Leah Litman
@leahlitman.bsky.social
220K followers 920 following 2.7K posts
Michigan Law Prof. Co-host, Strict Scrutiny Podcast Author, NYT Bestseller “LAWLESS: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, & Bad Vibes” https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628
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leahlitman.bsky.social
She’s in her AUTHOR ERA!

It’s publication day for LAWLESS: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, & Bad Vibes!

As a forever book nerd, I had so much fun writing this-I hope you have fun reading it! Get it at your local bookstore today!! bookshop.org/p/books/lawl...
Posing with LAWLESS!
Reposted by Leah Litman
adamserwer.bsky.social
At first i thought the majority on the court was just a bunch of hardcore gop partisans with brains pickled in right wing propaganda but after seeing them do these softball book tour interviews with right wing outlets I'm convinced they're just neutral arbiters doing their best.
leahlitman.bsky.social
“Alito has the opinion”
philistella.bsky.social
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:

New library catalogue website.
impavid.us
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
Reposted by Leah Litman
atrupar.com
Kamala Harris: "The Supreme Court made the decision that the president would be immune from any of his conduct while in office. So we went into the election with this individual, Donald Trump, knowing that he would essentially be immune from any consequence for misbehavior while in office."
leahlitman.bsky.social
I haven't done ~exactly~ that but ... close?
leahlitman.bsky.social
forgot to pack my flight anxiety meds in my carry on .... deeply sorry for the people next to me .....😬🥴😵‍💫
leahlitman.bsky.social
Ladies & gentlemen & nonbinary readers - the civil rights heroes (according to this Supreme Court)!!!
One woman made national news when she protested the Covid-19 vaccine at her local City Council. Another is a member of the Trumpettes, a group of women united in their ardent support for the president. A third is a retired grocery salesman who said he didn’t remember signing up to be involved in a lawsuit.

The three are among the 12 Louisiana voters at the center of a case set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Wednesday that could gut what remains of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the landmark civil-rights-era legislation.

In January 2024, the group filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional district map, arguing state lawmakers had discriminated against them as white voters by impermissibly taking race into account when they drafted the map after the 2020 census.

Since then, they’ve been referred to in court filings merely as the “non-African-American” voters.
leahlitman.bsky.social
The "plaintiffs" seeking to dismantle the Voting Rights Act (in a case this week at SCOTUS) include:

-a member of the "Trumpettes," a group of women who ardently support for the president
-a retiree who said he didn’t remember signing up to be involved in a lawsuit.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/u...
One woman made national news when she protested the Covid-19 vaccine at her local City Council. Another is a member of the Trumpettes, a group of women united in their ardent support for the president. A third is a retired grocery salesman who said he didn’t remember signing up to be involved in a lawsuit.

The three are among the 12 Louisiana voters at the center of a case set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Wednesday that could gut what remains of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the landmark civil-rights-era legislation.

In January 2024, the group filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional district map, arguing state lawmakers had discriminated against them as white voters by impermissibly taking race into account when they drafted the map after the 2020 census.

Since then, they’ve been referred to in court filings merely as the “non-African-American” voters.
Reposted by Leah Litman
billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:

“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."

www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.
www.cbsnews.com
leahlitman.bsky.social
LA people - any place you would recommend for dim sum / dumplings (around Brentwood, Westwood, or Santa Monica)?
Reposted by Leah Litman
ttaboada.bsky.social
You’ll just be minding your own business when suddenly Martha-Ann
Reposted by Leah Litman
annabower.bsky.social
This is important exculpatory evidence bc the indictment accuses James of seeking a “second home” mortgage when in reality she intended to use it as an “investment” home by renting it out.

(James disclosed between $1,000-5,000 in rent during 1st year, but the contract allowed short term rentals.)
annabower.bsky.social
NYT reports that Letitia James’s great niece lives in the home that is the subject of the indictment.

The niece reportedly testified before a *different* grand jury, telling them that she had lived there for many years without paying rent. James visits regularly.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Letitia James
Indictment
Read the Indictment
Timeline of Conflict
Indic
But in June, IMs. Thompson testified to a grand
jury in Norfolk that she had lived in the house for years and that she did not pay rent, a person familiar with her testimony said. She was not asked to testify again, and the grand jury that voted to indict Ms. James was not seated in Norfolk, but in Alexandria.
The specter of Mr. Trump's revenge campaign has so far overshadowed the facts of the case, given how he has pushed for Ms. James's punishment. For years, he has railed against her on social media, calling her a "crook" and
"corrunt" Last month. he also appointed Ms. for a peaceful life after years of turbulence in several cities.
The family, Nakia Thompson and her children, have lived at the address ever since, according to two people familiar with the home, and until this week, the plan for a more lacid existence had largely gone as expected. Several times a year, the people said, a great-aunt who had purchased the house in 2020 with Ms.
Thompson in mind would come for an extended stay.
This week, with the filing of court papers some 200 miles north, the plan came to an abrupt end.
The great-aunt - Letitia James, the New York attorney general - was indicted by President Trump's Justice Department. The yellow house,
Reposted by Leah Litman
leahlitman.bsky.social
More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Excerpts Excerpts
leahlitman.bsky.social
More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Excerpts Excerpts
Reposted by Leah Litman
newyorkstateag.bsky.social
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
Reposted by Leah Litman
rickhasen.bsky.social
I believe that should be REEKING
politico.com
REAKING: New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump foe, is indicted by Trump’s DOJ.

She has been charged with one count of bank fraud by the same U.S. attorney who brought charges against James Comey.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump foe, is indicted by Trump’s DOJ
She has been charged with one count of bank fraud by the same U.S. attorney who brought charges against James Comey.
www.politico.com
Reposted by Leah Litman
matthewstiegler.bsky.social
One hundred percent.

*And* installing unqualified flunkies to do it.
leahlitman.bsky.social
Indicting political opponents & critics because they are political opponents & critics is terrifying.

It's completely inconsistent with the rule of law & democracy.

It should scare everyone - and (hopefully) will get people to realize that we all need to stand against this.
Reposted by Leah Litman
annabower.bsky.social
The indictment may relate to mortgage documents James co-signed to help her niece secure a loan for a property in Virginia.

This @mollyroberts.bsky.social piece explains why it appears to be a pathetically weak case.

(Fixed the link, sorry!) ⬇️

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/next...
Courts & Litigation Criminal Justice & the Rule of Law
Next Up: Letitia James
Molly Roberts
Monday, October 6, 2025, 9:59 AM
Share On: f X in $ 6 B
It's hard to imagine a worse case than the one against James Comey-until you see the one against the attorney general of New York.
leahlitman.bsky.social
We talked about exactly this on the Strict Scrutiny @strictscrutiny.bsky.social episode from last week: crooked.com/podcast/the-...
Reposted by Leah Litman
wajali.bsky.social
So, Tom Homan can straight accept a bag of $50K in cash from the FBI in a sting operation, have the investigation dismissed by this corrupt Justice Department, but all of Trump's critics somehow face indictments?

Cool, cool. Cool.

A desperate, weak Administration overplaying its hand.
leahlitman.bsky.social
Indicting political opponents & critics because they are political opponents & critics is terrifying.

It's completely inconsistent with the rule of law & democracy.

It should scare everyone - and (hopefully) will get people to realize that we all need to stand against this.
leahlitman.bsky.social
annabower.bsky.social
Good time to read @mollyroberts.bsky.social:

“It’s hard to imagine a worse case than the one against James Comey—until you see the one against the attorney general of New York.”

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/next...
Next Up: Letitia James
Molly Roberts
Monday, October 6, 2025, 9:59 AM
Share On: f X in $
It's hard to imagine a worse case than the one against James Comey-until you see the one against the attorney general of New York.
leahlitman.bsky.social
We certainly don't know if Trump would be trying to investigate & prosecute his political critics & opponents if the Court hadn't granted him immunity from criminal prosecutions.

But granting him immunity from liability for sham investigations etc. probably didn't help!!!
leahlitman.bsky.social
From the Supreme Court opinion granting Trump immunity:

"Investigative & prosecutorial decisionmaking is the special province of the Executive ... allegations that the requested investigations were shams or proposed for an improper purpose do not divest the President of [his] exclusive authority"
Reposted by Leah Litman