Joel Johnson
@joeljohnson13.bsky.social
Law Prof at Pepperdine -- Criminal Law and Procedure, Statutory Interpretation, Constitutional Law
Research @ http://tinyurl.com/SSRNjsj
Research @ http://tinyurl.com/SSRNjsj
Over the next couple days, I’ll be participating in the Vanderbilt Law Criminal Justice Roundtable. It promises to be a great event with some terrific scholars and papers.
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
November 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Over the next couple days, I’ll be participating in the Vanderbilt Law Criminal Justice Roundtable. It promises to be a great event with some terrific scholars and papers.
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
I’m especially looking forward to hearing @richardre.bsky.social’s comments on my draft paper, “The Clemency Court.”
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This is madness. Today we had to send a message to our 1L students telling them it’s not a great idea to use the first drafts of their first legal writing assignments because the new OCI timeline is so early they are wondering if they should.
#LegalWriting
#LegalWriting
October 16, 2025 at 9:15 PM
This is madness. Today we had to send a message to our 1L students telling them it’s not a great idea to use the first drafts of their first legal writing assignments because the new OCI timeline is so early they are wondering if they should.
#LegalWriting
#LegalWriting
@johnpelwood.bsky.social correctly notes that some of the pending cases involving 2A challenges to 922(g)(3) have been relisted. But for reasons I point out in my amicus brief, Harris v. United States is better vehicle than any of the relisted petitions.
bsky.app/profile/joel...
bsky.app/profile/joel...
Friday's (or Monday's) #SCOTUS grants? The government petitions to review a decision striking down on 2d Amendment grounds a law prohibiting gun possession by controlled substance users. And another colorable grant on the scope of judicial estoppel.
www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/cont...
www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/cont...
Controlled substances and courtroom candor
The Relist Watch column examines cert petitions that the Supreme Court has “relisted” for its upcoming conference. A short explanation of relists is available here. It’s only week two of the […]
www.scotusblog.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
@johnpelwood.bsky.social correctly notes that some of the pending cases involving 2A challenges to 922(g)(3) have been relisted. But for reasons I point out in my amicus brief, Harris v. United States is better vehicle than any of the relisted petitions.
bsky.app/profile/joel...
bsky.app/profile/joel...
It was a treat for me to interview @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social a few weeks ago, as part of the William French Lecture Series at Pepperdine. For those interested, the video of the interview is now available here:
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
October 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It was a treat for me to interview @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social a few weeks ago, as part of the William French Lecture Series at Pepperdine. For those interested, the video of the interview is now available here:
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
tinyurl.com/ym2ch986
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This morning, I filed a cert-stage amicus brief in support of the petitioner in Harris v. United States, one of several pending petitions raising a Second Amendment challenge to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which makes it a crime for an "unlawful user" of drugs to possess a firearm. 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.
Legal Theory Blog
Discover our latest articles and updates. Stay informed with recent posts that cover a variety of topics you care about!
legaltheoryblog.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Please help me get the word out about the new websites for Legal Theory Blog and the Legal Theory Lexicon. Reposting here and on other social media sites is great. It would be especially helpful if law school faculty members could send an email to their colleagues with the new addresses.
Honored to win the inaugural Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation and Law of the Political Process Section — based on my article Ad Hoc Constructions of Penal Statutes in the Notre Dame Law Review.
🔗⬇️
🔗⬇️
October 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Honored to win the inaugural Emerging Scholar Award from the AALS Legislation and Law of the Political Process Section — based on my article Ad Hoc Constructions of Penal Statutes in the Notre Dame Law Review.
🔗⬇️
🔗⬇️
I’m very much looking forward to this event tomorrow at Pepperdine with my friend and mentor, @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social.
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Looking forward to visiting Pepperdine Law School tomorrow. I’ll be in conversation with our former associate (now star professsor) @joeljohnson13.bsky.social about my career and practicing before the Supreme Court. If you’re in the area (and not at the beach), come join us!
September 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I’m very much looking forward to this event tomorrow at Pepperdine with my friend and mentor, @kannonshanmugam.bsky.social.
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Join us tomorrow morning at 11 am!
Reposted by Joel Johnson
The D.C. Circuit Historical Society has published its oral history of Justice Ginsburg, which was embargoed for five years after her death. Based on a quick review, this is a must-read.
Oral History of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Read Ruth Bader Ginsburg's oral history and her role in the landmark women’s rights cases of the 1970s, and more.
dcchs.org
September 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The D.C. Circuit Historical Society has published its oral history of Justice Ginsburg, which was embargoed for five years after her death. Based on a quick review, this is a must-read.
Reposted by Joel Johnson
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This semester, I’ve been experimenting with ways to use AI to enhance my work as a law professor. Here's a clip from a video explainer of one of my law review articles — Dealing with Dead Crimes, which was published in the Georgetown Law Journal in 2022. 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
A reminder that winning at SCOTUS does not mean you win the case. The plaintiff in Barnes v Felix, who was shot by the police, and won in the Supreme Court a few months ago, loses his case on summary judgment.
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
September 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A reminder that winning at SCOTUS does not mean you win the case. The plaintiff in Barnes v Felix, who was shot by the police, and won in the Supreme Court a few months ago, loses his case on summary judgment.
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
In my Criminal Procedure class this semester, I've been showing slides with AI-generated images depicting the facts of the key cases (not always accurately). The students get a kick out of them. And I think they have pedagogical value. Here are some favorites so far: 🧵
September 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
In my Criminal Procedure class this semester, I've been showing slides with AI-generated images depicting the facts of the key cases (not always accurately). The students get a kick out of them. And I think they have pedagogical value. Here are some favorites so far: 🧵
It's very hard to square Justice Kavanaugh's reasonable-suspicion analysis in his concurring opinion in Noem v. Vasquez with Florida v. J.L. (2000). 🧵
September 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
It's very hard to square Justice Kavanaugh's reasonable-suspicion analysis in his concurring opinion in Noem v. Vasquez with Florida v. J.L. (2000). 🧵
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Case Viewer, my quirky side project of building my ideal legal search & reading app, has come a long way. With lots of help, it's grown into the best way to find & read cases on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Check it out or download on the App Store below. And follow @CaseViewerApp for updates!
September 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Case Viewer, my quirky side project of building my ideal legal search & reading app, has come a long way. With lots of help, it's grown into the best way to find & read cases on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Check it out or download on the App Store below. And follow @CaseViewerApp for updates!
Reposted by Joel Johnson
Pepperdine Law is hiring and considering scholars at all levels: entry level, untenured lateral, tenured lateral, and 2 chair positions. I'll share posts for each one. I'm on the hiring committee and chairing the lateral hiring subcommittee so feel free to reach out to me with questions.
August 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Pepperdine Law is hiring and considering scholars at all levels: entry level, untenured lateral, tenured lateral, and 2 chair positions. I'll share posts for each one. I'm on the hiring committee and chairing the lateral hiring subcommittee so feel free to reach out to me with questions.
My classrooms are set for the first day of this semester’s classes. I’ll be teaching a double header on Tuesday and Thursday mornings—Criminal Procedure immediately followed by Statutory Interpretation. A few brave students are joining me in both.
August 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
My classrooms are set for the first day of this semester’s classes. I’ll be teaching a double header on Tuesday and Thursday mornings—Criminal Procedure immediately followed by Statutory Interpretation. A few brave students are joining me in both.
Occasionally while toiling away in my office, I remember I’m in Malibu.
Doing some line editing at the beach this afternoon.
Doing some line editing at the beach this afternoon.
August 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Occasionally while toiling away in my office, I remember I’m in Malibu.
Doing some line editing at the beach this afternoon.
Doing some line editing at the beach this afternoon.
Some reflections from me on the passing of Judge T.S. Ellis, III, for whom I clerked.
🔗👇
🔗👇
Grit on the Bench, Grace in Chambers
Reflections on Judge T.S. Ellis, III
joeljohnson.substack.com
August 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Some reflections from me on the passing of Judge T.S. Ellis, III, for whom I clerked.
🔗👇
🔗👇
The latest installment of my column on the Supreme Court’s criminal docket is now live on ABA Criminal Justice Magazine’s site. 🔗 👇🏻
July 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The latest installment of my column on the Supreme Court’s criminal docket is now live on ABA Criminal Justice Magazine’s site. 🔗 👇🏻
Looking forward to CrimFest in Philly tomorrow. I’ll be presenting a draft of my new paper, “The Clemency Court.”
July 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Looking forward to CrimFest in Philly tomorrow. I’ll be presenting a draft of my new paper, “The Clemency Court.”
Supreme Court grants cert in a Fourth Amendment case.
The QP in Case v. Montana concerns the contours of the emergency-aid exception to the warrant requirement.
This is the first cert grant in a non-1983 4A case since Lange v. California, 141 S. Ct. 2011 (2021).
The QP in Case v. Montana concerns the contours of the emergency-aid exception to the warrant requirement.
This is the first cert grant in a non-1983 4A case since Lange v. California, 141 S. Ct. 2011 (2021).
June 2, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Supreme Court grants cert in a Fourth Amendment case.
The QP in Case v. Montana concerns the contours of the emergency-aid exception to the warrant requirement.
This is the first cert grant in a non-1983 4A case since Lange v. California, 141 S. Ct. 2011 (2021).
The QP in Case v. Montana concerns the contours of the emergency-aid exception to the warrant requirement.
This is the first cert grant in a non-1983 4A case since Lange v. California, 141 S. Ct. 2011 (2021).
Reposted by Joel Johnson
1st draft, Lawsky Entry-Level Hiring Report 2025 (law school faculty). So far, similar to recent yrs. As always, report is incomplete. It is certainly missing some hires. I will keep updating; please let me know of additional hires not reflected here. www.lawskyprojects.org/entry-level-... 1/2
Lawsky Projects
www.lawskyprojects.org
May 27, 2025 at 10:14 PM
1st draft, Lawsky Entry-Level Hiring Report 2025 (law school faculty). So far, similar to recent yrs. As always, report is incomplete. It is certainly missing some hires. I will keep updating; please let me know of additional hires not reflected here. www.lawskyprojects.org/entry-level-... 1/2
This note from one of my 1L students means a lot to me. They’ve had such a tough year with the fires, mudslides, and long commutes caused by road closures.
May 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This note from one of my 1L students means a lot to me. They’ve had such a tough year with the fires, mudslides, and long commutes caused by road closures.