Jamal Greene
@jamalgreene.bsky.social
Dwight Professor of Law, Columbia Law School. Ex-DOJ/OLC. Becoming familiar with your game.
How Rights Went Wrong available at Bookshop.org (https://tinyurl.com/se32my4r), Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/3vbcfwa4), or a decent public library.
How Rights Went Wrong available at Bookshop.org (https://tinyurl.com/se32my4r), Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/3vbcfwa4), or a decent public library.
Pinned
Jamal Greene
@jamalgreene.bsky.social
· Jun 10
Zaitsev, a 36-yr-old Russian citizen w/a pending asylum case, said he was beaten by ICE agents...Photos in court filings show Zaitsev with bruises and scabs on his face. “We came to the US for protection because of what we encountered in Russia. It seems that we are encountering here what we fled.”
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Time for some congressional subpoenas. Admiral Bradley, the special ops commander, should be able to clear up who gave the order. (And, of course, these weren't lawful targets even if this were a legitimate armed conflict, which it isn't.)
President Trump said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give a spoken order to kill all crew members aboard a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September.
Trump says Hegseth denied issuing order to kill boat crew
The president also said he would not have wanted a second strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs, which occurred after U.S. forces realized the initial attack left two survivors, as The Post report...
www.washingtonpost.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Time for some congressional subpoenas. Admiral Bradley, the special ops commander, should be able to clear up who gave the order. (And, of course, these weren't lawful targets even if this were a legitimate armed conflict, which it isn't.)
Martin Scorsese might be in the running for the cameos alone, but since I'd really need to be entertained, I'd probably go with Harrison Ford. (Because of Anchorman 2, obviously.)
This is a Bill Simmons game, but you’re stranded on a desert island. You can only have one actor’s filmography. You get it all, including cameos. But just the one performer.
I’m taking Cate Blanchett: Talented Mr. Ripley, LOTR, Life Aquatic, Black Bag, Tár, Ponyo, Hot Fuzz, Eyes Wide Shut, Thor
I’m taking Cate Blanchett: Talented Mr. Ripley, LOTR, Life Aquatic, Black Bag, Tár, Ponyo, Hot Fuzz, Eyes Wide Shut, Thor
December 1, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Martin Scorsese might be in the running for the cameos alone, but since I'd really need to be entertained, I'd probably go with Harrison Ford. (Because of Anchorman 2, obviously.)
One of the things I think I would actually be very good at is coaching a college football team to an abysmal record. Just saying, in case any ADs are listening.
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
One of the things I think I would actually be very good at is coaching a college football team to an abysmal record. Just saying, in case any ADs are listening.
Folks will dismiss the outward credulousness here, and of course we have no reason yet to trust that he's taking this seriously, but the language Bacon uses here is an intentional shift away from the Administration. Republicans are feeling Trump's weakness and adjusting accordingly.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon: "I don't think Secretary Hegseth would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, 'Kill everybody. Kill the survivors,' because that's a clear violation of the law of war."
November 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Folks will dismiss the outward credulousness here, and of course we have no reason yet to trust that he's taking this seriously, but the language Bacon uses here is an intentional shift away from the Administration. Republicans are feeling Trump's weakness and adjusting accordingly.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
Reposted by Jamal Greene
You're not seeing the defense and international conflict experts disagreeing because if the facts are true, it's one of the most basic things in the law of armed conflict: You cannot kill people who are "hors de combat," taken out of the game by injury or attack. This is Geneva 101 stuff.
I follower a few defense experts.
Seeing them all straight-up declare this a war crime without any him-and-hawing is uhm
Disconcerting.
Pete Hegseth must resign, as does Stephen Miller. Donald Trump should be subpoenaed before Congress to answer for HIS policy.
Seeing them all straight-up declare this a war crime without any him-and-hawing is uhm
Disconcerting.
Pete Hegseth must resign, as does Stephen Miller. Donald Trump should be subpoenaed before Congress to answer for HIS policy.
November 29, 2025 at 2:01 AM
You're not seeing the defense and international conflict experts disagreeing because if the facts are true, it's one of the most basic things in the law of armed conflict: You cannot kill people who are "hors de combat," taken out of the game by injury or attack. This is Geneva 101 stuff.
This seems like the kind of declaration by a U.S. president that should be mentioned *somewhere* on the front page of CNN or the NY Times, but the fact that it isn't (as of right now) tells us so much both about how this president is covered and the credibility of the U.S. government.
November 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This seems like the kind of declaration by a U.S. president that should be mentioned *somewhere* on the front page of CNN or the NY Times, but the fact that it isn't (as of right now) tells us so much both about how this president is covered and the credibility of the U.S. government.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:26 AM
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
“Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others agree it’s extortion but aren’t critics.”
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
“Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others agree it’s extortion but aren’t critics.”
Reposted by Jamal Greene
Every Trump appointee is committed to ignoring the difference between holding a responsible office of the United States and being a partisan advocate hack. It's bad across the board, but it's catastrophically bad in the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, and the Directors of the FBI & CIA.
November 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Every Trump appointee is committed to ignoring the difference between holding a responsible office of the United States and being a partisan advocate hack. It's bad across the board, but it's catastrophically bad in the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, and the Directors of the FBI & CIA.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
Reposted by Jamal Greene
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Jamal Greene
We're hiring! Legislative & Advocacy Specialist to develop integrated advocacy approaches using policy & comms strategies. Seeking candidates with 3+ yrs of experience, at least 1 yr working on the Hill or fed legislative advocacy. Hybrid position based in D.C. Details: https://protdem.org/3LVQP4q
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We're hiring! Legislative & Advocacy Specialist to develop integrated advocacy approaches using policy & comms strategies. Seeking candidates with 3+ yrs of experience, at least 1 yr working on the Hill or fed legislative advocacy. Hybrid position based in D.C. Details: https://protdem.org/3LVQP4q
How would this work logistically given that primaries aren’t winner-take-all? Would delegates be allocated based on order of elimination?
“Scoop: Dems eye ranked-choice voting for primaries” electionlawblog.org?p=153200
"Scoop: Dems eye ranked-choice voting for primaries" #ELB
Axios: Democratic politicians and activists are quietly lobbying to upend the way the party picks its presidential nominee by urging the use of ranked-choice voting. Driving the news: Democratic Natio...
electionlawblog.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
How would this work logistically given that primaries aren’t winner-take-all? Would delegates be allocated based on order of elimination?
As Orin's great post reflects, one key to a good law school exam answer is to reason *through* the legal materials, esp. cases, rather than to reason independently and then just cite the cases, as many students do. The "truth" is stylized in this domain, and it's important to see that.
Especially for the 1Ls out there, preparing for their 1st set of law school exams, I wrote this post back in 2007 about how to get a good grade on a law school issue spotter. The post, "Bad Answers, Good Answers, and Terrific Answers," is available here:
volokh.com/posts/116838...
volokh.com/posts/116838...
November 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
As Orin's great post reflects, one key to a good law school exam answer is to reason *through* the legal materials, esp. cases, rather than to reason independently and then just cite the cases, as many students do. The "truth" is stylized in this domain, and it's important to see that.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
2/ CIA Acting General Counsel, a career lawyer, "was among those who had raised questions about the legality of the agency’s use of lethal force."
What happened next?
CIA Deputy Director Ellis stepped in to become acting General Counsel and still hold his policy position. He then approved the ops.
What happened next?
CIA Deputy Director Ellis stepped in to become acting General Counsel and still hold his policy position. He then approved the ops.
November 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
2/ CIA Acting General Counsel, a career lawyer, "was among those who had raised questions about the legality of the agency’s use of lethal force."
What happened next?
CIA Deputy Director Ellis stepped in to become acting General Counsel and still hold his policy position. He then approved the ops.
What happened next?
CIA Deputy Director Ellis stepped in to become acting General Counsel and still hold his policy position. He then approved the ops.
You can just call me a living constitutionalist. It's easier than explaining.
November 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
You can just call me a living constitutionalist. It's easier than explaining.
Unless there are significant facts missing from this account, the school's demand is a clear constitutional violation.
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Unless there are significant facts missing from this account, the school's demand is a clear constitutional violation.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
In honor of Larry Summers, I asked the female members of my college class (1987) to say if they had any experiences with sexual harassment by teachers/professors, back when this was tolerated as, I dunno, the cost of attending college, and OH MY GOD.
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 AM
In honor of Larry Summers, I asked the female members of my college class (1987) to say if they had any experiences with sexual harassment by teachers/professors, back when this was tolerated as, I dunno, the cost of attending college, and OH MY GOD.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
AP and others *have* been on the ground and interviewing families and telling their stories, and the people on the boats appear to the mostly working class low-level people smuggling cocaine, not hardened cartel operatives bringing in fentanyl as the admin repeatedly has suggested.
Cotton on Trump's boat strikes: "Use common sense. If any of these had been boats full of fisherman or refugees, CNN would've already been on the ground & interviewed all their families & told their stories. We can be confident all of these strikes have been against cartel-based drug traffickers."
November 20, 2025 at 2:56 PM
AP and others *have* been on the ground and interviewing families and telling their stories, and the people on the boats appear to the mostly working class low-level people smuggling cocaine, not hardened cartel operatives bringing in fentanyl as the admin repeatedly has suggested.
Reposted by Jamal Greene
Strangling the world-beating export industry which cross-subsidizes higher education for Americans. The White House says that's good news!
The White House just blasted this out under the headline "Good News You May Have Missed"
November 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Strangling the world-beating export industry which cross-subsidizes higher education for Americans. The White House says that's good news!
In light of how Purcell has been applied in election litigation, issuing a PI in a redistricting case before the dissent is filed seems to me not just a duty but a responsibility.
November 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
In light of how Purcell has been applied in election litigation, issuing a PI in a redistricting case before the dissent is filed seems to me not just a duty but a responsibility.
The Crimson is genuinely independent media, and based on historical trends, a typical Crimson masthead has an astounding amount of journalistic talent.
You know what media is NOT bending the knee in the Trump era? College journalists! The Harvard Crimson's brutal takedown of the lecherous ex-prez Larry Summers is just the latest example of students showing a failing 'grown-up' media how it's done
My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
College journalism exposes the rot of ‘grown-ups’ | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus a history lesson on the real ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ and fascism,
www.inquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The Crimson is genuinely independent media, and based on historical trends, a typical Crimson masthead has an astounding amount of journalistic talent.
Wouldn't be surprised if SCOTUS stays this PI until it decides Callais, then blocks a new PI under Purcell. (IOW: don't get too excited.)
BREAKING & BIG: Federal judge BLOCKS Texas from implementing new, gerrymandered maps for 2026 midterms. Judge Jeffrey Brown (TRUMP APPOINTEE) wrote opinion, joined by Judge David Guaderrama (Obama appointee). Judge Jerry Smith (Reagan appointee) dissents.
storage.courtlistene...
storage.courtlistene...
November 18, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Wouldn't be surprised if SCOTUS stays this PI until it decides Callais, then blocks a new PI under Purcell. (IOW: don't get too excited.)