Balls & Strikes
@ballsandstrikes.org
A nonprofit media outlet for progressive, bullshit-free commentary about courts, judges, and the legal system they uphold. Run by @jaywillis.net.
It's no longer possible to be a federal judicial nominee who thinks Joe Biden won the 2020 election
Trump’s New Judges Have Nothing Bad to Say About January 6
Trump is trying to erase evidence of his attempt to overthrow the government. His recent judicial nominees have been happy to help.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 12, 2026 at 9:38 PM
It's no longer possible to be a federal judicial nominee who thinks Joe Biden won the 2020 election
For decades, transgender athletes have been fighting for the right to compete consistent with their gender identity. The Supreme Court could put an end to it.
The Supreme Court’s Trans Sports Ban Cases Are About Much More Than Sports
For decades, trans athletes have been fighting to compete on teams that are consistent with their gender identity. Next year, the Supreme Court could put an end to it.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 12, 2026 at 7:26 PM
For decades, transgender athletes have been fighting for the right to compete consistent with their gender identity. The Supreme Court could put an end to it.
Conservative activists know they are among friends at this Supreme Court
Anti-Trans Activists Know This Supreme Court Will Give Them What They Want
Idaho Republicans already won the right to enforce their trans sports ban. They’re asking the Court for a bigger prize.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Conservative activists know they are among friends at this Supreme Court
Would someone who loves and cares about Amy Coney Barrett please ensure that she has access to Google
This Is the History of Anti-Trans Bigotry Amy Coney Barrett Doesn’t Want to Talk About
Barrett thinks transgender people have been subjected to “relatively little” discrimination. This amicus brief aims to set the record straight.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 12, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Would someone who loves and cares about Amy Coney Barrett please ensure that she has access to Google
Republicans know this Supreme Court is about to give them everything they want
Anti-Trans Activists Know This Supreme Court Will Give Them What They Want
Idaho Republicans already won the right to enforce their trans sports ban. They’re asking the Court for a bigger prize.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Republicans know this Supreme Court is about to give them everything they want
The gap between your average January 6 rioter and your average Trump judge is getting narrower by the week
Trump’s New Judges Have Nothing Bad to Say About January 6
Trump is trying to erase evidence of his attempt to overthrow the government. His recent judicial nominees have been happy to help.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM
The gap between your average January 6 rioter and your average Trump judge is getting narrower by the week
Nothing like an inspid little history lesson from John Roberts to kick off 2026
John Roberts Thinks 2025 Was a Banner Year For the Constitution
The chief justice’s year-end report is all about preserving a status quo that makes him one of this country’s most powerful politicians.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Nothing like an inspid little history lesson from John Roberts to kick off 2026
Idaho Republicans already got what they wanted in the legal challenge to their trans sports ban. But they're after a bigger prize
Anti-Trans Activists Know This Supreme Court Will Give Them What They Want
Idaho Republicans already won the right to enforce their trans sports ban. They’re asking the Court for a bigger prize.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Idaho Republicans already got what they wanted in the legal challenge to their trans sports ban. But they're after a bigger prize
John Roberts wrote a book report congratulating himself for doing such a good job upholding the Constitution
John Roberts Thinks 2025 Was a Banner Year For the Constitution
The chief justice’s year-end report is all about preserving a status quo that makes him one of this country’s most powerful politicians.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM
John Roberts wrote a book report congratulating himself for doing such a good job upholding the Constitution
Trump is building a new wing of the federal judiciary that believes his conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election
Trump’s New Judges Have Nothing Bad to Say About January 6
Trump is trying to erase evidence of his attempt to overthrow the government. His recent judicial nominees have been happy to help.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 8, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Trump is building a new wing of the federal judiciary that believes his conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election
One thing Trump's new judicial nominees have in common: a steadfast refusal to say anything bad about January 6
Trump’s New Judges Have Nothing Bad to Say About January 6
Trump is trying to erase evidence of his attempt to overthrow the government. His recent judicial nominees have been happy to help.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 7, 2026 at 7:26 PM
One thing Trump's new judicial nominees have in common: a steadfast refusal to say anything bad about January 6
"The Supreme Court didn't hold a Christmas party for 12 years because the justices couldn't decide whether to allow Black people to attend" is about as tidy a summary of the Supreme Court as we can imagine
The Alarmingly Racist History of the Supreme Court’s Canceled 1947 Christmas Party
The Court held its first-ever office Christmas party in 1946. The following year, the clerks suggested inviting Black employees. It did not go over well.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:05 PM
"The Supreme Court didn't hold a Christmas party for 12 years because the justices couldn't decide whether to allow Black people to attend" is about as tidy a summary of the Supreme Court as we can imagine
John Roberts does not think you read the news or have access to the internet
John Roberts Thinks 2025 Was a Banner Year For the Constitution
The chief justice’s year-end report is all about preserving a status quo that makes him one of this country’s most powerful politicians.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:45 PM
John Roberts does not think you read the news or have access to the internet
Trump is building a federal judiciary of people who look and think like him
How Trump Is Making the Federal Judiciary Younger, Whiter, and More Republican
Trump’s first year of second-term judicial nominations could have been worse. It is still very bad.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Trump is building a federal judiciary of people who look and think like him
Nothing gets Brett Kavanaugh fired up like the chance to take some shots at environmental protection laws
The Supreme Court Gave Fossil Fuels Companies an Early Christmas Present
How a unanimous decision from the justices will make it more challenging for environmental advocates to do their work.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 6, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Nothing gets Brett Kavanaugh fired up like the chance to take some shots at environmental protection laws
John Roberts is doing a great job, according to John Roberts
John Roberts Thinks 2025 Was a Banner Year For the Constitution
The chief justice’s year-end report is all about preserving a status quo that makes him one of this country’s most powerful politicians.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 6, 2026 at 6:26 PM
John Roberts is doing a great job, according to John Roberts
Would someone with a law degree please tell the Washington Post editorial board to do some Wikipedia research before hitting PUBLISH
The Washington Post Editorial Board Is Spectacularly Awful at Legal Analysis
Since Bezos overhauled the board earlier this year, it has been very good at cranking out billionaire-friendly propaganda. It is quite bad at everything else.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 5, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Would someone with a law degree please tell the Washington Post editorial board to do some Wikipedia research before hitting PUBLISH
Trump's second first year of judicial nominations: could have been worse, still pretty bad
How Trump Is Making the Federal Judiciary Younger, Whiter, and More Republican
Trump’s first year of second-term judicial nominations could have been worse. It is still very bad.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Trump's second first year of judicial nominations: could have been worse, still pretty bad
James Ho might be the favorite to be Trump's next Supreme Court nominee, but Amul Thapar is at least going to give him a run for his money
Amul Thapar Desperately Wants to Be a Trump Supreme Court Justice
The Sixth Circuit judge's latest legal theory is ahistorical and nonsensical. It also aligns perfectly with Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 5, 2026 at 7:26 PM
James Ho might be the favorite to be Trump's next Supreme Court nominee, but Amul Thapar is at least going to give him a run for his money
A unanimous Supreme Court decision from last year is going to make it easier for fossil fuels companies to get what they want
The Supreme Court Gave Fossil Fuels Companies an Early Christmas Present
How a unanimous decision from the justices will make it more challenging for environmental advocates to do their work.
ballsandstrikes.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:12 PM
A unanimous Supreme Court decision from last year is going to make it easier for fossil fuels companies to get what they want
Let's take a look at Trump's first year of his second-term judicial nominations to see how bad things are getting
How Trump Is Making the Federal Judiciary Younger, Whiter, and More Republican
Trump’s first year of second-term judicial nominations could have been worse. It is still very bad.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Let's take a look at Trump's first year of his second-term judicial nominations to see how bad things are getting
Just a Trump appeals court judge doing his best to get the White House to notice him one more time
Amul Thapar Desperately Wants to Be a Trump Supreme Court Justice
The Sixth Circuit judge's latest legal theory is ahistorical and nonsensical. It also aligns perfectly with Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Just a Trump appeals court judge doing his best to get the White House to notice him one more time
Somehow, racism is getting even more legal
How the Trump Administration Is Quietly Resegregating the American Workforce
The Justice Department’s rollback of disparate impact is just one new policy that makes it harder for people of color to challenge illegal discrimination.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Somehow, racism is getting even more legal
Would someone who loves and cares about Amul Thapar please let him know that this is getting embarrassing
Amul Thapar Desperately Wants to Be a Trump Supreme Court Justice
The Sixth Circuit judge's latest legal theory is ahistorical and nonsensical. It also aligns perfectly with Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 18, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Would someone who loves and cares about Amul Thapar please let him know that this is getting embarrassing
"'Don't sue, vote' is the sort of advice that sounds reasonable only if you are a handsomely compensated opinion writer who has never spent a moment worrying about whether you can get a doctor’s appointment, and, at least until Bezos replaces you with an AI simulacrum of yourself, you never will."
The Washington Post Editorial Board Is Spectacularly Awful at Legal Analysis
Since Bezos overhauled the board earlier this year, it has been very good at cranking out billionaire-friendly propaganda. It is quite bad at everything else.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
"'Don't sue, vote' is the sort of advice that sounds reasonable only if you are a handsomely compensated opinion writer who has never spent a moment worrying about whether you can get a doctor’s appointment, and, at least until Bezos replaces you with an AI simulacrum of yourself, you never will."