Ep 165 — Lower Court Judges Throw Shade At SCOTUS Shadow Docket

District and Circuit Court judges are in more or less open revolt over the Supreme Court’s abuse of the shadow docket. Perhaps Justice Gorsuch shouldn’t have implied that they were all stupid and insubordinate for failing to read his mind! The Trump administration insists it’s very cool and very legal to deport immigrant children in the middle of the night so long as it’s Health and Human Services doing the deporting. Will Judge Tim Kelly agree? And Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are back to teach us civil procedure. Sanctions, anyone?   Links:   Ronny Jackson v. Weber (CA Sec State) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71235529/jackson-v-weber/   Kash Patel Makes FBI Great Again By Getting It Sued https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/kash-patel-makes-fbi-great-again   Alex Jones SCOTUS Cert Petition Docket https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-268.html   Judge Ho “Denny’s” Order https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.224134/gov.uscourts.ca5.224134.25.1.pdf   First Circuit Order, Rhode Island v. Trump https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59257/gov.uscourts.rid.59257.79.0.pdf   Judges, desperate for guidance, plead with Supreme Court justices: ‘Write an opinion’ https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/11/supreme-court-emergency-rulings-judges-00558058   L.G.M.L. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240524/lgml-v-noem   Lively v. Wayfarer Studios LLC https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=desc   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

The Supreme Court used the shadow docket to legalize racial profiling, although only Justice Kavanaugh was dumb enough to admit it out loud. It also overturned Humphrey’s Executor, but this time even Kav wouldn’t cop to it. Meanwhile at the White House, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought discovers ONE WEIRD trick to steal Congress’s power of the purse. And the Second Circuit confirms, Alina Habba is still very bad at her job.   Links:   White House Prayer Executive Order https://www.whitehouse.gov/america250/america-prays/   SCOTUS Shadow Docket Order Trump v. Slaughter https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/090825zr_4f15.pdf   Second Circuit Order Carroll v. Trump 1 https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca2.e508a4b2-feae-4592-a6dc-d30f9ed35bb6/gov.uscourts.ca2.e508a4b2-feae-4592-a6dc-d30f9ed35bb6.134.1_1.pdf   SCOTUS Docket Trump v. Vasquez Perdomo https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a169.html   White House “pocket rescission” announcement (Aug. 29, 2025) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/historic-pocket-rescission-package-eliminates-woke-weaponized-and-wasteful-spending/   AIDS Vaccine Coalition v. State https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333/gov.uscourts.dcd.277333.145.0_4.pdf   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Newsmax is suing Fox News, and they’ve scored antitrust expert (lol) Judge Aileen Cannon. And while the Supreme Court is busy burning down the judiciary, trial judges are standing up. This week Judge Allison Burroughs of the District Court of Massachusetts ordered the Trump administration to give Harvard University its grant money back, and along the way reads SCOTUS conservatives for filth. And for subscribers: Why is the White House racing to appeal the tariff ruling when it could ride the stay for another eight months?   Links:   Newsmax v. Fox News https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71258079/newsmax-broadcasting-llc-v-fox-corporation   L.G.M.L. v. Noem https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71240524/lgml-v-noem   Trump v. V.O.S. Selections [SCOTUS Docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-250.html   V.O.S. Selections v. Trump [Federal Circuit Docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70394463/vos-selections-inc-v-trump/?order_by=desc   In rare interviews, federal judges criticize Supreme Court's handling of Trump cases https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-trump-cases-federal-judges-criticize-rcna221775   Harvard v. HHS [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.283718/   NIH v. APHA (Supreme Court stay) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a103_kh7p.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Today on Law and Chaos … Trump’s tariffs are illegal. A Judge named Sparkle just lit Kristi Noem on fire for trying to kidnap hundreds of Guatemalan children in the middle of the night. And Rudy Giuliani is getting the presidential medal of freedom. Plus, subscribers get a deep dive into all the ways the Department of Homeland Security is violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.   Links:   Res Ipsa Media v. DOJ https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/   X Corp v. Apple https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71236135/res-ipsa-media-llc-v-department-of-justice/   L.G.M.L v. Noem [docket via CourtListener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360/gov.uscourts.dcd.284360.1.0_1.pdf   VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump [Federal Circuit docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70394463/vos-selections-inc-v-trump Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

After “fixing” crime in DC, Trump is off to “fix” Chicago. But since Chicago is in an actual state, he may encounter one or two legal issues. And after the Supreme Court shook its finger at the president and said not to fire members of the Federal Reserve, he’s trying to do it anyway. Whodathunkit? Meanwhile, DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro can’t seem to indict a ham sandwich.   Links:   Lisa Cook v. Trump [Fed Board of Govs case, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71218248/cook-v-trump/   US v. Dunn [Hoagie Hurler, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71223125/united-states-v-dunn/   US v. Reid [Triple No Bill, Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71196710/united-states-v-reid/?order_by=desc   Prosecutors Fail to Obtain Indictment Against Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agent https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/us/politics/trump-sandwich-assault-indictment-justice-department.html   D.C. judges and grand jurors push back on Trump policing surge https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/27/trump-crime-surge-court-cases/   Trump Executive Order “Additional Measures to Address the Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia” https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/additional-measures-to-address-the-crime-emergency-in-the-district-of-columbia/   Chicago crime dashboard https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/vrd/home.html   Chicago crime fact sheet https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2025/August/FACT%20SHEET%20CITY%20OF%20CHICAGO%20CONTINUES%20TO%20SEE%20HISTORIC%20DECLINES%20IN%20VIOLENT%20CRIME%20UNDER%20MAYOR%20BRANDON%20JOHNSON.pdf   DC Home Rule Act https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Home-Rule-Act-2018-for-printing-9-13-182.pdf   10 USC § 12406 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12406   10 U.S.C. 253 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/253   Trump Tries to Grab ‘Em by the Comme Positatus https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trump-tries-to-grab-em-by-the-posse   Newsom v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70496361/newsom-v-trump/?order_by=desc   Trump Title 10 proclamation for Los Angeles https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to Maryland… where he was promptly arrested by ICE, which is threatening to deport him to Uganda. Will the courts stop it? Meanwhile, Texas tees up to defend breaking apart majority-minority districts by claiming that they were only trying to hurt Democrats, not Latinos. Also: can Trump really ban flag burning? (No.) Links:   Flag Burning EO https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/prosecuting-burning-of-the-american-flag/   Abrego Garcia v. Noem [MD Docket before Judge Xinis] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=desc   Texas Redistricting 2021 (LULAC v. Abbott) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387.1127.0.pdf Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

The Fifth Circuit says yes to drag shows, but no to workers’ rights. Donald Trump loses one fight to keep his dingbat lawyer Alina Habba on as Acting Interim Assistant Special Top Secret Temporary US Attorney for New Jersey, but wins big in a New York appellate court. And multiple courts tell Attorney General Pam Bondi to pound sand, even though she would really, really like to invade the secrecy of the grand jury to try and make everyone forget that her patron and Jeffrey Epstein were best buds. Links: US v. Giraud [challenge to Alina Habba; docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69409922/united-states-v-giraud-iii/   Trump v. New York [New York Appellate Division] https://nycourts.gov/courts/AD1/calendar/AppsMots/2025/apps/20250821/2023-04925,%20et%20ano..pdf   Spectrum WT v. Wendler [5th Cir.] https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-10994-CV0.pdf   SpaceX v. NLRB [5th Cir.] https://ecf.ca5.uscourts.gov/n/beam/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=ShowDocMulti&incPdfHeader=Y&pacer=t&CSRF=csrf_1956458841209811746&incPdfHeaderDisp=Y&caseId=220409&outputType=doc&d=10658064&outputForm=view&incPdfFooter=&dls=7661567 Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

As Dominion Voting Systems settles its defamation suit with Newsmax, Hunter Biden is making defamation suits great again. He’s currently suing Overstock founder Patrick Byrne, and about to be sued by the first lady. Meanwhile, Media Matters scores a big victory over the Federal Trade Commission, and football coach Brian Flores notches a win against the NFL.   Links:   Trump v. Selzer  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69476247/trump-v-selzer/   Biden v. Byrne https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67990012/robert-hunter-biden-v-patrick-m-byrne   MMFA v. FTC  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70612884/media-matters-for-america-v-federal-trade-commission/   X Corp v. MMFA https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68023366/x-corp-v-media-matters-for-america/   Flores v. NFL https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67718968/flores-v-the-national-football-league/   Aviel v. Gor https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69746961/aviel-v-gor/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

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We welcome back National Security Counselors’ Kel McClanahan to discuss how the Law & Chaos podcast will be suing the Trump administration. Also: no, Trump can’t order a new census just because he doesn’t like the actual numbers. And the Supreme Court tees up an argument advanced by Clarence Thomas to gut what remains of the Voting Rights Act.   Links: Donate to Kel McClanahan! www.nationalsecuritylaw.org/donate   Robinson v. Callais [Supreme Court docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-110.html   Voting Rights Act, 52 U.S.C. § 103 et seq. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/subtitle-I/chapter-103 Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod