One First
@stevevladeck.skystack.xyz
A weekly newsletter aiming to make the Supreme Court’s rulings, procedures, and history more accessible to all
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203. Legislative Standing and/After Bost • The theory on which five justices concluded that candidates for office have standing to challenge election rules is difficult—at best—to reconcile with the Court's hostility to legislative standing.
203. Legislative Standing and/After Bost
The theory on which five justices concluded that candidates for office have standing to challenge election rules is difficult—at best—to reconcile with the Court's hostility to legislative standing.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:50 PM
203. Legislative Standing and/After Bost • The theory on which five justices concluded that candidates for office have standing to challenge election rules is difficult—at best—to reconcile with the Court's hostility to legislative standing.
202. The Timing of Rulings in Argued Cases • Except in highly unusual circumstances or at the very end of each June, the Supreme Court's internal norms make it hard to be confident about which decisions in argued cases will be handed down when.
202. The Timing of Rulings in Argued Cases
Except in highly unusual circumstances or at the very end of each June, the Supreme Court's internal norms make it hard to be confident about which decisions in argued cases will be handed down when.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
202. The Timing of Rulings in Argued Cases • Except in highly unusual circumstances or at the very end of each June, the Supreme Court's internal norms make it hard to be confident about which decisions in argued cases will be handed down when.
Bonus 201: Ted Cruz, the AO, and Hannah Arendt • Senator Cruz's efforts to impeach two federal judges reached a crescendo on Wednesday—even though the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (the "AO") has poured cold water on one set of charges.
Bonus 201: Ted Cruz, the AO, and Hannah Arendt
Senator Cruz's efforts to impeach two federal judges reached a crescendo on Wednesday—even though the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (the "AO") has poured cold water on one set of charges.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Bonus 201: Ted Cruz, the AO, and Hannah Arendt • Senator Cruz's efforts to impeach two federal judges reached a crescendo on Wednesday—even though the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (the "AO") has poured cold water on one set of charges.
201. Who is the Chief Justice's Audience? • Reading between the lines, there's a lot to commend in Chief Justice Roberts's year-end report. Measured against the year that was, though, its subtleties are for an increasingly shrinking audience.
201. Who is the Chief Justice's Audience?
Reading between the lines, there's a lot to commend in Chief Justice Roberts's year-end report. Measured against the year that was, though, its subtleties are for an increasingly shrinking audience.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
201. Who is the Chief Justice's Audience? • Reading between the lines, there's a lot to commend in Chief Justice Roberts's year-end report. Measured against the year that was, though, its subtleties are for an increasingly shrinking audience.
200. Five Questions About the Maduro Arrest Operation • Friday night's U.S. military operation in Venezuela was a textbook violation of international law. It's also entirely unauthorized by U.S. law, which ought to (but probably won't) matter.
200. Five Questions About the Maduro Arrest Operation
Friday night's U.S. military operation in Venezuela was a textbook violation of international law. It's also entirely unauthorized by U.S. law, which ought to (but probably won't) matter.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
200. Five Questions About the Maduro Arrest Operation • Friday night's U.S. military operation in Venezuela was a textbook violation of international law. It's also entirely unauthorized by U.S. law, which ought to (but probably won't) matter.
Bonus 199: Pugs on Toilets (Happy New Year's!) • Karen and Steve ring in 2026 by dusting off the podcast equipment and chatting about 2025's professional and personal highs and lows—and what we're looking forward to in 2026 (not, alas, the Mets).
Bonus 199: Pugs on Toilets (Happy New Year's!)
Karen and Steve ring in 2026 by dusting off the podcast equipment and chatting about 2025's professional and personal highs and lows—and what we're looking forward to in 2026 (not, alas, the Mets).
www.stevevladeck.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Bonus 199: Pugs on Toilets (Happy New Year's!) • Karen and Steve ring in 2026 by dusting off the podcast equipment and chatting about 2025's professional and personal highs and lows—and what we're looking forward to in 2026 (not, alas, the Mets).
199. Four Takeaways From the National Guard Ruling • A deep dive into last Tuesday's ruling in which a 6-3 majority of the Court stopped the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops into and around Chicago.
199. Four Takeaways From the National Guard Ruling
A deep dive into last Tuesday's ruling in which a 6-3 majority of the Court stopped the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops into and around Chicago.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
199. Four Takeaways From the National Guard Ruling • A deep dive into last Tuesday's ruling in which a 6-3 majority of the Court stopped the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops into and around Chicago.
198. Progressive Judicial Institutionalism • There's important daylight between those who are critical of the present degree of judicial power in the United States in general and those who are critical of the current Supreme Court, specifically.
198. Progressive Judicial Institutionalism
There's important daylight between those who are critical of the present degree of judicial power in the United States in general and those who are critical of the current Supreme Court, specifically.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
198. Progressive Judicial Institutionalism • There's important daylight between those who are critical of the present degree of judicial power in the United States in general and those who are critical of the current Supreme Court, specifically.
Bonus 197: Necessity, Legality, and the Rule of Law • December 18 is an ignominious anniversary for the rule of law in America—and an opportune moment to reflect upon the responsibility of lawyers and judges to distinguish between necessity and legality.
Bonus 197: Necessity, Legality, and the Rule of Law
December 18 is an ignominious anniversary for the rule of law in America—and an opportune moment to reflect upon the responsibility of lawyers and judges to distinguish between necessity and legality.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Bonus 197: Necessity, Legality, and the Rule of Law • December 18 is an ignominious anniversary for the rule of law in America—and an opportune moment to reflect upon the responsibility of lawyers and judges to distinguish between necessity and legality.
197. The Supreme Court's Annie Hall Problem • Charges that Supreme Court critics are "schizophrenic" because they're making procedural *and* substantive critiques of the Court's behavior are missing the possibility that both claims are legitimate
197. The Supreme Court's Annie Hall Problem
Charges that Supreme Court critics are "schizophrenic" because they're making procedural *and* substantive critiques of the Court's behavior are missing the possibility that both claims are legitimate
www.stevevladeck.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:50 PM
197. The Supreme Court's Annie Hall Problem • Charges that Supreme Court critics are "schizophrenic" because they're making procedural *and* substantive critiques of the Court's behavior are missing the possibility that both claims are legitimate
Bonus 196: What if Constitutional Law is ... Complicated? • Over and over again during Monday's oral argument in the Slaughter case, the Republican appointees waved their hands at the possibility that big constitutional law questions might have messy answers.
Bonus 196: What if Constitutional Law is ... Complicated?
Over and over again during Monday's oral argument in the Slaughter case, the Republican appointees waved their hands at the possibility that big constitutional law questions might have messy answers.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Bonus 196: What if Constitutional Law is ... Complicated? • Over and over again during Monday's oral argument in the Slaughter case, the Republican appointees waved their hands at the possibility that big constitutional law questions might have messy answers.
196. Justice Kagan's Texas Redistricting Dissent • As unsurprising as the Supreme Court's intervention in the Texas redistricting case may have been, Justice Kagan's dissent is still a telling indictment of another emergency ruling that lost its way.
196. Justice Kagan's Texas Redistricting Dissent
As unsurprising as the Supreme Court's intervention in the Texas redistricting case may have been, Justice Kagan's dissent is still a telling indictment of another emergency ruling that lost its way.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
196. Justice Kagan's Texas Redistricting Dissent • As unsurprising as the Supreme Court's intervention in the Texas redistricting case may have been, Justice Kagan's dissent is still a telling indictment of another emergency ruling that lost its way.
Bonus 195: The Mark Kelly Meshugas • Secretary Hegseth has threatened to court-martial a sitting U.S. Senator for a ... truthful video. Even though Kelly *is* subject to court-martial, such a prosecution would face insuperable obstacles.
Bonus 195: The Mark Kelly Meshugas
Secretary Hegseth has threatened to court-martial a sitting U.S. Senator for a ... truthful video. Even though Kelly *is* subject to court-martial, such a prosecution would face insuperable obstacles.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Bonus 195: The Mark Kelly Meshugas • Secretary Hegseth has threatened to court-martial a sitting U.S. Senator for a ... truthful video. Even though Kelly *is* subject to court-martial, such a prosecution would face insuperable obstacles.
195. The Immigration Detention Flood • The Trump administration's attempt to quietly—but massively—expand who can be detained pending their removal has been met with overwhelming pushback from a remarkably large number of district courts.
195. The Immigration Detention Flood
The Trump administration's attempt to quietly—but massively—expand who can be detained pending their removal has been met with overwhelming pushback from a remarkably large number of district courts.
www.stevevladeck.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
195. The Immigration Detention Flood • The Trump administration's attempt to quietly—but massively—expand who can be detained pending their removal has been met with overwhelming pushback from a remarkably large number of district courts.
Bonus 194: Happy Thanksgiving!! • For the holiday, I wanted to re-up one of this newsletter's very first posts—a reflection on the significance of Thanksgiving in my family growing up, and the surfeit of lawyers to whom I'm related.
Bonus 194: Happy Thanksgiving!!
For the holiday, I wanted to re-up one of this newsletter's very first posts—a reflection on the significance of Thanksgiving in my family growing up, and the surfeit of lawyers to whom I'm related.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Bonus 194: Happy Thanksgiving!! • For the holiday, I wanted to re-up one of this newsletter's very first posts—a reflection on the significance of Thanksgiving in my family growing up, and the surfeit of lawyers to whom I'm related.
194. Another Bad Week for the Presumption of Regularity • Three different flashpoints highlight how much the Trump administration has done, in such short order, to undermine its own litigation efforts and to damage—perhaps irreparably—DOJ's credibility.
194. Another Bad Week for the Presumption of Regularity
Three different flashpoints highlight how much the Trump administration has done, in such short order, to undermine its own litigation efforts and to damage—perhaps irreparably—DOJ's credibility.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
194. Another Bad Week for the Presumption of Regularity • Three different flashpoints highlight how much the Trump administration has done, in such short order, to undermine its own litigation efforts and to damage—perhaps irreparably—DOJ's credibility.
193. The "War" on Judges • Deputy Attorney General Blanche's attack on lower courts is an impressive combination of light on substance; shamelessly hypocritical; and profoundly dangerous. More people should be condemning it.
193. The "War" on Judges
Deputy Attorney General Blanche's attack on lower courts is an impressive combination of light on substance; shamelessly hypocritical; and profoundly dangerous. More people should be condemning it.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
193. The "War" on Judges • Deputy Attorney General Blanche's attack on lower courts is an impressive combination of light on substance; shamelessly hypocritical; and profoundly dangerous. More people should be condemning it.
Bonus 192: The Court vs. the Circuit Justice • Tuesday's ruling in the SNAP case appears to be the second example in seven months (and for quite some before that) of the full Supreme Court taking an application away from the circuit justice.
Bonus 192: The Court vs. the Circuit Justice
Tuesday's ruling in the SNAP case appears to be the second example in seven months (and for quite some before that) of the full Supreme Court taking an application away from the circuit justice.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Bonus 192: The Court vs. the Circuit Justice • Tuesday's ruling in the SNAP case appears to be the second example in seven months (and for quite some before that) of the full Supreme Court taking an application away from the circuit justice.
192. "One First" Turns Three! • A look back on the first three years of "One First"; a note of gratitude; and some thoughts on what's next for the newsletter
192. "One First" Turns Three!
A look back on the first three years of "One First"; a note of gratitude; and some thoughts on what's next for the newsletter
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
192. "One First" Turns Three! • A look back on the first three years of "One First"; a note of gratitude; and some thoughts on what's next for the newsletter
191. Taking Stock After a Wild Week • It's getting increasingly difficult to keep tabs on even the Supreme Court-related (and Court-adjacent) news. Today's issue looks at where things stand (and what to expect next) across six key topics.
191. Taking Stock After a Wild Week
It's getting increasingly difficult to keep tabs on even the Supreme Court-related (and Court-adjacent) news. Today's issue looks at where things stand (and what to expect next) across six key topics.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
191. Taking Stock After a Wild Week • It's getting increasingly difficult to keep tabs on even the Supreme Court-related (and Court-adjacent) news. Today's issue looks at where things stand (and what to expect next) across six key topics.
190. SNAP WTF? • A very quick explainer on why Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
190. SNAP WTF?
A very quick explainer on why Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
190. SNAP WTF? • A very quick explainer on why Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
Bonus 187: Previewing the Tariffs Cases • The Solicitor General's substantive defenses of President Trump's tariffs are remarkably weak, but there's still a reason why *these* were the first merits cases he wanted the Supreme Court to decide.
Bonus 187: Previewing the Tariffs Cases
The Solicitor General's substantive defenses of President Trump's tariffs are remarkably weak, but there's still a reason why *these* were the first merits cases he wanted the Supreme Court to decide.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Bonus 187: Previewing the Tariffs Cases • The Solicitor General's substantive defenses of President Trump's tariffs are remarkably weak, but there's still a reason why *these* were the first merits cases he wanted the Supreme Court to decide.
Bonus 186: Me on the OT2024 Trump Cases • In a new paper, I argue that the justices' behavior in Trump-related emergency applications can best be viewed as protecting the Court's supremacy, as such—and that such an approach is deeply myopic.
Bonus 186: Me on the OT2024 Trump Cases
In a new paper, I argue that the justices' behavior in Trump-related emergency applications can best be viewed as protecting the Court's supremacy, as such—and that such an approach is deeply myopic.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Bonus 186: Me on the OT2024 Trump Cases • In a new paper, I argue that the justices' behavior in Trump-related emergency applications can best be viewed as protecting the Court's supremacy, as such—and that such an approach is deeply myopic.
186. When Can States Prosecute Federal Officers? • Stephen Miller claims that ICE officers have "immunity" for anything they do while enforcing immigration law. Even as an argument about *state* criminal prosecutions, that claim is overstated at best.
186. When Can States Prosecute Federal Officers?
Stephen Miller claims that ICE officers have "immunity" for anything they do while enforcing immigration law. Even as an argument about *state* criminal prosecutions, that claim is overstated at best.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
186. When Can States Prosecute Federal Officers? • Stephen Miller claims that ICE officers have "immunity" for anything they do while enforcing immigration law. Even as an argument about *state* criminal prosecutions, that claim is overstated at best.
Bonus 184: The Costs of a Quiescent Congress • Many Supreme Court decisions limiting judicial review have held out the existence of political checks as a viable alternative. Each day brings new evidence of the growing costs of such a myopic view.
Bonus 184: The Costs of a Quiescent Congress
Many Supreme Court decisions limiting judicial review have held out the existence of political checks as a viable alternative. Each day brings new evidence of the growing costs of such a myopic view.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Bonus 184: The Costs of a Quiescent Congress • Many Supreme Court decisions limiting judicial review have held out the existence of political checks as a viable alternative. Each day brings new evidence of the growing costs of such a myopic view.