Kyle Barry
@kylecbarry.bsky.social
Director, State Law Research Initiative (SLRI) http://state-law-research.org; Formerly @theappeal.bsky.social, NAACP LDF, @afjustice.bsky.social. I write about state courts & dismantling mass incarceration. https://open.substack.com/pub/slri
Great reporting. And while the courts may intervene in this especially egregious case, this story underscores the absurdity and fecklessness of a constitutional jurisprudence that generally defers to--and thus allows rights to be defined by--the whims of prison officials.
bsky.app/profile/tani...
bsky.app/profile/tani...
NEW: President Biden commuted the death sentences of most people on the federal death row before exiting office.
President Trump is now effectively looking to retaliate, and to detain those people in the most brutal conditions in the federal system. Bolts reports:
boltsmag.org/death-row-cl...
President Trump is now effectively looking to retaliate, and to detain those people in the most brutal conditions in the federal system. Bolts reports:
boltsmag.org/death-row-cl...
Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Brace for "Living Hell" Under Trump - Bolts
This story was produced by Bolts and published in partnership with The Nation. Inside the federal supermax tucked away in Colorado’s high desert, prisoners spend 22 to 24 hours a day... Read More
boltsmag.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Great reporting. And while the courts may intervene in this especially egregious case, this story underscores the absurdity and fecklessness of a constitutional jurisprudence that generally defers to--and thus allows rights to be defined by--the whims of prison officials.
bsky.app/profile/tani...
bsky.app/profile/tani...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Here's more on Neilsen, whom the state leg confirmed last week, and his "originalist" argument that abortion is "something meriting the utmost condemnation available in our law and society: criminal charge and punishment." www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Here's more on Neilsen, whom the state leg confirmed last week, and his "originalist" argument that abortion is "something meriting the utmost condemnation available in our law and society: criminal charge and punishment." www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Though all GOP-appointed, the Utah Supreme Court has been an independent check on the lawless extremes of Republican lawmakers, including by protecting abortion rights.
So Gov. Spencer Cox is putting an end to that. bsky.app/profile/kyle...
So Gov. Spencer Cox is putting an end to that. bsky.app/profile/kyle...
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
November 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Though all GOP-appointed, the Utah Supreme Court has been an independent check on the lawless extremes of Republican lawmakers, including by protecting abortion rights.
So Gov. Spencer Cox is putting an end to that. bsky.app/profile/kyle...
So Gov. Spencer Cox is putting an end to that. bsky.app/profile/kyle...
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
High school senior, a U.S. citizen, detained by ICE in Oregon
The 17-year-old was held more than five hours Friday in an ICE facility, his brother said.
www.oregonlive.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Prof. @rachelbarkow.bsky.social's book should be required reading for *state* justices, specifically.
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
You can get Prof. Barkow's book Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
here:
bookshop.org/p/books/just...
here:
bookshop.org/p/books/just...
Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
bookshop.org
November 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Prof. @rachelbarkow.bsky.social's book should be required reading for *state* justices, specifically.
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
Thanks to U.S. Supreme Court precedent that relentlessly favors corporate interests over workers and consumers alike, we've now reached the question of whether Forced Arbitration Clauses are valid even if they are [checks notes] "impossible to read."
From CA: www.dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
From CA: www.dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
November 22, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Thanks to U.S. Supreme Court precedent that relentlessly favors corporate interests over workers and consumers alike, we've now reached the question of whether Forced Arbitration Clauses are valid even if they are [checks notes] "impossible to read."
From CA: www.dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
From CA: www.dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
NEW: You've heard SCOTUS could soon upend the balance in power in Congress by gutting the VRA. But that'd also be a huge blow to Black voting power in *local* governments.
In west Tennessee, Black residents just won a new county map this year—but those gains now look very fragile.
Great reporting:
In west Tennessee, Black residents just won a new county map this year—but those gains now look very fragile.
Great reporting:
Black Residents in West Tennessee Just Won Fairer Districts. Now Comes SCOTUS. - Bolts
The Supreme Court may further erode the Voting Rights Act in an upcoming decision. Beyond affecting Congress, that would reverberate across local governments nationwide.
boltsmag.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
NEW: You've heard SCOTUS could soon upend the balance in power in Congress by gutting the VRA. But that'd also be a huge blow to Black voting power in *local* governments.
In west Tennessee, Black residents just won a new county map this year—but those gains now look very fragile.
Great reporting:
In west Tennessee, Black residents just won a new county map this year—but those gains now look very fragile.
Great reporting:
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Marjorie Taylor Greene to join Harvard’s Institute of Politics.
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Marjorie Taylor Greene to join Harvard’s Institute of Politics.
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who sealed his divorce records for months based on a law that wasn't in effect yet, is one step closer to being a federal judge.
The judge who granted Crain's seal is a candidate to take his Supreme Court seat. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/21/l...
The judge who granted Crain's seal is a candidate to take his Supreme Court seat. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/21/l...
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice, who kept divorce records private, closer to federal judgeship • Louisiana Illuminator
A Louisiana Supreme Court justice, who requested that all of his divorce records be kept private for several months, is one step closer to a lifetime appointment as federal judge.
lailluminator.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who sealed his divorce records for months based on a law that wasn't in effect yet, is one step closer to being a federal judge.
The judge who granted Crain's seal is a candidate to take his Supreme Court seat. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/21/l...
The judge who granted Crain's seal is a candidate to take his Supreme Court seat. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2025/11/21/l...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
A NJ court ruled shaken baby testimony inadmissible. Could it help Robert Roberson? www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/...
A NJ court ruled shaken baby testimony inadmissible. Could it help Robert Roberson?
New Jersey’s public defender’s office hailed it a “landmark” moment, stating it reflected the importance of relying on “reliable, well-supported scientific...
www.dallasnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
A NJ court ruled shaken baby testimony inadmissible. Could it help Robert Roberson? www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
DOJ is now recruiting for immigration judges by calling them “deportation judges.”
That’s seems really bad.
That’s seems really bad.
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
DOJ is now recruiting for immigration judges by calling them “deportation judges.”
That’s seems really bad.
That’s seems really bad.
Reposted by Kyle Barry
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
November 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
When Kavanaugh Stops are legal bsky.app/profile/newr...
November 17, 2025 at 10:16 PM
When Kavanaugh Stops are legal bsky.app/profile/newr...
“Of course child slavery is awful but everyone one, even the very worst among us, and even corporations, is entitled to a defense. That’s a bedrock constitutional principle!” — some future character of this show bsky.app/profile/jayw...
Neal Katyal says he's working on a TV show that he describes as "The West Wing for the Supreme Court," and my question is, have We As A Society not suffered enough
A Brief History Of Awful TV Shows About the Supreme Court
The concept of “The West Wing for the Supreme Court” might be the only thing more upsetting than the actual Supreme Court.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“Of course child slavery is awful but everyone one, even the very worst among us, and even corporations, is entitled to a defense. That’s a bedrock constitutional principle!” — some future character of this show bsky.app/profile/jayw...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
NEW: "A judiciary full of people who previously defended police misconduct or sent young Black men to prison will bring that prosecution perspective into the courtroom." @kylecbarry.bsky.social examines a series of decisions out of CO to make the case for more public defenders on the bench.
We Need More Public Defenders on the Bench
A series of decisions from the Colorado Supreme Court suggests that justices who used to be prosecutors are more likely to issue law-enforcement friendly decisions.
statecourtreport.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
NEW: "A judiciary full of people who previously defended police misconduct or sent young Black men to prison will bring that prosecution perspective into the courtroom." @kylecbarry.bsky.social examines a series of decisions out of CO to make the case for more public defenders on the bench.
Reposted by Kyle Barry
👀Fitzpatrick said Halligan made two apparent "fundamental misstatements of law" to the grand jury that could threaten the case. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
👀Fitzpatrick said Halligan made two apparent "fundamental misstatements of law" to the grand jury that could threaten the case. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
if dems win congress next year they need to introduce an impeachment resolution against emil bove
Justice Department official told prosecutors that U.S. should 'just sink' drug boats
NPR interviews with current and former officials reveal more of the backstory around the military's strikes in the Caribbean.
www.npr.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
if dems win congress next year they need to introduce an impeachment resolution against emil bove
Reposted by Kyle Barry
I’m still struggling with the fact that ICE “brown shirts” went to a taco shop and thought they would get served.
F that!
F that!
November 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I’m still struggling with the fact that ICE “brown shirts” went to a taco shop and thought they would get served.
F that!
F that!
Reposted by Kyle Barry
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan wins Orleans clerk of court race - Verite News New Orleans
Duncan, a political newcomer and former prisoner, defeated incumbent Darren Lombard by a wide margin in Saturday's runoff.
veritenews.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Reposted by Kyle Barry
A lot of people are going to walk away from the Ghislaine Maxwell coverage with the impression that our prison system isn’t punitive enough but I’d say it highlights how most everyone else is treated with *deliberate* cruelty.
November 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A lot of people are going to walk away from the Ghislaine Maxwell coverage with the impression that our prison system isn’t punitive enough but I’d say it highlights how most everyone else is treated with *deliberate* cruelty.
Reposted by Kyle Barry
Fourth Circuit publishes an opinion to make a point that otherwise would go unseen.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
November 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Fourth Circuit publishes an opinion to make a point that otherwise would go unseen.
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
Reposted by Kyle Barry
"On the first question, several jury members struggled to stifle laughter as Lairmore expanded on the hoagie’s alleged explosive properties. 'It was like, Oh, you poor baby,' the juror told me." www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Inside the Sandwich Guy’s Jury Deliberations
Can a flung sandwich cause bodily harm?
www.theatlantic.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"On the first question, several jury members struggled to stifle laughter as Lairmore expanded on the hoagie’s alleged explosive properties. 'It was like, Oh, you poor baby,' the juror told me." www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...