Volokh Conspiracy
Legal analysis and commentary blog covering constitutional law, free speech, and legal policy.
Articles from Volokh Conspiracy
Call for Congressional Probe into Judge's Fabricated Police Affair
A federal judge lied about a sexual relationship with a police officer, sparking calls for a congressional investigation into judicial ethics and accountability.
Court Rejects $1.41B Suit Over Notre Dame Law Clinic Amicus Brief
Court dismisses $1.41 billion lawsuit, ruling plaintiffs lack standing to sue Notre Dame Law Clinic over amicus brief on Uyghur genocide claims.
7th Circuit Upholds Dismissal Over LinkedIn Posts in Coast Guard Uniform
The Seventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of a Coast Guard Auxiliary officer for inappropriate LinkedIn posts made while in uniform, clarifying military conduct boundaries.
Federal Judge Halts $1.776B Anti-Weaponization Fund Over Legal Concerns
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, citing legal challenges and accountability issues.
DOJ Seeks Removal of Judge Ross from Georgia Voter Registration Case
The DOJ filed a motion to recuse Judge Eleanor L. Ross from a Georgia election case amid judicial misconduct allegations.
Federal Court Orders North Korea to Pay $400M Over 1968 USS Pueblo Attack
A U.S. District Court orders North Korea to pay $400 million for the 1968 USS Pueblo attack, reinforcing sovereign liability precedents for victims.
California Enacts Urgent Law to Block Election Interference Before Primaries
California passes Senate Bill 73 with immediate effect to prevent election interference ahead of June 2 primary election.
Supreme Court Denies Reinink v. Hart After 8 Relists; Thomas and Alito Dissent
The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Reinink v. Hart after eight relists. Justices Thomas and Alito dissented, highlighting split views on qualified immunity and police use of force.
Connecticut Magistrate Orders Disclosure of AI Prompts in Shell Case
Connecticut magistrate orders discovery of AI prompts used by expert in Shell litigation, setting precedent for AI transparency in expert evidence.
Virginia Assault Firearm Ban Sparks Immediate Legal Challenges
Virginia has enacted a comprehensive ban on assault firearms and high-capacity magazines, triggering swift legal challenges that test constitutional limits and could reshape gun laws nationwide.
Federal Judge Rejects Wolff’s Preemptive Suit on Melania Trump Defamation Threat
A federal judge dismissed Michael Wolff's lawsuit seeking a ruling on a defamation threat from Melania Trump, clarifying limits of anti-SLAPP and declaratory relief for legal professionals.
Texas Is Only State Letting Juries Decide Child Custody Core Issues
Texas stands alone nationwide by letting juries, not just judges, decide key child custody terms—a practice upheld by the state's Supreme Court with major impacts on trial strategies.
D.C. Circuit Revives Professor's Defamation Suit Over NAS Harassment Allegations
A D.C. Circuit ruling lets Professor Castillo Butters proceed with a defamation case against the National Academy of Sciences related to sexual harassment allegations.
Federal court blocks student's bid to erase law school reprimand over speech
A federal court dismissed a law student's lawsuit to reverse a law school reprimand affecting bar admission, citing Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity limits.
Kavanaugh Authored Hamm v. Smith Opinion After Late Supreme Court Shift
Justice Kavanaugh, not Alito, wrote the Hamm v. Smith majority opinion following a last-minute Supreme Court shift. Legal professionals see impact on litigation strategies.
Tennessee man gets $835K after wrongful arrest over Facebook post on Charlie Kirk
Larry Bushart wins $835,000 settlement after being jailed for a Facebook meme about Charlie Kirk, raising new questions about First Amendment rights and law enforcement practices.
Global Executions Reach 44-Year High, Amnesty Cites Iran and Saudi Surge
Amnesty International reports a 44-year high in global executions for 2025, driven by spikes in Iran and Saudi Arabia. Legal professionals face renewed scrutiny of capital punishment trends.
Debate Grows Over Enforceable Rights for Murder Victims in Court
A new law review argues for representatives to assert rights for murder victims, fueling debate over expanding victim advocacy and criminal justice reform across U.S. courts.
Court Rebuke Highlights Risks of Relying on AI like Claude for Legal Briefs
A recent court opinion criticized a lawyer for using Claude AI to draft a brief containing factual errors, spotlighting legal and ethical risks in AI adoption.
Divergent Suppression Rulings Spotlight Federal-State Contrasts in Mangione Case
Analysis of why state and federal courts reached different outcomes on suppression motions in the Mangione case, highlighting key divergences in criminal procedure.