.)
(This is a deep cut from the JGR confirmation hearing, but it's what sprang to mind.)
Pope Leo has shared his four favorite movies of all time, as the Vatican prepares to host dozens of actors and directors in a “World of Cinema” gathering on Saturday at his official residence. See which films made the pope's list. nyti.ms/4p3exK9
Pope Leo Shares His Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event
The list leans heavily on uplifting classics.
nyti.ms
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
“I’ll be very succinct. First, ‘Doctor Zhivago’ and ‘North by Northwest.’”
(This is a deep cut from the JGR confirmation hearing, but it's what sprang to mind.)
(This is a deep cut from the JGR confirmation hearing, but it's what sprang to mind.)
I've gone a range about three times and even I know a cardinal rule of gun safety is to only point your gun at something you're willing to shoot.
So either these agents flunked range safety 101 or they're willing to shoot photographers.
So either these agents flunked range safety 101 or they're willing to shoot photographers.
a new genre of photo in the last year is federal agents working for ICE pointing guns directly at photographers
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I've gone a range about three times and even I know a cardinal rule of gun safety is to only point your gun at something you're willing to shoot.
So either these agents flunked range safety 101 or they're willing to shoot photographers.
So either these agents flunked range safety 101 or they're willing to shoot photographers.
This is bonkers, but if we can somehow get Patriotic Americans to become certified air traffic controllers instead of CBP agents, I'll take it.
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This is bonkers, but if we can somehow get Patriotic Americans to become certified air traffic controllers instead of CBP agents, I'll take it.
Reposted by Sean Marotta
This is not a surprise to anyone who was closely following this case. It *ought* to be, however, a moment to reflect upon the responsibility (or not) of media outlets that, deliberately or not, led folks to believe that a grant was a serious possibility (which it never was).
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is not a surprise to anyone who was closely following this case. It *ought* to be, however, a moment to reflect upon the responsibility (or not) of media outlets that, deliberately or not, led folks to believe that a grant was a serious possibility (which it never was).
Vaguely amused that the SG cited Politico rather than, I don't know, the Congressional record or some primary source.
UPDATE: Trump administration confirms it continues to seek a stay to deny full food stamp benefits but says the application may soon be mooted when the government reopens
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Vaguely amused that the SG cited Politico rather than, I don't know, the Congressional record or some primary source.
Under the current Administration's view of the First Amendment, protestors are entitled to approach ICE agents and engage in sidewalk counseling without buffer zones.
“Federal authorities told demonstrators Friday that there would be ‘no more prayer’ in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility, in a move that mystified local leaders and raised legal questions.” blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/f...
Feds Tell Faith Leaders 'No More Prayer' Outside Broadview Facility
In a possible violation of the First Amendment, federal officials instructed demonstrators to stop holding religious gatherings outside the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview after ...
blockclubchicago.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Under the current Administration's view of the First Amendment, protestors are entitled to approach ICE agents and engage in sidewalk counseling without buffer zones.